White Ring, Black Ring

Left alone, water causes problems for wood.

The job of a finish, whether it be on our floors or on our furniture, is to keep water away from the wood long enough for us to wipe it off. When the finish wears out, it begins to lose its strength, allowing water to slowly seep into it and, if left undetected, into the wood.

The result is generally one of the following:

MINERAL DEPOSITS - These are the easiest to remove as they can often be re-dissolved or softened under a damp sponge. Be careful not to apply too much water for very long, however, or you can replace a mineral deposit with a troublesome white haze. Read on.

WHITE HAZE - This is a shallow absorption of moisture by the finish. It is close to the surface of the finish, so it will often disappear on its own once the water is wiped off. Whether or not it does depends on the air around it. If the humidity is high, the haziness may linger. You can sometimes speed the process with a hair dryer set on the lowest setting. Do NOT use any furniture polish, wax or oil, as they will trap the moisture in the finish.

WHITE RING - This is generally deeper and more defined than a white haze. Again, start by wiping off the water and waiting to see if it will evaporate on its own. It is sometimes possible to buff out a white ring using super-fine steel wool or #600-grit or higher sandpaper saturated with a lubricant such as mineral oil (baby oil). Do NOT do this to a fine, original finish on an Arts & Crafts antique. You can do more damage than the white ring.

BLACK RING - When water comes in contact with certain woods, most notably oak, the chemicals in the wood, such as tannin, turn black. This is a drastic and semi-permanent chemical reaction that cannot easily be reversed. If it happens to a fine antique, it becomes a permanent part of that piece. The removal of a black stain requires severe tactics: stripping off the finish, applying bleach to the stain, sanding the wood smooth, then replacing the finish. All of this will cause more of a decrease to the value of an antique than will the stain. Use on floors only!

PREVENTION - Paste wax. No polyurethane, no lacquer, no shellac, no linseed oil, no polishes. Paste wax provides more protection than polishes, but is not permanent like the clear finishes, thus it does not affect the value of an antique with its original finish.

A final warning: Do not experiment with any technique on an original finish. Instead, consult with a professional restorer who has had extensive experience with Arts & Crafts antiques.

Remember: First do no harm.

Good Luck!

Bruce