Wood filler good bet to fix gnawed sill

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/05/2004 (7864 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

QUESTION: Kathy asks: Recently my daughter visited with her puppy. The puppy promptly gnawed off an area around the corner of two wooden windowsills in the bedroom. How can I repair these without replacing the whole sill? They are wood with a stain finish.

ANSWER: Growing puppies will chew on anything in sight. They especially like doors, carpet and the legs of fine furniture.

Sometimes the easiest and most cost-effective means of repair is to remove the existing damaged material and replace it with new material. This is usually the case if the damage is extensive and the material in question can be easily replaced.

Removing a wood windowsill can be a major undertaking, so we suggest that you try rebuilding it with an epoxy or two-part wood filler. That the windowsill is stained, rather than painted, makes the repair a little more challenging, but not something that can’t be accomplished with patience.

Start by removing any loose material with a file and sandpaper. The surface must be clean, dry and free of grease and oil. Use a small drill bit (3/32, or so) to drill multiple holes in the face of the damaged windowsill. The holes will help the wood filler bond to the wood. Mix the two parts (filler and hardener) according to the directions, and immediately apply the paste to the repair area with a putty knife.

Apply more material than is needed, and use the putty knife to tool the material to match the profile of the windowsill. You’ll need to work quickly as the filler will be workable for only about 10 minutes. After about 20 to 30 minutes, the repair will be sufficiently hard for you to be able to shape the profile using a sharp modeling knife, plane, file and sandpaper.

Since epoxy wood fillers can’t be stained, we suggest that you use paint to “faux finish” the repaired area. Try to have it blend in with the existing stain.

Wood dented? Try steam

THE appearance and value of fine wood furniture can be affected by a dent or a gouge. Although similar in appearance, dents are different from gouges. Simple dents often can be repaired quite easily as they are only depressions in the surface. With dents, the fibres of the wood aren’t broken, but with a gouge, the fibres might be torn, and wood might be missing.

A small gouge can be filled with coloured wax, wood compound or putty. Often, for a good match for a deep gouge you’ll need the help of a pro.

But if your furniture just has a simple dent, try steaming. Put a drop of water in the dent and cover it with a soft, dry cloth. Then apply a hot iron for a few seconds. If the dent is still present, try the process a few more times. If the dent doesn’t come up, it’s actually a gouge.

–Associated Press