varnished pine table with foot long scratch or gouge

Alan, November 2008

make a paste of 1.wood friendly glue, 2. saw dust 3. burnt sienna powder available with furniture accessory stores (add according to the shade of the wood, available at furniture accessory stores). Fill the gouge with the paste and allow to dry and harden.

Sanjay Gandotra, December 2008

To simply raise a dent in a wooden object you place a wet cloth over the dented area and then apply a warm iron, this steams the wood and expands the crushed area raising it.

Bec, December 2008

If it's just a common old kitchen table do what I did.

Take it outside and sand and scrape off all the varnish - rub down well with fine paper and clean off the dust - dress with teak-oil let dry . Give it a couple more coats.

Finish will be much better than original varnish and easier to repair next time it gets scratched, stained or burnt by a careless cigarette.

If you really want it varnished still scrape off original finish - apply three coats of gloss poly-varnish lightly rubbing down after each coat and lastly a coat of matt varnish. Low sheen looks much better and fewer reflections tends to show the grain rather than any small imperfections which are highlighted by a glossy finish.

Peccavi, November 2008