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Furniture around the house is prone to breaking and splitting. This could be from the fluctuations of humidity and temperature to simple wear and tear. Even though you may have a broken piece of a chair or table, you won’t have to throw it away. You can use these quick fixes for how to fix split wood to repair and restore the wood.
When there’s split wood, such as those on headboards and chair legs, it is relatively easy to repair.
Tip: Use a Split Wood Repair Kit
Using the Split Wood repair kit is a quick fix that will fill into the split wood and match the color of your wood furniture or piece, too. You’ll find it effective for small to medium size splits that are relatively skinny.
For more ways on how to fix split wood, we’ll discuss how you can restore a variety of wooden items around your home. You’ll save tons of money by doing this, and you’ll do your part to help preserve the environment as well. You can also use it as a chance to update the look of the furniture, and add some glitz to it so it will last for many years to come. Check out these steps on how to fix split wood.
How to Fix Split Wood
Materials needed to repair split wood
Repairing split wood is not a one-go process. You need to change the method according to the type and nature of the wood split. Likewise, several stages would determine which tools you would need to restore the wood and the amount of work you would need to do.
Most of the time, it’s an easy and a quick DIY to fix split wood. But sometimes, the steps require your time and effort along with the right expensive gear.
The following may not be necessary for the repair, but they can help them look almost new, depending on the severity of your split wood.
- Wood Glue
- Clamps
- Sander or Sandpaper
- Wood Filler
- Commercial compounds
- Paint or Stain (optional)
Method 1: Fix split wood with glue
Fortunately, you can easily and conveniently repair a chair or table leg without any complicated tools or bonding agents if it breaks clean. Just follow these steps:
1. Put the broken piece back together and you will find no gaps. If all will fit together perfectly, use this method.
2. Cracks or breaks should be carefully glued together with wood glue, and clamps should be used to hold the pieces together until the glue fully dries.
3. To make sure all of the glue has dried and sealed the crack, I recommend leaving the clamps on for up to 24 hours.
4. When working with a clamp, install a thin towel or rag between the hardware and the wood to prevent it from scratching.
5. If you do get any extra glue on your break, you’ll want to avoid touching it.
6. While it shouldn’t damage the wood piece, removing it and cleaning it up can be a hassle.
7. The first thing you should do is immediately wipe off any glue that oozes out when you attach the broken pieces.
8. If the drips are larger, wait until it dries and attempt to chisel it off carefully, and sand any excess. The paint will work well if you are planning on repainting or refinishing the area anyway.
9. You can also prevent anything from sticking to your furniture or hard-to-reach spots by covering hardware or reachable corners with masking tape.
10. Once you’ve used your glue, you just have to peel the masking tape off, and any extra glue will come off with it!
Method 2: Use sand dust to repair the split wood
Use this method when you have to fill in any holes from missing wood pieces or large cracks in the wood. To make sure that the wood looks natural, there are several ways to fill in the space. Let me share with you my favorite option!
1. Gather the sand dust. Collect the sawdust from the stock with a sander and storage bag. You can also sand by hand. Newspapers work well for catching sawdust and preventing it from mixing with dirt or dust.
2. Add the glue to the sawdust inside the container. It is best to use white wood glue for color matching. Using a wooden craft stick, thoroughly mix the mixture.
3. If the wood glue and sawdust are thoroughly mixed, you will see a paste dough similar to flour dough that can be formed by hand.
4. Roll out the dough into a cylindrical shape and knead it. Place the split food on the paper and use the dough as glue. A ten-minute drying time is all it takes to harden wood glue, so act quickly while it is still wet. Use a putty knife to remove excess wood glue and sawdust mixture from the surface.
5. Let the glue dry completely. The glue takes ten minutes to start hardening, but it takes almost 6 to 24 hours to fully cure. You can check the manufacturer’s packaging to see how long it will take to cure.
6. The filled cracks can be smoothed out with fine-grit sandpaper without using excessive pressure. Fillers are softer than surrounding wood and are more likely to be dented.
Method 3: Use epoxy resin to fix the split wood
With epoxy resin, the larger split woods can be aesthetically enhanced. The thermal and mechanical resistance of epoxy resins is greater than those of regular polymers. Put epoxy resin over the split wood. Epoxy resin not only fixes the split wood but also functions as an adhesive, so it holds cracks together, preventing them from spreading.
1. Prepare your work area. Tape up the bottom so the epoxy resin does not leak out. The floor can be protected in case of spills by putting down newspapers beneath your workspace.
2. In a clean container, combine one part resin and one part hardener.
3. Color can be added to the final product by mixing powdered pigments into epoxy resin. Pick a tint that brings your wood’s natural color closer to life. A second color highlighting the crack undertones could transform your piece into art.
4. Apply the epoxy resin over the arranged split wood. Overfilling is better than underfilling. You can sand away any excess epoxy resin after it cures.
5. Epoxy resin cures in 24 hours at a temperature of about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. During curing, your workpiece should be kept in a temperature-controlled environment.
6. Avoid overcomplicating the application process. In any case, it would be best to overuse epoxy. You may need to hand sand the epoxy resin with sanding paper of 60 to 80 grit if it is not level. Sandpaper with a grit of 180 to 220 will smooth out your surface with a professional finish.
7. Applying wax or oil to resin and wood can be done with a clean, lint-free cloth. For extra protection, you can apply varnish.
Method 4: Use Joint Compounds or Commercial Solutions
Are you looking for something new? It is also possible to use a joint compound to fill in wood holes, the same material drywallers use to fill the holes. White as it is, joint compound is a smooth, easy-to-spread, and paintable compound. Putty knives or similar tools will make it easier for you to spread them evenly and effectively.
Just apply the commercial product or split wood adhesive. Let it dry for a few hours, then sand the filled areas until smooth. It is sometimes possible to achieve an almost seamless finish when using a joint compound. The joint compound has one drawback: it cannot be stained to match the wood with the same color. This filler is only suitable for painting.
FAQ about How To Fix Split Wood
Can I paint or stain the split wood after repair?
After being sanded and dried, you can simply paint or stain the wood. No one wants a split mark on the wood. Many antique wood products might have a paint color that’s no longer available, and the stain may fade or become darker over time, so they’re difficult to match.
In other words, refinishing an object as part of a project might not always be the same thing. That doesn’t mean that the project isn’t worth doing! Even without trying to match the finishing products, split and broken wood can still be repaired. You can use a contrast of colors to add life to your split wood.
Conclusion
Even though your furniture might crack or split, throwing it away or having a professional repair is not necessary. We’ve presented four different ways on how to fix split wood in furniture by using simple household tools. Following the steps, and you can DIY like a professional.
Now you have furniture that looks as good as it did when it was new. Cleaning the wood is essential before using any application method. This is essential because it removes debris.
You should allow enough time for the adhesive to dry after you let it dry most ideally overnight. To make it even with the wood, lightly sand it once or twice with fine sandpaper. Additionally, you can repaint the wood, but it is optional.
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