How to fix furniture scratches

June 22, 2012, 9:58 am Yahoo!7

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Antique dealers and removalists have known for years there is a quick and easy way of masking minor nicks and scratches in timber furniture.

Most of us have furniture which has a few scratches due to the rigours of life, but you don't have to spend the best part of a weekend stripping, sanding and refinishing a piece of stained timber furniture just to repair what is really only a minor blemish.

Felt-tip pens that contain oil-based timber stains can be used to mask those annoying minor scratches. The pens are available in five timber colours: black brown, dark brown, medium brown, light brown and red brown.

Three easy steps

The masking process is done in just three quick steps. But before you start, place the furniture where it is usually located. Choose the stain pen with the closest colour match to the timber and wait for good daylight so you make the best repair. On scratches across strongly grained timber, you can even use two pens that match the grain.

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Gather your supplies

Piece of wooden furniture

Felt-tip pen that contains oil-based timber stains

Here's How

Step 1: Use the less is more principle and sparingly dab the colour stain on the blemish in the direction of the grain. The stain will soak into the raw exposed lighter wood.
Step 2: Immediately wipe with a clean cloth to remove the excess stain on the surface around the scratch. If the colour is still light, repeat the process until you have matched the colour.
Step 3: When you are happy with the colour, let the stain dry for 5-10 minutes, then finish with wax or a clear finish and you'll hardly notice the damage.