How to Fix Chipped Paint on Cherry Wood Table

Lift off loose paint around the chip with a craft knife or razor blade.

Place strips of low-tack masking tape around the chip 1/4 inch away from the damage.

Sand the base of the chip lightly with 220-grit sandpaper. Wrap the sandpaper around a wood dowel or pencil to fit the sandpaper into the chip.

Wipe the chipped area with a tack rag to pick up the sanding dust.

Wet a cotton swab with mineral spirits and wipe the chip to remove debris, dust or polish from the divot.

Dip an artist's paintbrush into alkyd enamel primer. Place the tip of the paintbrush on the center of the chip and move the brush in long strokes out past the edge of the chip. Continue to brush the primer from the center of the chip outward until primer covers the entire chip. Let the primer dry for four to six hours.

Pick up alkyd enamel paint on an artist's paintbrush. Place the tip of the artist's brush in the center of the primed chip and create long outward strokes out past the edge of the chip. Continue to apply paint over the chipped area until you cover the primer. Let the alkyd enamel paint dry for three to four hours.

Dip the artist's paintbrush into the alkyd enamel paint. Place the tip of the paintbrush in the middle of the chip and brush long strokes outward, stopping slightly shy of the existing brush strokes. Allow the alkyd enamel paint to dry for three to four hours.

Add successive coats of alkyd enamel paint to the chip, making each brush stroke slightly shorter than the brush strokes of the previous coat. Continue applying paint coats until the alkyd enamel paint fills the depression from the paint chip. Let the paint dry overnight.

Wrap 400-grit sandpaper around a sanding block and lightly sand the paint chip to blend it in with the existing finish.

Wipe the area with a tack rag to pick up small particles of paint. Remove the low-tack masking tape from around the repair. Repeat for each chip in the paint finish.