How To Fix Gouges In Wood Furniture: Steps To Repair Gouges In Wooden Furniture

How To Fix/Repair Gouges In Wood Furniture?

Gouges refer to deep scratches which occur on to the furniture by accidental hits or any other reason. There are several methods by which gouges in wood furniture can be repaired and the methods are mentioned below:

By Using Wax Filler Sticks:

The steps to fix gouges on wood furniture with wax filler sticks are:

1. Rub The Filler Stick Over Gouge:
   The first step will be to rub the filler stick over the gouge but make sure the color of filler stick matches the wood's shade. The user needs to rub the filler stick over the gouge back & forth till the gouge is completely filled. Other than filler stick, blending pencils and stain markers can also be used to fill up gouges. All these products can be purchased from home improvement stores.
2. Blend Filler Using Finger:
   The next step for the user will be to blend the filler across the edges of the gouge and smooth it around crack edges using the finger. The user needs to make sure that he will not remove much filler from the gouge and try to level the filler with the surrounding wood.
3. Remove Excess Filler:
   After that, the user needs to wipe out excess filler from the gouge using the dry rag. Also, he needs to wipe out surrounding areas of the gouge in order to remove the filler that has spread around. The user can also level up the filler in the gouge using a credit card or similar type of solid edge item. Apart from that, if the filler starts to dry before it is wiped out, the user can dampen a rag in mineral water and scrub it over wood's grain.
4. Let It Dry:
   The last step will be to let the filler dry up completely till it hardens for a minimum 30 minutes and if required the user can repeat the process.

By Applying Wax Filler Putty:

The steps to follow in order to fix wood furniture gouges with Wax Filler Putty are:

1. Spread Wood Latex Filler In The Gouge:
   The first step is to spread Wood Latex Filler in the gouge using the putty knife and level it with the wooden surface. It has been recommended that if the gouge is larger in size, the user needs to fill it up with similar color wood filler putty. In order to avoid scratching the wooden surface, it has been recommended to use a plastic knife rather than metal.
2. Remove Excess Putty:
   The next step will be to remove the excessive putty from the gouge using the putty knife.
3. Let The Putty Dry:
   The next step will be to let the putty in the gouge dry for up to 30 minutes and make sure it has not been touched in between.
4. Sanding:
   The next step will be to sand the filler in the gouge using a 180-grit sandpaper in order to rough up the filled area. The user needs to rub the filled area with sandpaper back and forth and avoid scratching the wooden surface.
5. Remove Excess Filler With Damp Cloth:
   The next step in the procedure will be to dampen the cloth in lukewarm water. Take out excess moisture from the cloth before rubbing it on to the wood in order to remove excess filler from the borders of the gouge.
6. Finish:
   The last step in the process will be to finish the repaired gouge using polyurethane or any other sealant. It is necessary to use the same sealant used in other areas of the wood furniture in order to give the whole furniture similar look. In case, the user is unaware of the sealant used on the wooden furniture, he can use varnish and thin it by mixing 10% - 20% of turpentine in it and then apply it on the repaired gouge.