8 Tips for Repairing and

Restoring Wood Damage

1. Naturally Restore Wood
Before grabbing a store bought wood stain, try a
natural ingredient. Coconut oil not only
rehydrates your wood, but also restores
your wood's natural color and soft glow. It
may appear to "stain" the wood darker, but it's
actually a restoration of the healthier, natural
color. Pretty cool secret power of coconut
oil huh?
2. Naturally Stain & Darken
To stain wood a darker, yet still more
natural color, give vinegar a try! You can
use either balsamic vinegar or apple
cider vinegar, depending on the color
you prefer. If you scrub the vinegar in
with a wire brush, it will take this great
wood DIY to the next level!
 3. Repair Minor Nicks & Scratches
To repair fairly minor damage, just use this all
natural recipe to restore your wood.
Mix thoroughly ¾ cup of oil (canola oil is
perfect) and ¼ cup of vinegar (white or
apple cider). Follow application instructions,
and your wood pieces will be looking as good as
new in no time! You can also repair scuffs by
rubbing them with a walnut!
 4. Repair Major Damage
If you have a charming wood piece, but a major
eyesore is detracting from its overall look, it's
time to break out the Bondo all purpose filler!
Bondo is an alternative to normal wood
fillers preferred by many furniture restorers on
Hometalk. Mix up your Bondo, apply to the
uneven, damaged section, then sand smooth.
After, you can repaint the whole piece for an even
look.
 5. Return to Underlying Wood
If you have an older piece that's been painted and
abused through the years, peel back the layers of
time by stripping it down to the original, beautiful
wood. Depending on the size of the problem area
you can sand it down (small) or use a liquid paint
stripper (large). To apply liquid stripper,
spread it around evenly with a chip brush to
create a nice thick layer. Leave the stripper for 30
minutes, then scrape away, following the wood
grain.
6. Refinishing Wood Like A Pro
Refinishing wood may seem simple; just buy the
stain and apply -- but take it from the furniture
makeover experts of Hometalk, much can be done
to enhance the staining process. First, make sure
you sand the wood- even if you don't see any
sort of finish or top coat. You must sand with the
grain (in the same direction as the wood grain).
Start with a coarse-grit, and end with a fine-
grit for best results. Apply the stain with a rag for
great control, and buff thoroughly at the end for a
more durable and attractive end result!
 7. Repair Holes
Do you love the look of reclaimed wood or
pallets, but are old, unattractive nail holes giving
you holding you back? Well, give them the boot
with this restoration trick! It's best to refill the
holes with wood, instead of glue, so that a
wood stain will look even and natural. Simply
sharpen a toothpick, skewer, or even a caramel
apple stick and pop it in! After you sand it down
to a flush finish, you'll be ready to go!
 8. Fix Watermarks
Is a pesky watermark refusing to cooperate with
your refinish or repainting efforts? Give that
annoying stain the boot with a spray shallac! A
shallac coating, like Zinsser Bulls Eye Spray,
will seal the mark and prevent any bleed through
so you can paint in peace.