Rebuild a missing table corner with water putty.
Square and rectangle wood tables sustain corner damage over an extended period of time. Antique tables often have the sharp edge of a corner worn down to a soft rounded edge. Constant usage or frequent relocation can crack, wear or break away wood table corners. Repair rough corner edges by sanding and touching up the finish, be it stain or paint. Rebuild broken corners with wood putty applied over a frame of wooden pegs. Supplies necessary to fix the corner of a wood table are available at hardware, discount and home improvement stores. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Minor Corner Repairs
1. Sand a cracked, jagged or rough corner with fine-grit sandpaper, following the contours of the corner.
2. Wipe away the sanding residue with a damp sponge.
3. Apply wood stain with a rag or apply paint with a paintbrush, matching the table's finish to the sanded corner. Allow the stain or paint to dry. This repair is more functional than decorative.
Rebuilding an Absent Corner
4. Drill two diagonal holes along the broken edge where the corner should be with a ¼-inch diameter wood drill bit. The holes should face each other as much as possible so two wood pegs can fit within the holes and form a V where the corner should be. The point of the V is formed by the pegs.
5. Twist a wood dowel pin, also known as a wood peg, into each drilled hole. The pins don't have to fit perfectly. If they are too snug, sand the insertion ends a little bit to make for a better fit. These wood pins will form a support frame for the water putty as you rebuild the missing corner.
6. Mix 3 tablespoons of water putty powder with 1 teaspoon of water in a disposable container, such as a clean, recycled margarine tub. Add water a teaspoon at a time until, according to Durham's Water Putty brochure, "Adventures in Water Putty," the water putty powder achieves a dough-like consistency.
7. Scoop a golf ball size dollop of water putty from the container with the end of a putty knife. Use the knife and your fingers to squish the water putty against the broken corner edge and over and onto the wood pin support frame.
8. Mold the water putty so it is about ¼-inch larger than it should be. The edges of the water putty corner should protrude past the table edges. This is to allow for shrinkage. Allow the water putty to dry for 15 minutes.
9. Use a putty knife to cut away the excess putty, forming smooth edges at the corner. Allow the putty to dry overnight.
10. Sand the repaired water putty corner with fine-grit sandpaper. Use a damp sponge to remove sanding residue.
11. Stain or paint the new corner. According to "Fine Woodworking" magazine in the article "Using Wood Putty," water-based putties accept stain well, dry fast and are economical because you mix only what you need.
Tags: water putty, corner should, corner with, corner Allow, corner with fine-grit, damp sponge
