Design Notes

Your Guide To Filling Dated Carvings In Old Furniture

Most of us have had the experience of going to a garage sale or thrift store and finding a dresser or old furniture that is the right size and shape we’re looking for. The problem is that it may have indents in the wood caused by damage or by decorative carvings that have gone out of style. If you want to buy and refinish this piece of furniture for your home, your first step will be to fill in any undesirable carvings or damage in the wood. The same could be said for such carvings in custom cabinetry in a home that you’ve recently purchased.

What You’ll Need For This Project and How To Proceed

Your first step will be to buy some wood filler. You’ll also need a putty knife, sandpaper, a sanding block, and latex gloves. You’ll want to thoroughly clean the indents you need to fill and wait until the area is dry. Follow the instructions on the can to prepare the wood filler, then push it into the carving’s indents. The putty knife helps scrape over the surface to remove any excess wood filler.

Once the carving is filled and the filler has dried, use gritty sandpaper first to quickly remove excess filler, then a less gritty variety to smooth it. It is at this point that the area will be ready for finishing, whether that be by staining or painting. If you plan to finish the piece of furniture with a stain, you should know that there are wood fillers specifically designed for this purpose.