skip to main content

Home Decorating

My tip of the day

13 years ago

I accidentally posed this in the "Kitchen Table" forum so I'm re-posting here where it was meant...

I posted last week about a Mid-century Danish table on CL. The table was shown from a "not lit" hallway and appeared in good condition other then a few minor wear marks, so I offered $65 (orig. $89). She was hesitant but countered at $70. Then, looking more closely, I noticed several black Sharpie marks (how'd I miss them?). So, I countered back to $65. She took it.

I researched on the Internet how to remove marker from a finished table. There were plenty of options that probably would ruin the finish, but not the one I tried:

Eraser, not any eraser. As an artist I have gentle erasers, not like a pencil eraser. I rubbed those black spots until they looked like part of the wood grain - took 5 minutes and the finish was not lifted at all. I polished with Old English Furn Polish and the table looks fabulous...as was the price.

These are the CL pics which are now deleted as a refresher, not my polished pics:

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

Kathleen McGuire
13 years ago
Would you mind sharing what kind of eraser specifically? The tables look great in the picture but I would love to see the polished pics!
User
13 years ago
I'm glad you were able to get the price down and the sharpie out! I'd also love to see the finished tables!
Related Discussions
What food related tips have you learned this year?
Q
Comments (77)
Here's where I heard about the hashbrowns in waffle iron (have since seen it several places): Hashbrown Waffles by Waffleizer.com Directions: 1. Wash and peel the potatoes. Shred them and squeeze them dry with a towel. (This ensures that your potatoes brown nicely.) 2. In a mixing bowl, add the potatoes, followed by salt and pepper to taste. 3. Spread about a teaspoon of butter on the waffle iron. (A silicone pastry brush works well; neither you nor the brush will melt while you spread the butter around the extremely hot waffle iron, and any nonstick finish on your waffle iron will be spared.) 4. Pile the shredded potatoes into the waffle iron and close the lid. 5. After a few minutes, you may wish to squeeze down the lid a bit. Check the potatoes after 10 minutes. In my waffle iron on the medium heat setting, the potatoes showed golden-brown highlights after about 15 minutes. But yours will vary, possibly by quite a bit. 6. Carefully remove the potatoes from the waffle iron. Serve them with grated cheese or sour cream. You could also serve waffled hash browns with ketchup, alongside a waffleburger. But that takes serious commitment to the concept. And I would worry about you a little. I used mine as the base for a fried egg, topped with shavings of three-year Gouda. It took me about two minutes to clean my plate. And, no, I did not waffle the egg. Not that one, anyway. Cooking bacon came from Alton Brown's show.
...See More
Is a sink tip-out worthwhile?
Q
Comments (23)
I have one under my cooktop. I have...um...skewers I think in there. And the cord to the electric skillet. Don't use it a lot, but there's stuff in there so it's doing something. I'll try to get a real drawer in there when we remodel, but if I can't, any usable space is usable space. We have one in front of the sink, too, but the plastic tray is missing. I do stick the drain plug in there, resting against the sink. I guess I'd use it but more important to me is getting the sink as far forward as possible. But again, if it doesn't impact sink position, it's space! I wouldn't keep damp things in there, or frequently used items. And I didn't think enough of it to replace the missing tray (even though they are pretty cheap).
...See More
Kitchen Sink Tip-Out Trays for Bathroom
Q
Comments (11)
I have double sinks in our remodeled master bath, and we put a tip-out tray in front of each sink. DH keeps a sponge in his, and I keep tiny stuff in mine, like those little interdental brushes, a dentist's mirror to look inside my mouth, and other tooth-brushing related things, other than my daily toothbrush and toothpaste which are stored elsewhere. I don't go to my tip-out every day, but I'm not sorry I had them installed. I'm having tip-outs installed in my new kitchen sink bases, too. If they are costing you an arm and a leg, maybe you shouldn't get them. But my bathroom cabinet vendor "threw them in" to sweeten the purchasing deal. BTW, some people have complained that tip-outs are hard to keep clean. Mine are metal, but I still lined them with aluminum foil and a bit of folded paper toweling. If those get scuzzy, I can just replace them, and the tip-out will stay like new.
...See More
Friday's Tip of the Day!
Q
Comments (3)
Oh my gosh Flamey! I have been doing that for years,thanks to my mother.LOL She was infamous for wrapping things with paper towels and holding it with a rubber band!LOL She use to wrap one around her glass of tea to keep it from sweating.Sad to say,I have become my mother.LOL I'm sure I have some hints but can't think of one right off the top of my head.Maybe later.LOL
...See More
debo_2006
Original Author
13 years ago
kmc: I put a link below for the specific eraser. They are easily found at art supply stores. They don't damage the surface of my art work and evidently my finished table.

