MCM Table, Dump Rescue
Check out my latest dump rescue, a MCM, Mid Century Modern dining table. One could say he is in need of a little TLC, and one would be right. I walked by him twice before I stopped to give him a second look.
I sent this picture to my sister who promptly asked.. What is it? 😀
By the way, the other top piece, was sitting nearby on the ground.
Dragged and loaded into the back of my car, this is the shape of the table when I finally got him back home.
It’s all good right? Right?
It’s solid wood, no veneer, so he’s about to make his comeback.
Beneath the tabletop.
You know the finish is not good when you start seeing pictures in the water damage. This is definitely a bent knee child with a backpack and a few locks of hair sticking out.
And this one has to be a cat playing with bubbles.
Back to the task at hand…It was a beautiful day, a perfect day to take this table outside and sand away any varnish that remained after his hard life.
I’m starting out with 120 grit sandpaper. It will remove whatever finish is left without gouging the wood.
I don’t know if you noticed the hidden leaf inside the table. Once you pull apart the two ends of the table, the leaf unfolds and gives you an extra foot of seating area.
The line in the center of the leaf is from 70 ish years of muck seeping down thru the crack. Sand the muck too.
The table slides were really tough to pull apart. I don’t think anyone had used this table leaf in many years. Let’s just say I made good use of a hammer.
As hard as it was to pull the leaf out of the table, I thought it would be in pristine condition. It was better than the rest of the table, but it too needed a sanding and new oil.
Once the table was sanded with 120 grit sandpaper and all the grit was removed with a lint free cloth, the entire table received a coat of natural danish oil.
Buff with fine steel wool in between coats to give a super smooth finish.
That center leaf was much lighter than the remainder of the table. Instead of giving the center piece 2 more coats of the natural danish oil, I switched over to the dark walnut oil. It was a subtle difference but it helped minimize the difference between the 2 colors of the wood. especially when the table is set like in the last picture below.
After all the sanding and oiling, the leaf extension slides were still extremely hard to pull apart. They couldn’t be rusty because they are made of all solid wood. The wood may be slightly warped or they could just have food or grime stuck into their crevices over the years. A hammer helped the slides to move a bit.
Within the slides I rubbed candle wax on anything that looked like it could have wax rubbed on it. The slides are not perfect but it is no longer a two man job getting those things to budge. The leaf is now usable, just a little stiff.
FYI, they do sell new slides at Amazon if yours refuses to budge or is broken.
The final refinished table, with it’s leaf tucked in.
This mid century cutie can easily sit 4.
With the leaf pulled out the table can now seat 6 comfortably.
If ever I’ve seen a poor table in need of a rescue, this one has to be it.
Until next time, stay inspired.
In search of more MCM furniture? Check out this pair of side tables, also a dump find and also in terrible shape.
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That was a project. Well done. I swear I owned that table once upon a time. Probably a similar one. I always loved the hidden built in leaf extension, so you didn’t have to store a piece of the table somewhere else and dig it out when needed.
You did a beautiful job.
Dream table!!! You’re so talented 😍
Dream table!!! You’re so talented!