Repairing Splintering Wood
Splintered wood is unattractive and also a little dangerous due to the sharpness of the splinters. It is also leaves the wood vulnerable to further splintering and moisture damage. Once repaired, the splintered wood is just as strong as it originally was and can even blend in with the rest of the wood.
Things You Will Need
- Saw or sharp knife
- 60-grit sandpaper
- Sandpaper -- various grades (optional)
- Wood putty
- Putty knife
- Tack cloth
Tip
Break off the splinters and fill the ragged area with an epoxy glue if you are working on a rugged piece of wood, such as fence boards. This will keep moisture from penetrating the wood and further ruining it. If you need the wood to be all one color, sand the entire surface after the wood putty dries, dust it and cover it with paint or stain.
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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.
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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.
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Fill the area with wood putty using a putty knife. Let the putty dry according to package instructions or overnight.
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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.
Writer Bio
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 owner/editor of the Boundary Sentinel, a web-based newspaper.
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