#@*&!%?! Happens!
A hammer can be an offensive weapon – especially with wood! Here’s a quick guide to undoing the damage.
A hammer can be an offensive weapon!
When nailing, it is better to leave nails slightly proud and then use a punch. If you are tapping components together use a protective pad to spread the force and avoid a dent. However, if you do dent a surface with a hammer or by dropping something on the wood, all is not lost…
Removing dents
A dent often isn’t obvious until the surface is seen against the light – that is when you wish it hadn’t happened. You can remove a dent by steaming using a damp cloth and an iron; this can be done to bare wood or wood with a finish on it. However, in the latter case, it will damage the finish and it will need refinishing. To minimise the area of damage take a small felt pad, used underneath objects for protecting the surface of furniture, remove the adhesive backing and then cut to the shape of the dent and soak the pad thoroughly in warm water so it gets absorbed. Press the tip of the iron on it until it gets hot enough to steam the dent out. This will at least minimise the damage area to the finish. Wipe away moisture and let it dry. After that some careful colouring and finishing using artists’ brushes will be needed. Wood with a finish on could be very lightly rubbed with very fine wirewool to remove roughness to the surface before touching in the colour and finish. If it is bare wood it can be lightly sanded back, allowed to dry and then your chosen finish applied.
Apply a wetted cloth to the damaged area
Then, create steam by placing an iron on the cloth
Where a finish exists, some colouring in may be needed
Then a bit of refinishing, in this case French polish
This is bare wood sanded after steaming
