glass top table

I finally got the dining room table I have wanted for years and I hate it.
It has a 6' round glass top and it is always smudged. To make matters
worse, the chairs are on casters so we end up grabbing the edges of the
table to pull ourselves to the table so it is also smudged under the table
to. I keep a table cloth on it all the time now and it is hard to say which
is more trouble keeping clean.

So, I was wondering if a frosted glass top would be a bit better? Does
anyone have one that could answer that? On the same thought, could I do
that myself with an orbital sander?

Thanks!

Dim the lights, use a table cloth, take it to a professional glass
shop to frost the underside, or sell it. Unusual to have casters on
dining chairs.

On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 11:35:04 -0500, "The Data Rat" <kia_1957@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>I finally got the dining room table I have wanted for years and I hate it.
>It has a 6' round glass top and it is always smudged. To make matters
>worse, the chairs are on casters so we end up grabbing the edges of the
>table to pull ourselves to the table so it is also smudged under the table
>to. I keep a table cloth on it all the time now and it is hard to say which
>is more trouble keeping clean.
>
>So, I was wondering if a frosted glass top would be a bit better? Does
>anyone have one that could answer that? On the same thought, could I do
>that myself with an orbital sander?
>
>Thanks!
>

On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 11:35:04 -0500, "The Data Rat" <kia_1957@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>I finally got the dining room table I have wanted for years and I hate it.

Ain't this always the way? Let me tell you about my brass bed...

>It has a 6' round glass top and it is always smudged.

Can the glass be removed? Or is it enclosed in moldings?

Of course, a regularly-used table, whether high-sheen wood or glass is
bound to get smudgy. People! That's the problem! Get rid of the
people, and everything can remain pristine (dusty, but not smudgy).

>To make matters
>worse, the chairs are on casters so we end up grabbing the edges of the
>table to pull ourselves to the table so it is also smudged under the table
>to.

Remove casters from chairs? But then you'll have scoot-marks on the
floor/carpet/whatever. I would say that fingermarks on the
*underside* of a table wouldn't be at the top of my list, but your
priorities may be different.

>I keep a table cloth on it all the time now and it is hard to say which
>is more trouble keeping clean.

Table coverings include cloths, placemats, and placemats on cloths. If
you can't tolerate *any* smudges on glass or evidence of use on cloth,
you are in trouble. The business of living is inherently messy. I
would suggest a few easily washable, perm-press tablecloths

>So, I was wondering if a frosted glass top would be a bit better? Does
>anyone have one that could answer that? On the same thought, could I do
>that myself with an orbital sander?

Frosted/pebbled glass is probably a lot *harder* to keep clean. It may
not show fingerprints, but *anything* that spills will be more
difficult to remove thoroughly.

If you can bear it, there are many styles of vinyl 'oilcloth' fabrics
and cloths that appear to be fairly easy-clean.

"The Data Rat" <kia_1957@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:HgXJb.68456$hf1.28907@lakeread06...
> I finally got the dining room table I have wanted for years and I hate it.
> It has a 6' round glass top and it is always smudged. To make matters
> worse, the chairs are on casters so we end up grabbing the edges of the
> table to pull ourselves to the table so it is also smudged under the table
> to. I keep a table cloth on it all the time now and it is hard to say
which
> is more trouble keeping clean.
>
> So, I was wondering if a frosted glass top would be a bit better? Does
> anyone have one that could answer that? On the same thought, could I do
> that myself with an orbital sander?
>
> Thanks!

Frosted glass would probably be a bit better, but would show oily spots from
your fingers. You might try looking for film that can be applied to the
bottom of the glass to give it a frosted appearance. If you don't like it,
the film could be removed. Another alternative for DIY frosting is to use
some etching gel on it (available from craft stores). If only the edge is a
problem you could mask off the center and etch just the edge. You could
also stencil a design on the bottom with the etching gel -- maybe a pattern
that you could pull from some fabric or area rug.

I like the idea of sand etching the glass. I don't know if you should do
the top of underneath side--I think you'll have to experiment on a piece of
glass--I think it'll look GREAT!!

