How to Repair the Finish on Kitchen Cabinets

A burn, gouge or deep scratch in the surface of your stained kitchen cabinet doesn't have to ruin the look of the whole unit. The finish on cabinets is generally wood stain topped with gloss (polyurethane or varnish), and the repair procedure is generally just a matter of adding new stain and new gloss. Before those materials are applied, you must sand off the old gloss and stain to expose the wood. Any depression in the wood needs to be filled.

240-grit sandpaper
Stainable wood filler
Old credit card
Wood stain to match the cabinet
Small paintbrush
Paper towels
Polyurethane

Instructions

- 1
  Sand in and immediately around the damaged area with fine sandpaper -- 240-grit sandpaper is a good choice. Fold the paper and use the corner of it to get inside the gouge or burn, down to the surface. Buff it down to bare wood. Blow off the dust.
- 2
  Apply wood filler to the gouge or burn with your fingers, packing it in tightly. Use the edge of an old credit card to scrape off the excess so it's flat.
- 3
  Allow the filler to dry overnight. Buff it lightly with the sandpaper to get it smooth and flat.
- 4
  Brush wood stain onto the filler. Let it sit for a minute, and wipe it off with paper towels. If the stain isn't quite dark enough to match the surrounding stain, repeat until it is.
- 5
  Brush polyurethane over the repair area, matching the surrounding gloss. Let it set for a day.

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