BarbaraTX Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 I have a gray-stained Indian rosewood table that is staining mysteriously. I will find dark, oily looking spots that I can't remove. This table is used for occasional drinks, but the glass never comes into direct contact with the wood. One time, I got a crayon mark on it that won't come out. These stains are probably some kind of oil. I have two coats of Minwax on the table, but it's not preventing this problem. Is this a challenge with oily woods? Should I refinish it? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 Who knows. The real question is why would you paint rosewood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraTX Posted September 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 It's not painted. It's got a gray stain on it. If I have to refinish it, I would rather have the original natural color on the top and keep the gray under it. I'm thinking maybe it was never sealed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 I just figured out what my coffee table is made of ! It's a carved and kind of poorly constructed imported piece that a client gave me. One look at the sissoo close up pictures and I knew what it was. The wood has a semi oily/waxy character. If the gray top was mine I would either sand, scrape or strip the finish & stain off and refinish leaving the natural wood colors showing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraTX Posted September 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 Mike, you're right. It's sheesham and was marketed that way. It was already stained. I just applied a finishing wax to try to protect it. Can I do the refinishing myself? I've never done it. What do I need to know when working with sheesham? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonPacific Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 Mike, you're right. It's sheesham and was marketed that way. It was already stained. I just applied a finishing wax to try to protect it. Wax isn't giving you much protection at all. I'd strip/scrape/sand it down and refinish the top in a film that could take some abuse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 aside, Indian Rosewood is one of those marketing terms, I think. A lot of furniture sold as "indian rosewood" is actually sheesham, or north indian rosewood. It is not really rosewood, or at least nothing like the south american or east indian rosewoods. That's true, but real East Indian Rosewood does exist, and it's a true rosewood, and it's beautiful. It's not as amazing as Brazilian Rosewood (what is?) but it's still nice. And if it has paint or gray stain or whatever on top of it, it's a crying shame. If it's one of the knock-off rosewoods, then I agree...who cares. No way to find out unless you get the schmutz off of it. http://www.wood-database.com/east-indian-rosewood/ Here's a bowl I turned of E. Indian Rosewood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 The East Indian Rosewood is some beautiful stuff ! But the sissoo is a Dalbergia species and thus in the rosewood family ,albeit a poor relative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraTX Posted September 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 Actually, the grain under the stain, which I couldn't capture in the photo, looks exactly like the East Indian rosewood in the wood database. Mike, the wood picked up those stains both before and after the waxing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AceHoleInOne Posted September 20, 2016 Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 Do the "wet" looking spots happen when you put a hot drink down, even when using a coaster? How about using a thicker coaster? I wonder if the heat is melting the wax? Are you using the table with a computer mouse? Heat from your arm marking the surface? -Ace- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraTX Posted September 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2016 I had a cold drink on a place mat. That's the only thing it could be. I don't use a mouse with my computer. The problem existed before I applied the wax. I showed the photo to someone at Home Depot who refinishes furniture. He had never seen anything like those stains. I've decided to start with mineral spirits to remove the wax. Who knows? It may remove the stains. If not, I may go ahead and remove the finish to the bare wood--either by sanding alone or with a stripper. Not looking forward to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Infinity Tools Posted September 26, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 26, 2016 No Love for Sissoo? It is a Dalbergia and actually grows down here in central/south Florida. I have saw milled quite a bit of it. Most all the imported furniture I see made from it is what I personally would throw in the burn pile. The good stuff especially when QS or rift is beautiful and works well. Here are a couple pics, first is a saw handle I made and second are some panels on a workbench I made a few years ago form "scrap" sissoo. I actually pulled the wood for the panels out of the firewood pile. Andrew 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted September 27, 2016 Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 10 hours ago, Infinity Tools said: No Love for Sissoo? It is a Dalbergia and actually grows down here in central/south Florida. I have saw milled quite a bit of it. Most all the imported furniture I see made from it is what I personally would throw in the burn pile. The good stuff especially when QS or rift is beautiful and works well. Here are a couple pics, first is a saw handle I made and second are some panels on a workbench I made a few years ago form "scrap" sissoo. I actually pulled the wood for the panels out of the firewood pile. Andrew I love how you have a bottle opener on your bench LOL! This here is a man who has his priorities in line. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted September 27, 2016 Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 1 minute ago, Eric. said: I love how you have a bottle opener on your bench LOL! This here is a man who has his priorities in line. Lol there's even a basket to receive the caps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.