Way back when in 1997, a fateful Christmas dinner and a very hot dish conspired to put a 3" white heat mark on my heirloom dropleaf table (despite mats and a table protector!)
I was gutted and called out a chap to assess the damage. He tutted away and quoted me far more than a student could afford to fix, apparently by stripping it down and repolishing.
I covered the table up and prayed my mother would never find out.
Fast forward to yesterday: while browsing the local hardware shop, I found a tin of stuff purporting to fix white heat marks on woods and laminates. I thought what the hell, and bought it.
It's fixed it. Perfectly. For six quid.
So if anyone has a white heat or water mark on a table, I can recommend Liberon ring remover. I always thought it was just for water rings where the varnish had come off!
Only thing, I still can't uncover the table now I have DS marauding about! But I am so pleased...