How to Fill in a Groove on a Cabinet

Clean the indented wood before filling it. Wipe the groove using a cloth dampened slightly with water.

Wipe the damp indentation with a dry towel to thoroughly dry the gouged wood.

Prepare the area surrounding the cabinet for the repair by covering nearby countertops and other surfaces with plastic drop cloths. Open windows near the cabinet to provide adequate air circulation.

Scoop identical golf ball-sized portions of both epoxy wood fillers onto a plywood mixing board using a narrow putty knife. Use the putty knife to evenly mix both wood fillers together for three minutes.

Spread the mixed epoxy filler over the grooved area, using the putty knife to pack the filler into the groove. Press the filler into the indentation until no voids remain, but rather 1/8 inch of excess filler protrudes. Work relatively quickly, as the filler hardens in 30 minutes.

Let the epoxy-filled groove cure overnight.

Rub 100-grit sandpaper over the dried wood filler to level the repaired area with the surrounding cabinet surface. Sand off all excess filler.

Smoothen the wood filler by sanding it with progressively higher grits of sandpaper, beginning with 150-grit and finishing with 320-grit. Gently rub the wood filler with the sandpaper.

Wipe the filled area with tack cloth. Eradicate all dust from the sanded wood filler.

Select a wood stain matching the cabinet’s wood grain. Apply the stain evenly over the sanded wood filler using a paintbrush, and then let the stain dry overnight.

Coat the dried stain with the same finish used on the cabinet. Cabinet finishes include lacquer, varnish, polyurethane, water-based and shellac. Apply the finish according to its label.