Pic to come.

Here is a link that might be useful: eraser
greenthumbfish
13 years ago
Yep, those Staedtler Mars erasers have been one of my best friends since art school ;-) Great tip debi!
Kathleen McGuire
13 years ago
Oh THOSE erasers! Love them!Thanks!
justgotabme
13 years ago
Oh be still my heart! My folks had two of these tables and the coffee table shown in the ad in the link below that is about placing a glass of ice water on it. I'd give anything if I had been lucky enough to have them, but my brother got them. I'm sure they are long gone now since he's moved cross country a couple times since he took them. I came very close to getting a set a while back on CL for a hundred dollars all three pieces having called on them with in minutes of them appearing only to lose out to someone that was just a bit faster.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lane Acclaim Series
justgotabme
13 years ago
Debi, I was so excited about the table that I forgot to ask where you are going to use it? Would love to see a picture of it in your home.
pjtexgirl
13 years ago
I really like those tables. What is that kind of word work called specifically?

My DH is an artist. He stopped wondering why I used his supplies for all kinds of weird stuff quite a while ago.
justgotabme
13 years ago
Are you asking about the dovetails?

Related Stories

HOUSEKEEPING 10 Tips to Streamline Laundry Day

By Laura Gaskill

Little adjustments to your attitude and routine can help take the wrinkles out of doing the wash

MORE ROOMS 6 Garage Organizing Tips That Really Work

By Vanessa Brunner

National Clean Out the Garage Day: Here's how to clear the clutter and organize what's left

PETS 10 Tips for Keeping Indoor Cats Healthy and Happy

By Laura Gaskill

It's National Cat Day: Ask not what your cat can do for you (because it will ignore you) but what you can do for your cat

DECORATING GUIDES 7 Tips to Combine a Playroom and Guest Room

By Shawn Gauthier

Nurture ABC fun by day and 'Zzzzz' at night with these ideas that cater to both kids and overnight guests

LIFE 12 Tips for Happily Combining Households

By Laura Gaskill

Joining forces may seem easy compared to merging all your stuff under one roof. These pointers can help you keep the peace

ROOM OF THE DAY Room of the Day: A Laundry So Cheery, Wash Day Is Wonderful

Pretty paint and playful touches banish chore-day blahs in a laundry room designed for a magazine’s Idea House

BATHROOM MAKEOVERS Room of the Day: See the Bathroom That Helped a House Sell in a Day

By Annie Thornton

Sophisticated but sensitive bathroom upgrades help a century-old house move fast on the market

GLAM STYLE Room of the Day: Master Suite Recalls Hollywood’s Glamour Days

By Bryan Anthony

Silver-screen styling finds it way north to a Hollywood Regency-inspired bedroom in Toronto

12 Features To Have You Wishing Every Day Was Wash Day

By Between Naps on the Porch

HOUSEKEEPING 7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Living Room

By Laura Gaskill

A task a day sends messes away. Take a week to get your living room in shape

Sponsored

More Discussions

Help with Studio Apt

39

What type of outside light to get?

2

Need help with sitting room/lounge room furniture

1

What dining chairs and buffet goes with brown table?

0

Undercabinet Lighting in Kitchen

2