How to Repair Nicks & Scratches on Cherry Wood Furniture
Cherry wood furniture is a popular choice for many because of the stately elegance the dark red wood exudes. Cherry wood furniture is also known for being timeless and traditional. This traditional wood furniture choice evokes a feeling of warmth in any room. Unfortunately, because of use, children, pets and accidents, the finish on your furniture can end up with nicks and scratches, which tremendously detract from its beauty. Many nicks and scratches can be repaired at home fairly easily, while some will need the expert touch of a professional furniture restoration specialist, which can be quite expensive. A cherry wood finish is available on tables, chairs, beds, dressers and more.
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Dip the corner of a cotton swab in cordovan shoe polish, and apply this sparingly in the direction of the cherry wood grain. Continue to apply the polish in light coats until the scratch or nick is covered. Allow the shoe polish to dry completely, then apply a coat of wood wax.
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Use a scratch cover marker or crayon specifically made for cherry wood. Lightly color in the scratch or nick, building the color coat by coat until it matches your existing cherry finish. Scratch cover markers and crayons are available at hardware stores and home improvement stores.
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Use a liquid cherry-colored scratch cover. Dip the corner of a soft rag like flannel into the liquid, and apply it lightly to cover scratches. Apply additional coats to deepen the color.
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Match cherry-colored wood stain to the finish. Dip a clean, soft rag into the wood stain and apply this to the scratch in light coats to build the color to match the cherry finish. Allow the stain to dry thoroughly, and then apply a coat of wax.
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For deeper scratches and nicks, use cherry wood putty. Apply the wood putty with a small, flexible putty knife to fill in scratches and nicks. Build wood putty in thin layers until the putty is flush with the surface.
References
- "5001 Handyman Secrets"; Dr. Myles Bader; 2006
Tips
- Always test repairs at home in a hidden, inconspicuous location to verify a good quality color match.
Warnings
- If your cherry wood furniture is valuable either in a monetary sense or sentimentally, employ the services of a professional furniture restorer to ensure a good result.
Writer Bio
Sal Marco began writing professionally in 2009. He has written many online home improvement articles based on his more than 20 years of experience in the home improvement and building industries. He has worked as both part of a team and as a site supervisor. Marco has a Bachelor of Science in management science from Kean University.
Photo Credits
- wood cherry bedroom image by Dumitrescu Ciprian from Fotolia.com
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