Avoid using a synthetic fabric to cover the wood. For a heavy-duty fix, use a two-part auto body filler. Use light, smooth strokes to avoid scratching the wood surface, which may have been weakened by the dent. Scrape the area clean and even with the putty knife. So before pulling off the tape, cut it loose. Article by Little House On The Corner | Home Improvement & DIY Tips. Stained crown molding should be filled with stainable wood putty. Dip a matchstick in water. Depending on the size of the dent, you can swirl the tip of the iron over the dent slightly to transfer heat more evenly to the dent. I dropped my laptop on my hardwood floors, which left dents and scratches. Typically, drywall mud is the best option if you have painted crown molding. This allows just enough water to penetrate into the wood fibers below. Once the trim is completely painted and dry (at least 24 hours), tape it off (using an 'easy release' painter's tape), then paint the ceiling, then continue on to wall painting. A dent in a wood surface detracts from the beauty of finished wood and necessitates repair. Don't worry if the door and trim paint gets slopped onto the walls. How to Remove a Dent From Wood: After moving some furniture, I inevitably damaged some of it by dropping a heavy tool on it. Here is how to remove dents from wood furniture or floors. You just push it into the hole and wipe it off (Photo 6). Most kits will come with a few shades of a specific color. “The doors and drawers have dents in them?” I don’t mean to offend anyone but wood is a soft material. After fixing, you can paint over the fix and nobody will be any the wiser. You can use wood filler on the gouges and sand down. How to Fill in Wood Imperfections on Door Frames. Apply the prepared filler to a putty knife. Using a putty knife, scoop out some Ready Patch and smooth it over the surface of the crater left by the chipped paint. Whether you’re repainting wood or painting wood that’s been stained and varnished, the steps here apply to doors, windows or trim. Locate the dent. Wood putty is available in many colors that you can blend for a perfect match. Wax filler sticks are the most inexpensive option and work best on narrow scratches. Dents only compress the wood fibers and with some good old fashioned steam, you can make the wood fibers rise back into place. By surgically adding a few drops of water you can swell the wood inside the dent or depression. If you’re working with trim that is relatively free of … Common flaws in crown molding include nail holes, dents and gaps between pieces of the crown molding. Once the fibers are ripped, the only tried and true way to fix the damage is by filling in the gouge with some matching wood putty. Apply wood primer to painted trim with a paintbrush, let it dry, then paint the trim. Consider covering vulnerable surfaces with cushions, throw rugs or place mats. Shaddy has also worked as a newspaper reporter and writer, and as a contributing writer for Bicycling Magazine. Hold it there until steam begins to rise up. Fold a piece of cotton cloth three times into a small pad about 2 inches square. The deeper the water penetrates into the wood, the more effective the steaming process will be. The key to a long-lasting paint job is to prepare the woodwork so it’s clean and gloss free. Let the water soak in while you heat up a clothes iron to the highest setting. Whether it’s baseboards, casings, doors, or windows, this patch works great for any piece of trim with caked on paint. The technique of spot swelling is used when sanding the surface is not an option, such as when the wood already has a top-coat of lacquer. Most dents and dings in wood are easily fixed without having to replace it. Make sure you fill the nicks and scratches evenly. If the trim is pre-finished or you will finish it with stain and/or clear sealer, carefully select a color-matched filler that blends with the natural coloring of the wood. Using an eyedropper or kitchen baster will give you more control over where you apply the water. Very shallow depressions on painted trim are difficult to fix with such products because the fillers don't want to stay in the depression. Painting over outside wood trim includes soffit, fascia, corner boards, & trim bordering windows and doors. Keeping the trim painted was the easiest way to fix this problem. If you’re working with trim with many layers of paint, start with an 80-grit sandpaper and smooth down the wood. Using the stiff putty knife, stir the two scoops together for about 2-3 minutes Using the putty knife, scoop a little of the mixed epoxy putty and press it firmly on the dent on the trim or baseboard. Very shallow depressions on painted trim are difficult to fix with such products because the fillers don't want to stay in the depression. The wood will shrink somewhat as it dries, which can cause problems if you begin sanding or putting pressure on it too soon. A dent in a wood surface detracts from the beauty of finished wood and necessitates repair. Actually, the fastest way would be to replace all the trim. Dented baseboard (skirting) can be unsightly but it's easy to fix small dents. This technique works great for wood floors and dining r… Dab the dent with water. But there’s actually a very simple solution for lifting dents from soft wood surfaces—the magic combination of heat and moisture. ... Place the wood block over the dent's bulge. Pine is I think the worst choice, as it is so soft if you breathe the wrong way it dents. Apply more water, cloth and hot iron if the dent is still there. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 96,911 times. This article has been viewed 96,911 times. Then mix them to match the wood surrounding the hole. Since wood is a natural, porous material, it will respond to moisture. Water can make lacquer or varnish turn a slightly white, or blue color. Wood is a hard and durable material, but it's not impervious to damage. Once the cloth is dry, check the dent to see if it’s risen. In fact, all a dent actually is, is the porous fibers in the wood getting condensed from something heavier coming in contact with it. It bled onto brown varnished wooden trim & some sort of manufactured (plastic?) When you’re not using the iron, set it on a hard, level surface where it won’t get tipped over. Cotton is recommended for dent removal because it can withstand the heat. What is the easiest way to fix these and smooth out the wood again to its original profile? We use cookies to make wikiHow great. I'm going to show you the technique I used to fix it and remove the dent without using wood filler. It’s by far the simplest way to fix chipped paint. The key to a long-lasting paint job is to prepare the woodwork so it’s clean and gloss free. How to Fix a Dent in a Chrome Bumper by Jenny Harrington . We’ll show you how to achieve a mar-free surface that’ll hold paint for 10 years or longer. Sanding is an especially important step when you are painting over old trim that is previously stained or painted, or new trim that has a glossy sealer over the top. These materials are relatively inexpensive and available at most hardware stores. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Since wood is a natural, porous material, it will respond to moisture. Here are more instant fixes for nagging problems around the house. At this point, the wood fibers are absorbing the water and should expand back to where they were originally. trim that looks like brown wood.Sraping was a little successful. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. It is not a suitable way to fix dents in cars that you need to look perfect. It will scratch, scuff, ding, and nick. Even though water can damage almost any finish, you can use water effectively to remove dents. are sheltering in place, I decided to give this a try. Don’t allow the iron to come into direct contact with the wood surface. Application is easy. But if water is not allowed to remain on the surface of the finish for an extended amount of time, it does not harm the lacquer. Fingernail polish worked some, but then began to remove the brown stain-both types of trim. This is known as "blushing." 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