TrypTisch

Apologies to any German speakers out there.

Have now moved on to the oak table.  Most of the previous surface came off with a damp cloth but to really get the water / heat / Heaven-knows-what marks out needed quite a lot of sanding.  Thankfully I'd treated myself to a sander with a vacuum connector.  The centre leaf, broken and unused, was under a very dark varnish (as, presumably had been the rest).

Nothing quite like seeing the true colour of the wood emerge from under the layers.

Curiously, having removed most of the grot it came to light that something serious had happened at some point and a sizeable circle had already been sanded out to quite a depth; leaving only an enigmatic ring of dark (burn?) spots. (Right hand side of nearest section).

Coat one of several thin, clear varnishes applied and it's looking much more like wood again.