How to Fill Deep Scratches on Furniture Before Painting

Whenever you're getting ready to refinish wood furniture, whether with wood stain or paint, you should always take a little extra time to repair damage, such as scratches, nicks, dings and dents. For particularly deep scratches, you can purchase wood filler, a putty-like substance made to mimic wood grain, from most hardware and home improvement stores. Wood filler comes in many different forms to match various wood types, such as pine, maple and oak, so purchase the right product for your wood surface.

Trisodium phosphate
Scrub brush
Cotton cloth
Wood filler
Putty knife
Fine-grade sandpaper
Tack cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Clean the wood with a solution of 1/4 cup trisodium phosphate mixed with 1 gallon of warm water. Dip a soft-bristled scrub brush into the solution, then scrub the wood. Rinse the wood with clean water and a cotton cloth. Allow the wood to dry.
- 2
  Gather a small amount of wood filler onto a plastic putty knife with a 1-inch blade. Smear the wood filler on the scratches. Place the blade at a 30-degree angle against the wood, and then drag the blade across the scratches. Repeat until the scratches are completely filled and the wood filler is flush with the wood.
- 3
  Scrape off any excess wood filler and place it back in the container. Allow the wood filler to dry completely. This can take between one and 12 hours depending on the product. Check the label for detailed information.
- 4
  Sand down the wood filler with a piece of fine-grade sandpaper -- around 180-grit or higher. Sand until the filler is smooth and perfectly flush with the rest of the wood. Wipe away the dust with a tack cloth.

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