Although most of us look over our furniture carefully before beginning the stripping process to detect any repairs that may be needed, it is even more important to check again after stripping for conditions that may have been hidden under layers of old paint and varnish. Any repair that must be done on wood should be completed after stripping but before sanding and painting.
Detect loose edges by tapping your fingernail on it and listening for a change of sound. If a surface needs to be glued, clean and scrape away the old glue and dirt at the contact point, being careful not to split the wood. Fill in the crack with a small bit of carpenter's glue slipped in on the end of a putty knife. Press the two sides together and clamp it until the glue dries.
If you have any undesired holes or chips in the wood, you can fill them in with wood paste prior to sanding. If so, follow the directions in the Preparation section. You can find wood paste in various wood colors if you are planning to stain your furniture.
This step leads up to sanding, which is what we will talk about on the following page: |
