Metal finishing Q&As since 1989
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WHITE LACQUER TABLE HAS TURNED YELLOW
Q. I HAVE A WHITE LACQUER TABLE. I NOTICED THAT THE TOP SURFACE OF THE TABLE IS NO LONGER WHITE. IT LOOKS YELLOW. IS THERE A PRODUCT I CAN USE TO GET THE SURFACE WHITE AGAIN. ALSO, I HAVE A SMALL GLUE SPOT ON THE TABLE. IS IT POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE GLUE SPOT WITHOUT DAMAGING THE TABLE.
NICHELLE J [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- HARTFORD, Connecticut
2002
A. Hi, Nichelle. Clear or white paints, lacquers, and coatings turning yellow is a very common complaint. The yellow color is an oxidized color from age or exposure to UV light and it's unlikely that anything can be done short of refinishing.
There are countless "glues", ranging from water soluble ones like children's paste and Elmer's white glue, to contact cements, acrylic super glues, etc. It is nearly impossible to predict what will dissolve an unknown glue without dissolving the lacquer. But if there is a non-visible lacquered area you can experiment with, I would try soapy water, rubbing alcohol, ammonia
[on
eBay or
Amazon], and
acetone
[on
eBay or
Amazon] in that order. When you find which of these will not damage the lacquer, try them on the glue.
Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
May 27, 2009
Q. I have a white lacquer bedroom set that I've owned for many years. Some surfaces have turned yellow, while others have remained pure white. This can't be due to UV exposure or oxidation. Night stand tops are still pure white while drawer fronts are completely and evenly yellowed. A small drawer front inside the armoir is completely yellow and it has never been exposed to UV.
I'm wondering if Ashley furniture used 2 different batches of lacquer to paint the furniture? Is there anything I can do to restore the white color on the yellowed surfaces?
Thank you.
- Palm Harbor, Florida USA
July 2, 2019
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