7 Easy Steps To Repair/Fix The Bowed Wood Table Top
There are many reasons for wood to get bowed which include humidity and also the natural stability of the wood. Some wood types are more prone to bowing than other types due to the fact that it has natural moisture content. The simple and easy steps for fixing the bowed wood Table Top are as follows:
- Remove: The first step is to remove the table legs with the help of a screwdriver or break down the glue bond using a hammer and wood chisel.
- Strip The Finish: After the above step is done then its time to remove the finish from the table with a chemical wood stripper. After that wash the table to remove any of the stripper residue.
- Measure: Using the measurement tape measure the length and the width of the tabletop. Cut down the strips of about 2-by 2-inch lumber but it must be 2-inches longer than the width of the table. It is a good idea to cut enough pieces so that the wood strips are placed every 12-inches all across on the top as well as bottom of the length of the table.
- Two Sawhorses: In this step set up 2 sawhorses outdoors but during hot weather or indoors where the heat can be applied. Lay the wood strips all across the sawhorses after every 12-inches. Lay down the tabletop across the sawhorses and the wood strips with the bow facing up. The battens(wood strips) will extend up to 1 inch past the tabletop from each of the side.
- Thick Towel: Take a thick wet towel and place it over the bow. Lay battens on the top of the wet towel and the tabletop, it is important to line them up with the battens that are under the tabletop. Make sure to place at least one wood strip so as to span the center of the bow.
- Hand-Screw Clamps: Place the hand-screw clamps from the bottom wood strip to the strip directly over it and gently extend the end of the clamp along the wood strip right towards the center of the table. Tighten enough the hand-screw clamps by applying firm pressure. After that put another wet towel on top of the bow.
- Heat Or Sunlight: Place a heat lamp directly towards the wet towels and the bow or place the table to sit in the sunlight. The user needs to wet the towels as well as tight the clamps each day for three or four days to a week or depending on the severity of the damage. Leave the towels, wood strips and the heat source in place until the warp is straightened.