Any furniture made out of oak is going to be tough and will last for generations if properly maintained. One part of maintaining oak furniture is repairing any damage that will inevitably take place over time. There are several different types of damage that can happen to your oak furniture, but if you know how to repair this damage your furniture can look amazing for years to come.

Safety First

The safety equipment you will need while doing this work will depend on the repair you are making and the supplies you're using. Generally, you will need to have the following on hand.

• Safety Goggles
• Disposable Gloves
• Heat Lamp
• Dust Mask
• Ear Protection (If Using Motorized Tools)

Fixing Dents

This technique works on unfinished oak furniture, so if the oak has a finish, you will have to remove the finish by sanding before you can proceed.

Step 1. Get a clean rag thoroughly damp and place it on the dent.

Step 2. Turn an iron on maximum (with the steam on as well). Place the iron on the damp rag and move it in a circular motion. Don't let the iron sit in one place.

Step 3. Once the dent is gone, or at least reduced, remove your iron and the damp rag.

Step 4. You can now finish or refinish the damaged area.

Fixing Water Damage

How you repair oak with water damage will depend on how severe the damage is. Liquids from cups with bottles can cause white rings on your oak finished furniture. You can limit the damage caused by spilled liquids by immediately and completely drying the surface and then going over it with a bit of furniture polish.

However, if the water damage is more substantial and you see rings or black marks actually appear in the wood, the repair is going to be a bit more involved.

Step 1. Remove all of the finish with fine grain sandpaper. Getting rid of the finish will remove any damage within the layers of the finish.

Step 2. Direct a heat lamp at the surface being repaired and keep it on during the repair process.

Step 3. Put on safety gloves and goggles and use full strength bleach on the stain to remove it.

Step 4. Once the wood has dried, turn off the heat lamp.

Step 5. Reapply a finish to the furniture, followed by wax or polish.

Fixing Scratches

Scratches are the most common type of damage any kind of finished wood furniture can experience. If the scratches are very shallow, these can be repaired using a brazil nut. Simply rub the nut over the scratches and the oil will darken the scratches and make them largely disappear. Follow this with a little furniture polish.

Deeper scratches will require a different approach.

Step 1. Purchase a wax furniture patching stick, choosing a color that best matches the furniture you're repairing.

Step 2. Rub the stick over the scratches to fill them and smooth out the surface.

Step 3. Use a palette knife to remove any excess wax.

Step 4. Add a hard wax paste and buff it to a shine.

For more information on furniture repair and restoration, visit American Country Home Store.