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How to remove stain from Parker table?

ejg84

🖼️

The project:

Total novice here and not wanting to stuff up this beautiful Parker table! First project, and would love some advice on how to remove these marks from surface of the table?!

- Materials:

So far have only sanded with my Ryobi sander.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-18v-one-hp-brushless-125mm-random-orbital-sander-rros18c-tool-only_p0539761

- Step 1:

Cleaned table with warm, soapy water.

Did a light sand.

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MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @ejg84. It's wonderful to have you join us and many thanks for your question on restoring a table.

From your photo, the staining appears to be more than just a surface mark and may have penetrated into the timber itself. The good news is that Parker tables are typically made from solid timber veneer over a substantial substrate, so there is often some scope for restoration, but you'll need to proceed carefully.

I'd recommend starting by sanding the entire tabletop with 240-grit sandpaper rather than focusing only on the stained area. This will help remove the deteriorated surface finish evenly and allow you to better assess how deep the staining extends. Once the old finish has been removed, you'll be able to see whether the stain is confined to the upper layers of the timber or has penetrated more deeply.

If the stain is only in the top layers, it may sand out completely. However, if it has soaked deeper into the timber, it may not be possible to remove it entirely. Be careful not to concentrate your sanding in one spot, as this can create a low area or gouge that will be difficult to disguise later.

Parker furniture from different periods was finished with a range of coatings, including shellac and oil-based finishes.

Here's a helpful guide: How to restore furniture.

Let me tag @Tim2515, @janine123 and @muirmade, to see if they have any thoughts.

Please keep us updated with your progress and feel free to post some additional photos once you've removed more of the existing finish.

Mitchell

muirmade

Thanks for the tag @MitchellMc

Hey @ejg84 I was a novice too! Ours was absolutely worse for wear when we bought it too - your stain there looks pretty gnarly I hope you get it out!

We first did a sand with an AEG orbital sander from bunnings, and then used this feast watson furniture restore: https://www.bunnings.com.au/feast-watson-250ml-surface-restore_p0186436

The restore was good for the legs and the chairs, but the table top needed something a bit tougher, it didn't wear super well with the damage that was on ours, and general day to day use, so we ended up giving it a really good sand again, just on the table top. And we ended up cheating on bunnings (sorry) and getting Whittle Hardwax (a friend in furniture recommended) and it's been beautiful ever since, wearing really well. Restore was all g for the chairs and table leg like I said.

And we used a chrome polish on our table leg and came up a treat too (doesn't look like yours has any metal though??): https://www.bunnings.com.au/autosol-75ml-chrome-and-metal-polish_p4460667?region_id=118182&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20876642384&gbraid=0AAAAADtbEB-bfZ6R5aeN18zqjaswSZWep&gclid=Cj0KCQjwornRBhCrARIsAON5exE_UKmqCAjpfIZ01PI6_JDXru_-54syMFwGnbIieJe2zZG83cMHzt8aAh40EALw_wcB

Love that you're bringing an old beauty back to life though, your's is awesome! Can't wait to see it. Here's ours (of course we took the horrific nana curtain fabric off :

Screenshot 2026-06-15 at 11.44.58 am.png

Screenshot 2026-06-15 at 11.45.09 am.png

MitchellMc

Many thanks for sharing your experience, @Amandaworks .

It's always fantastic to hear from members who have tackled a similar project and can provide first-hand insights into what worked well for them. I'm sure @ejg84 will appreciate your detailed suggestions, particularly around the sanding process and the different finishing products you've trialled.

Your Parker table restoration has come up beautifully, and it's a great example of how rewarding it can be to bring these quality pieces back to life. Thanks again for taking the time to contribute and share your results with the community.

Mitchell

ejg84

thanks for the suggestions @MitchellMc and @muirmade! Your table has turned fantastic!

Went back to Bunnings yesterday and they sold me what’s pictured…but now I’m thinking I don’t need the really $ French Polish, just the Scandinavian Oil will do the trick 🤔

thoughts?

MitchellMc

Hi @ejg84,

For a Parker table, I suspect the original finish would be closer to a French polish or a lacquered finish than an oil finish. However, it really comes down to the look you'd like to achieve.

The Scandinavian Oil will give the timber a more natural, low-sheen appearance and is generally easier to apply, while the French Polish can provide a richer, deeper finish that may be more in keeping with the table's original appearance.

Before committing to either product, I'd suggest sanding back a small area on the underside of the table and applying some Scandinavian Oil as a test patch. That will give you a good indication of the final colour and sheen, and help you decide whether you're happy with the look or would prefer something closer to the original finish.

I'd be keen to see how it turns out.

Mitchell

muirmade

@ejg84I used that exact French polish on this old girl (no brand name but it was my nanas) came up a TREAT

ejg84

@muirmade that looks fantastic!

ejg84

So, I finally finished! However, that nasty stain/mark refused to move 😕

Still love the table, and placemats can hide it if necessary!

MitchellMc

Excellent results @ejg84! The table has come up beautifully. Sometimes stains are just too deep, and you risk destroying the surface to remove them. Your placemeats are a great compromise.

What finish did you end up going with?

Well done!

Mitchell