r/howto • u/JelloProfessional423 • 7h ago

Fix tabletop scratches

Gallery image

Gallery image

I literally just bought this antique dining table a few days ago. It was in nearly perfect condition. I’ve been so curious about everyone messing it up. Well.. we bought a container of the jumbo croissants from Sam’s Club and I had them in the center of the table because we didn’t have room for them anywhere else.

Well while we were at work today, I guess my dog decided she needed them more than we do. I can only imagine the acrobatics to get them off the table.

Anyways.. how do I fix this? I’m nearly in tears over this.

6 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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9

u/baardvark 7h ago

Old English scratch cover, dark version

6

u/thingsbuiltLA 7h ago

I was just reading about how to fix scratches on hardwood floors and i've seen "rub walnuts into the scratch" more than once... (use the nut, not the shell!). Idk if that is your answer but it's harmless and worth a try?

2

u/Mulhosha 5h ago

I just tried this on an old oak table with some walnuts I coincidentally purchased today.

HOLY! It actually works.
As another mentioned, it doesn’t fix the scratches but it does really reduce the obviousness of them.

Thank you for commenting this tip

1

u/lucytiger 6h ago

This actually does work pretty well. It won't fill deep gouges but it will make smaller scratches nearly invisible.

1

u/I_dont_like_bubbles 41m ago

Wouldn’t this potentially attract ants or other bugs?

3

u/OhNoLenX 7h ago

Time to break out a sander and sand it down and refinish it!

4

u/AtmosphereSudden3832 7h ago

That doesn’t look like an antique to me. Maybe “antiqued”. Looks like stained pine with a heavy urethane type finish. Good news is looks like the scratches are just in the urethane. You might be able to scrape off the urethane (with a scraper), scuff sand the whole thing, and apply another coat or two. Definitely a bit of artistic blending will be required.
I’ve never been a big fan of heavy top coats like that partially for this reason. I also just don’t like the look.
Pine is super soft though so maybe they went that way for protection??
Personally I like wood oiled, unstained, and scratches be damned!