Buzz
Wood cracks can be unsightly, but various products can help restore damaged wooden items. Wood filler powder or wax filler sticks are simple and effective for sealing wide cracks in both furniture and unfinished wood. For a quick repair, you can mix wood glue and sawdust to fill in gaps and cracks in assembled wooden furniture. Epoxy glue is a great option for large cracks, such as those found in outdoor projects. Once filled and polished, the damage will be barely noticeable.
Steps
Use wood filler powder or wax filler sticks
Buy a filler compound that matches the color of your wood. Look for wood filler in the form of wax sticks or powder that you can find at hardware stores or order online. These products come in various colors, so choose the one that closely matches the wood you're repairing.
- If you can't find the exact color you need, you can purchase different shades and mix them to create the right hue.
- If you plan to use wood stain after filling, make sure the product label states it's stainable. It will absorb the color of the wood stain and blend seamlessly with the wood.
Use your finger to apply wood filler into the crack. If you're using a wax filler stick, simply rub the stick over the crack. You can then use your finger to smooth it out if needed. If you're using filler powder, you can use a spatula to spread the material into the crack.
Fill the crack with filler material. Continue applying the wood filler until the crack is completely filled. When you smooth and sand the filler, it will blend into the crack more effectively.
Use a spatula to smooth the filler material. Before the wood filler dries, you need to smooth it out as much as possible. If you don't have a spatula, you can use a cloth or your finger to smooth over the crack. Be sure to use a clean cloth to avoid dirt from contaminating the surface.
Wait for the wood filler to dry for 8 hours. Drying time varies depending on the product, so check the label for the recommended drying time. To be safe, wait 8 hours or overnight for the filler to fully dry.
Smooth the filled area. Use a sanding disc or fine-grit sandpaper to sand the area where the crack was. Use sandpaper in the 120-220 grit range and sand until the filler is flush with the wood surface. Once done, the crack will blend in seamlessly and won't stand out like a mismatched patch.
Fill the crack with glue and sawdust.
Find sawdust that matches the type of wood and the color of the furniture you want to fix. Sawdust is used to cover white glue and blend into the crack, so it should match the wood you're working with as closely as possible. For the best results, you can get sawdust by cutting or sanding the wooden item you're repairing.
- If this isn't possible, you can buy a bag of sawdust at a hardware store.
Squeeze wood glue into the crack. Purchase a bottle of wood glue from the store. Place the nozzle at the crack and squeeze the glue to fill the gap. For smaller cracks, you can also use a syringe to ensure the glue fills the crack completely.
Sprinkle sawdust over the glue. Generously sprinkle sawdust over the glue so that it covers it completely. Use your finger to press down on the crack, ensuring that the sawdust sticks to the glue. When you're finished, the sawdust will cover the glue and blend with the surrounding wood.
Let the glue dry overnight. Wait until the next day for the glue to dry. The crack will be nearly invisible once the glue is completely dry. If the crack is still noticeable, you can fill it again with glue and sawdust, or use a different filler material.
Smooth the crack. Use fine sandpaper with a grit size between 120-220 to sand the crack. Carefully smooth the area you're working on to make the crack as flat and invisible as possible.
Treat the crack with epoxy glue.
Wear a respirator and work in a well-ventilated area. Epoxy is not safe to inhale, so make sure to protect yourself by wearing a mask before starting. Working outdoors is the safest option, and be sure to keep family members or pets away from the area.
Apply masking tape over the crack if it runs all the way through the wood. If the crack runs through the entire piece of wood, apply masking tape to one side of the wood. The tape will hold the liquid epoxy in place long enough for it to harden.
- Epoxy is more effective for treating large cracks compared to other filler materials.
Spray equal parts of the epoxy components into a bowl. Epoxy consists of two components: resin and hardening agent. Estimate the amount of epoxy needed to fill the crack and place the ingredients in the bowl, but don’t mix them just yet.
- The epoxy will start hardening immediately once the components are mixed together. You have 5 minutes to pour the epoxy into the crack, so it’s best to start with a small batch.
Add a drop of wood stain to the epoxy glue. You can find a variety of epoxy dye, pigment powder, or metallic powder at hardware stores. Choose a color that matches your wood, then add a drop of stain or sprinkle the powder to color the epoxy glue.
- You can mix in one teaspoon of coffee grounds to turn the epoxy glue black.
Mix the epoxy glue immediately. Use a spoon or stirring stick to combine the epoxy components and dye. After a few seconds, it will turn into a paint-like substance, ready to apply to the crack immediately.
Pour the mixture into the crack. Use a spoon to scoop and pour the epoxy glue into the crack. Push the glue in as deep as possible. Most of the glue will flow to the bottom. If there’s not enough glue to fill the crack, simply mix a bit more.
- Use a pin to pop any air bubbles that appear as you pour the epoxy glue.
Mix more epoxy glue to fill larger gaps. The epoxy glue will harden within a few minutes, so you'll know quickly if you need to mix another batch. Continue mixing equal parts resin and hardening agent until the entire crack is filled.
Wait overnight for the epoxy glue to dry. After 2-4 hours, the epoxy glue will have dried significantly. You can test it by pressing your nail into the glue. If it leaves a dent, the glue isn't fully dry yet. It's best to leave it overnight, especially in cooler weather, to ensure the epoxy hardens completely.
Smooth the epoxy glue with sandpaper. Start by cutting off any excess epoxy glue with a putty knife. Then, use fine sandpaper (120-220 grit) or a file to smooth the epoxy application area until it is level with the surrounding wood.
- If you have a sanding disc, it will make the job easier and help prevent sanding into the wood.
Color the white spots with a marker. After the epoxy dries, you may notice a few spots where the hardened glue didn't take the color. You can cover these spots with a marker that matches the dye you used. Once done, you'll hardly be able to tell where the crack was and can move on to the next task.
Tip
- Use denatured alcohol to clean epoxy from surfaces and tools.
- Vinegar can be used to remove epoxy from skin.
Warning
- Wood dust can be airborne while sanding. Be sure to wear a respirator to avoid inhaling wood dust.
- Chemicals can be hazardous upon contact. It's recommended to wear a respirator and work in a well-ventilated area.
What You'll Need
Use wood filler powder or a wax crayon to fill the wood surface
- Wood filler powder or a wax crayon
- Putty knife
- Sandpaper
Fill the crack with epoxy and sawdust
- Wood glue
- Sawdust
- Sandpaper
Repair the crack with epoxy glue
- Respirator mask
- Two-part epoxy (resin and hardener)
- Dye
- Mixing cup
- Stirring tool
- Needle or pin
- Masking tape
- Marker for coloring
- Sandpaper
