Danish Table Restoration – Skovby SM32

Expert Danish table restoration in Fort Collins. Skovby SM32 table repaired after moving accident. Structural repair & refinishing.

We’ve all heard the horror stories of moving day, but this project brought one of those stories to life in our shop. Our customer came to G. Michael’s Restoration in Fort Collins after a heartbreaking incident. Professional movers were attempting to navigate a flight of stairs with this stunning Skovby SM32 dining table, a masterpiece of Danish engineering known for its patented circular expansion mechanism. Unfortunately, gravity took over. The table was dropped and tumbled down a flight of approximately eight stairs.

When the pieces arrived at our shop, “broken” was an understatement. As you can see in the “before” photos, the impact had been catastrophic:

Shattered Base: The pedestal base, which houses the complex internal mechanics, was smashed apart. The curved veneer panels were delaminated and detached.

Restoring a table like this isn’t just about glue and sandpaper; it requires engineering and precision. Because this is a mechanical table, if the base is even a fraction of an inch out of square, the top won’t spin or expand correctly.

Structural Reconstruction: We treated the base like a complex 3D puzzle. Using specialized jigs and heavy-duty strapping clamps (as shown in the project photos), we reassembled the shattered pedestal. We had to ensure the curvature remained perfect so the outer panels would seat correctly.