| Patching and Repairing Wood |
From "Refinishing"
episode DIF-102 |
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Holes in wood furnishings can be patched with different methods. For holes 1/8" in diameter or smaller, use tinted wood putty as a filler. Select a tint that closely matches the wood finish, press the putty into the hole with your fingertip, and wipe off the excess with a soft cloth (figure A).
Holes from 1/8" to 1/2" in diameter should be repaired with wood filler with a small amount of hardener added. Squeeze about 1" of hardener onto a scoop of wood filler the size of a golf ball. Mix with a putty knife, and pack the mixture into the hole, mounding it slightly above the surface of the wood to allow for shrinkage as the filler dries. Once the filler dries, sand it flush with the surface of the wood, making sure to sand with the grain of the wood.
Round holes greater than 1/2" in diameter can be filled with a cross-section of a dowel cut slightly shorter than the depth of the hole (figure B). To avoid scratching the wood around the hole, sand the end of the dowel section before inserting it. Swab the inside of the hole with glue, then tap the dowel into place. Use a block of softwood when tapping to avoid marring the finish with the hammer.
If a clear finish is to be used on the piece, it's best to repair deep gouges with a wood patch. From a piece of scrap wood of the same type as the piece being repaired, cut a diamond-shaped patch slightly larger than the gouge (figure C) . Lay the patch over the gouge, and trace around the edges of the patch with a utility knife. Use the knife to cut out a diamond-shaped area, the same depth as the patch, inside the outline. When the patch fits snugly into the hole, apply a small amount of glue to the hole, and press the patch into place (figure D). Apply pressure overnight with a clamp or a stack of books to keep the patch snug and flush while the glue dries.
Repairing wood-rot on furniture legs involves both replacing the wood that has rotted away and stabilizing the wood that's left. Begin by using a screwdriver to remove loose fragments of rotted wood. With a small brush, apply a liberal coat of wood hardener to the damaged area, allowing it to soak into the wood. With a putty knife, pack wood filler into cavities, applying enough to replace the wood that has rotted away (figure E). Mound it slightly to allow for shrinkage. After about an hour the hardened filler may be sanded flush with the wood. Later, if the piece is to be stained, the filler may be stained along with the wood.
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