Sijka
"The Data Rat" <kia_1957@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:HgXJb.68456$hf1.28907@lakeread06...
> I finally got the dining room table I have wanted for years and I hate it.
> It has a 6' round glass top and it is always smudged. To make matters
> worse, the chairs are on casters so we end up grabbing the edges of the
> table to pull ourselves to the table so it is also smudged under the table
> to. I keep a table cloth on it all the time now and it is hard to say
which
> is more trouble keeping clean.
>
> So, I was wondering if a frosted glass top would be a bit better? Does
> anyone have one that could answer that? On the same thought, could I do
> that myself with an orbital sander?
>
> Thanks!
>
>

"sijka" <thecat@neb.rr.com> wrote in message
news:zXrKb.57024$fq1.16201@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> I like the idea of sand etching the glass. I don't know if you should do
> the top of underneath side--I think you'll have to experiment on a piece
of
> glass--I think it'll look GREAT!!
>
> Sijka

I think that sanding the glass will just result in a lot of random,
inconsistent scratches. If deep enough, the scratches could end up
propagating a break in the glass. I would definitely experiment first. I
still think that the etching solution would produce a better result. If the
table is high-end, I would take it to a shop and have them sand blast or
etch it.


> "The Data Rat" <kia_1957@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:HgXJb.68456$hf1.28907@lakeread06...
> > I finally got the dining room table I have wanted for years and I hate
it.
> > It has a 6' round glass top and it is always smudged. To make matters
> > worse, the chairs are on casters so we end up grabbing the edges of the
> > table to pull ourselves to the table so it is also smudged under the
table
> > to. I keep a table cloth on it all the time now and it is hard to say
> which
> > is more trouble keeping clean.
> >
> > So, I was wondering if a frosted glass top would be a bit better? Does
> > anyone have one that could answer that? On the same thought, could I do
> > that myself with an orbital sander?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> >
>
>

On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 20:39:33 GMT, "Vox Humana" <vhumana@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>
>"The Data Rat" <kia_1957@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:HgXJb.68456$hf1.28907@lakeread06...
>> I finally got the dining room table I have wanted for years and I hate it.
>> It has a 6' round glass top and it is always smudged. To make matters
>> worse, the chairs are on casters so we end up grabbing the edges of the
>> table to pull ourselves to the table so it is also smudged under the table
>> to. I keep a table cloth on it all the time now and it is hard to say
>which
>> is more trouble keeping clean.
>>
>> So, I was wondering if a frosted glass top would be a bit better? Does
>> anyone have one that could answer that? On the same thought, could I do
>> that myself with an orbital sander?
>>
>> Thanks!
>
>Frosted glass would probably be a bit better, but would show oily spots from
>your fingers. You might try looking for film that can be applied to the
>bottom of the glass to give it a frosted appearance. If you don't like it,
>the film could be removed. Another alternative for DIY frosting is to use
>some etching gel on it (available from craft stores). If only the edge is a
>problem you could mask off the center and etch just the edge. You could
>also stencil a design on the bottom with the etching gel -- maybe a pattern
>that you could pull from some fabric or area rug.
I passed a shop today that specialised in etching. Some of the glass
on display looked lovely.
meanwhile up in my attic I have a piece of antique glass that has been
painted with Victorian figures, I don't know what type of paint has
been used but it looks ok and seems durable

On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 17:37:58 GMT, Frogleg <frogleg@nowhere.com> wrote:

>On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 11:35:04 -0500, "The Data Rat" <kia_1957@yahoo.com>
>wrote:
>
>>I finally got the dining room table I have wanted for years and I hate it.

>Can the glass be removed? Or is it enclosed in moldings?

Ahh. The light dawns. It's not a table with glass on top, but a table
thats top *is* glass. Which explains why underneath fingermarks are a
problem. Good luck with it.

C.C.S.Cleaning Service Since 1989 ketcs2003@fuse.net



"Phisherman" <nobody@noone.com> wrote in message
news:7chgvvsviptqt54f7hdtfbqnueu31l94h4@4ax.com...
> Dim the lights, use a table cloth, take it to a professional glass
> shop to frost the underside, or sell it. Unusual to have casters on
> dining chairs.
>
> On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 11:35:04 -0500, "The Data Rat" <kia_1957@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> >I finally got the dining room table I have wanted for years and I hate
it.
> >It has a 6' round glass top and it is always smudged. To make matters
> >worse, the chairs are on casters so we end up grabbing the edges of the
> >table to pull ourselves to the table so it is also smudged under the
table
> >to. I keep a table cloth on it all the time now and it is hard to say
which
> >is more trouble keeping clean.
> >
> >So, I was wondering if a frosted glass top would be a bit better? Does
> >anyone have one that could answer that? On the same thought, could I do
> >that myself with an orbital sander?
> >
> >Thanks!
> >
>