How to Repair Damaged Wood Finish

It’s a nightmare to discover a scratch, dent, burn or water ring on a piece of wood furniture. No matter how conscious we are at making sure other people don’t set drinking glasses on furniture without a coaster, and no matter how diligent we are about taking care of that furniture, the unthinkable can happen. Scratches, dents, water rings and burns can occur on wood furniture no matter how careful we are.

Some people actually want wood furniture with scratches, dents and other damage. Why in the world would anyone want damaged furniture, you ask? These people look for damaged furniture at scratch and dent sales. They look for beautiful pieces of wood furniture in need of repair in order to save money. Pieces of wood furniture with dents, scratches, and other damage cost far less than brand new undamaged pieces.

If you find a water ring, dent, burn or unsightly scratch on furniture, don’t panic. You can easily fix the problem without spending a small fortune in the process. It’s not necessary to take a piece of wood furniture to a professional for simple water rings, scratches, burns, or dents. With a few simple tools and a little ingenuity, you can fix wood furniture blemishes and damage for pennies on the dollar.

Water Rings

Water ring stains on wood finishes can be easily removed by ironing them out. Just place a thick piece of cloth over the water ring and press it with a warm iron. Rub the warm iron over the cloth-covered water ring until it disappears.

If the water ring is extremely stubborn, rub it with lemon or orange oil. Let the oil set on the water ring for several hours or overnight, and wipe off the excess oil. The water ring should be much less apparent or it may be completely gone.

Another remedy for water rings on furniture is a mixture of white toothpaste and mayonnaise. Just rub the water ring with an equal mixture of white toothpaste and mayo and wipe off any leftovers. Rub the area with orange oil or lemon oil, and the water ring should be gone.

Wood finishes that have been damaged by milk-based products can be cleaned and repaired by rubbing it with a soft rag and ammonia or a little silver polish. Just cover your index finger with a rag and dip it in either straight ammonia or a dab of silver polish. Rub the area to remove the stain and follow up by polishing with lemon oil or orange oil.

Dents

Wood dent fillers work well to repair small dents, but they rarely match the color of wood furniture. Before using wood filler, try a trick using your iron. Begin by removing the finish on the dent using the appropriate wood striper and a cotton swab. Be careful not to get solvent anywhere else on the furniture. Place a clean damp rag over the dent, and lightly press the tip of the iron over the dented area for several seconds. Dry the wood surface with a clean cloth. Lightly sand the dented area, and refinish it to match the wood stain and varnish.

Scratches

Very light or minor scratches in the varnish sometimes disappear when rubbed with furniture polish or oil. Almond oil sticks are also wonderful for repairing light scratches. They often just disappear. Deeper scratches that have removed the stain are also sometimes successfully covered using furniture repair sticks or even iodine. If these methods of scratch repair are unsuccessful, try a couple of methods often used by professionals.

Light scratches or abrasions in the varnish of wood can often be blended in using a drop of lacquer thinner mixed with denatured alcohol. Before trying this method, test a hidden area on the furniture to see how the solvent affects the varnish. You only want to soften it, not remove it. If the test gives satisfactory results, proceed with repairing the scratches or abrasions. Use a very small, soft fine-tipped paintbrush to carefully apply the solvent and blend in the varnish that surrounds the damaged area. Move the brush diagonally to achieve the best results. After the area is smooth, allow it to dry, and apply a coating of lemon or orange oil.

When scratches are deep and can’t be repaired with simple repair methods, use a solvent following the same method above, and make sure the type of solvent you use will not completely remove the finish. Heat the blade of a pallet knife or another thin flat-edged metal tool. Place the end of a matching wood filler stick or varnish stick against the hot blade. As it melts, spread the wood filler into the scratch and level the surface.

Burns

Discovering a cigarette burn or another type of burn on a piece of wood furniture is a nightmare, but this can also be repaired with minimal effort and expense. The procedure is similar to the procedure for repairing deep scratches.

Carefully carve out the burned area of wood using a manual wood tool or an electric tool with a small grinder attachment. Thoroughly remove the sawdust and clean the area. Heat the blade of a flat-edged metal tool such as a small paint scraper or pallet knife. Press the end of a matching wax wood filler stick against the hot blade. Spread the filler into the depression, but don’t be concerned about leveling the area. After the filler completely dries, use a razor blade to level it off. Complete the repair by adding wood grain using a fine-tipped paint brush and stain to match the existing wood grain. After the color dries, coat the repair using matching varnish and a small brush. Do your best to match colors and wood grain, and the repair becomes virtually invisible.