Would there be any reason to consider decorative inlay? If the
damage could be incorporated into a pattern of inlay type work it
might be striking. Here is an example, I think one of these
medallions properly centered would make the table quite a show
piece.
http://www.inlays.com/cat/Medallions.html

(top posted for your convenience)
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Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)




"Toller" wrote in message
...
A friend has a 80" x 37" cherry table they let several candles
burn down on. It actually burnt out maybe an eight inch of wood.
The top is 1 1/4" thick, but I think sanding the damage out is
probably hopeless; presumably the wood will be discolored deep
into it, and it might be 3/8" to find clean wood. Turning the top
over won't work either, as the bottom surface is quite imperfect.
That leaves ripping the damaged 12" out, putting new boards in,
and sanding it down.
The problem is the joinery used. The top is all 2" wide boards
that have a sort of finger joint between them. It is flat for
an eight of an inch at the top and bottom, and then 4 pairs of
fingers, each about an eight of an inch. They are rounded, and
project about an eighth of an inch.

Getting an exact match is too much to ask for, but I can't find
anything even close. Any suggestions, either on the cutter or
alternate methods? I will take a router bit, a shaper cutter,
or maybe even a molding head for my table saw.