How can I repair fire damage on a powder-coated metal table top?

January 3, 2016 3:55 PM

A burning candle wick fell onto the table's surface and there is now a faint, grey streak or spot that will not come off when scrubbed with a variety of cleaners. It has faded a bit but now no change is happening. Can it be repaired?

We have this table from EQ3: https://www.eq3.com/us/en/productdetail/living/accent-tables/coffee-tables/trivia-coffee-table.html

It says the top is powder-coated in a matte white.

We have a candle on the table, and somehow the burning wick got knocked off and ended up touching the table top, and now it looks like this: http://imgur.com/a/qsGk4

The photos were difficult to take and I'm not actually at the residence to take photos of my own, but we attempted to clean it with a variety of cleaners: clorox wipes, soap and water, a magic eraser, etc. Lots of scrubbing. We aren't sure exactly what the damage is or how that affects this kind of surface.

Does anybody have any experience with fire damage on powder-coated metal surfaces?

Thanks so much.

posted by drd to Home & Garden (4 answers total)

I would try Barkeepers Friend if you haven't. That stuff can be magic when nothing else works.
posted by cecic at 4:06 PM on January 3, 2016

I would also give Goo Gone a shot.
posted by dinnerdance at 4:18 PM on January 3, 2016

Magic Eraser? Toothpaste? Soft Scrub with bleach?
posted by littlewater at 5:01 PM on January 3, 2016

It may be that the powder-coating material itself has been discolored; you might not be able to get the stain off without removing some of the powder coat.
posted by mskyle at 5:41 PM on January 3, 2016