Expert: Eileen Cronk - 6/16/2009

Question
Just read your advice to Jack on maple refinishing and you emphasized that he should NOT sand the piece.  I have a buffet of the same age that a child put deep scratches in with a metal toy.  How can I repair the damage without sanding?  Thank you for your help.

Answer
Hi Cliff
Nice to hear from you.
When refinishing a piece of furniture I always say "do not sand unless there is damage".
While these deep scratches you refer to are certainly what can be called damage, imagine whats going to happen if you start sanding them. The deep scratch is going to become a deep smooth valley.
This will be worse than the scratch.
And there is just no way you would want to sand the entire surface down to eliminate the scratch. Maple is very hard to sand for starters, and it requires a perfect (not almost perfect), sanding job or as soon as the stain is applied all the tiny sanding marks (which you thought you had done so well), will show.
Now to your question. "How can I repair the damage?"
Use a wax filler stick if you are not refinishing the piece.
These come in many colors. They look like crayons. They are sold in all hardware stores in the paint section and come with directions.
After the filling, a nice polish and buff.
Hope this is clear.
Regards
Eileen