Small gouges or dents in woodwork can be repaired in a few easy steps. Start by using fine sandpaper, lightly sanding in line with the wood grain to remove the finish from around the gouge or dent. Next, run a hot iron over a damp cloth placed over the damaged area—this will  raise the wood fibers to the level of the surrounding wood. Let the wood dry completely, and then sand lightly again in line with the wood grain. Finally, finish to match the existing wood tone.

To fill a nail hole, find wood putty that matches the color of the wood. Use a putty knife to fill the hole with putty. Let the filler dry, and then lightly sand the area smooth with fine sandpaper, working in line with the grain. Finish to match the surrounding area.

A deep gouge in woodwork can also be repaired by filling the hole with wood putty or wax filler, or gluing in a new piece of the same type of wood. If wood filler is used, it may be difficult to match the wood’s original color or stain. Choose an inconspicuous location, and experiment with different stains mixed into the filler. Allow these “test patches” to dry before you choose one to repair the problem area.

If you glue in a new section of wood, clean away any dried glue around the edges of the repair and sand the entire section around it before you restain.