Repairing Splintering Wood

Published: Oct 17, 2011
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

Things You Will Need

  • Saw or sharp knife
  • 60-grit sandpaper
  • Sandpaper -- various grades (optional)
  • Wood putty
  • Putty knife
  • Tack cloth
  1. Cut any large, ragged splinters off the wood using a small saw or sharp knife. If there are only a few splinters, you can break them off.

  2. Sand the splintered area smooth using 60-grit sandpaper. If the project needs a smooth surface, continue sanding with finer and finer grades of sandpaper until you reach 220-grit. This is important if the splintered area is on a surface that is used frequently, such as a desk.

  3. Fill the area with wood putty using a putty knife. Let the putty dry according to package instructions or overnight.

  4. Sand the wood putty smooth with 100-grit sandpaper. Dust with a tack cloth.

The Drip Cap

  • Splintered wood is unattractive and also a little dangerous due to the sharpness of the splinters.
  • Once repaired, the splintered wood is just as strong as it originally was and can even blend in with the rest of the wood.
  • Sand the wood putty smooth with 100-grit sandpaper.
Shara JJ Cooper

Shara JJ Cooper graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 2000, and has worked professionally ever since. She has a passion for community journalism, but likes to mix it up by writing for a variety of publications. Cooper is the…

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