hickory table top changed color

[Bob Riefer]

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

[Jim Becker]

The straightness of that line is, um....troubling....if you catch my drift...

[Bob Riefer]

Do you mean that customer likely did something and isn’t being forthcoming about it?

[Jim Becker]

Do you mean that customer likely did something and isn’t being forthcoming about it?

That would be my first thought....hopefully, you have photos from similar angles that show the table didn't have that hard line when you released it to the customer. You may still get stuck dealing with it (may require a re-finish of the top) but at least you'll know that you may have a chance for charging for the time and material. This kind of thing is why I enjoy making components for other makers more than making things for direct customers.

[Adam Herman]

Do you mean that customer likely did something and isn’t being forthcoming about it?

for sure. something hot, or it had something wet on it for some time, like a wet folded up table cloth or towel. maybe they ironed something? who knows. . . but that's caused by neglect.

[Bob Riefer]

Thanks guys!! I greatly appreciate it. I was worried I had really missed something so I'm glad all the details above helped prove out that I'm not nuts. More soon

[Jim Becker]

That uber-straight line is definitely a defining clue that "something is amiss"...

[Bob Riefer]

For good measure... when she first put the table in her cabin, she was so excited and sent me a video. I've taken a still from that and saved here as a picture. Although the pic is a bit dark, would you all agree that there's no line present here? (would be left of center)

[Jim Becker]

The photo is very small, but I don't see any marking like in the one in your OP.

[Bob Riefer]

It's best I have after it left my shop... small and blurry, but I agree... upon zooming, I see nothing like in the pic she sent today.

I've (nicely) stated to her that something must have happened after it left my shop for XYZ reasons, and that in order to provide best remedy options I'll need her to think really hard about anything that could have impacted that portion of the table. She said she'll noodle on that over the weekend.

Meantime... are there any tricks worth trying (as opposed to sanding/refinishing)? Like rubbing the top out with something? Any merit to my initial grasping-at-straws suggestion to let it age in the sun under the window when they're not at the cabin for the next couple weeks? Other ideas?

Thanks again!

[Jim Becker]

May be able to just rub it out to insure that things are flat and then recoat with the proper sheen. But if there's an actual color difference on either side of that line that was not caused merely by light exposure, it may need to be refinished. Too many variables to know from afar. But regardless...that really bites!

[John TenEyck]

Someone'S not tellong the truth. You didn't cause that to happen nor should you be on the hook to fix it without compensation. To me it looks like a change in sheen, like something wet was left on it, or maybe a piece of plastic. I've had a couple of problems when people left plastic/rubber things on a top, where the plasticizers reacted with the finish. Both times it left a shiney spot, however, not a lower sheen. But I suspect other materials/chemicals could cause a lower sheen. I know water can.
If you can't feel any difference in the damaged area from the good area then you might be able to buff it out. If it feels thin or rough then you will likely have to at least scuff sand and apply more finish. Hopefully, you'll be able to avoid a complete refinish. However it turns out, make sure you get paid for the work.

John

[Bob Riefer]

I agree. I have painstakingly reviewed the pics close up and it’s clear something happened after delivery and after she sent her original picture. I asked her if she tried to strip the table or did something else accidental but she is avoiding answering. I’m going to get her on the phone this weekend to talk it out because something is fishy for sure.

[Mel Fulks]

That's the trouble with rustic....the customer never likes where you put the faux defects, or the sizes ,or the colors. And
You did a great job on grain match! Didn't you know that screams FAKE BUMPKIN TABLE!!? I would offer to split some
kindling on it to improve the fake authenticity, and resolve to never make something again for anyone who reminds you
of Ma and Pa Kettle.

[Mel Fulks]

I think she put a blanket over the part of the table where she chops onions.....and forgot to remove it. She must have
been thinking "it's 93 million miles away....what could happen ?