How to Hide Scratches on a Coffee Table

Scratches on a coffee table are obvious and unsightly; in areas where the finish has been scraped off, lighter-colored, unfinished wood is exposed. You -- and visitors to your home -- can't help but notice these blemishes. But you can hide the scratches by dying the unfinished wood to match the rest of the surface. Depending on the depth of the scratch, you may be able to use the natural dye present in some nutmeats. Deeper scratches require a colored wax stick.

Walnut or Brazil nut
Soft cloth
Colored wax stick
Plastic putty knife

Instructions

- 1
  Wipe the table with a clean cloth to remove dust and surface dirt. Don't use wood-cleaning products that add an oily shine, these may interfere with the scratch treatment.
- 2
  Crack a walnut or Brazil nut to expose the nutmeat. The nuts contain an oily dye that darkens to the color of finished wood after exposure to the air.
- 3
  Rub the nutmeat firmly back and forth across the scratch until the color of the scratched area matches the surrounding wood. Go with the direction of the wood grain for the best results.
- 4
  Buff the scratched area by rubbing briskly with a soft, clean cloth. Buffing blends the oily nut residue with the surrounding finish for a smoother appearance.
- 5
  Rub the scratch with a color-matched wax stick if it is still obvious after using the nutmeat. Deposit enough wax in the scratch to make it even with or a little bit higher than the undamaged part of the table top.
- 6
  Scrape the patched area with a plastic putty knife to flatten it and remove any excess wax. Buff the scratch with a soft cloth until smooth.

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