DARN
My friend/customer was so happy with the recent table I built for her. I gave her major friend pricing despite really sinking time into this, so I'm already working at a loss on this one.
The top was kiln dried hickory that had been in the sawmill's temp and humidity controlled storage garage for over 2 years. The materials acclimated at my temp controlled shop for a couple weeks before stock preparation. Building the top took another week.
After that, sanded with the grain to 220 and carefully checked for swirl marks as I went.
Two coats of minwax "early american" stain were applied and allowed to to dry a day in between, and then a week before poly (regularly rag rubbing the top multiple times each day to ensure even coverage).
Three coats of satin poly applied with light sanding, steel wool in between.
Top looked great under LED lighting, incandescent lighting, under bright flashlight shone at various angles, and then outside in 100% natural light on a bright and sunny day.
Client had a friend pickup the table over a week after the final coat of poly was applied. He also verified the table looked great before we carefully and entirely covered the top with a blanket, used some scrap lumber to protect the top from ratchet straps. The scraps and straps were nowhere near where this issue appears now.
He told me he would park the car in his enclosed (but not heated/cooled) garage for a week and then delivered to the customer.
Now, a week later, she sends me a picture showing a clear stripe across the grain.
Every operation (from stock prep to card scraping to sanding to stain to poly... all of it) was with the grain, never across the grain (and definitely not perfectly across the grain).
The ratchet straps and protection were nowhere near the affected spot.
Aside from careful inspection during the build and finishing, multiple pictures, multiple lighting, multiple angles show that this defect was NOT present upon pickup. We've looked at close ups very carefully and see no issue.
But now it looks like someone applied masking tape and literally/purposely finished a portion of the table differently. The finish sheen even looks different. (She cannot think of any mishaps / mistakes that occurred during transport etc.)
I don't understand Hickory to be especially UV sensitive. I don't see how a moving blanket or straps in another location could cause a problem. The table was not wet, nor did it sit for a long period in unusual conditions.
What the heck?
Right now, I told the customer to place the table near a window for a couple weeks with nothing obscuring any portion of the top. The "let time try to heal it" approach.
For me to refinish the table again will be a huge loss on my side (table is 2.5 hours away, and I've already lost money on an hourly basis due to "friend" pricing on this).
Anyone have any ideas on how this could have occurred, and/or how I can remedy? (I've included a pic in sunlight and a pic in my shop to show no blemish... vs. her picture from today showing the issue... see the horizontal line on this side of the vase at center of table)
hickory table 2.jpg hickory top no blemish.jpghickory top discoloration.jpg