Carved Chair: From Mangled to Mended

This gorgeous carved chair was missing a chunk.

My client considered having the chair painted as a result, but I wanted to try to save the finish given the intricate carving. Now to see if I can deliver on my promise to fix it…

Here’s a close-up look at the damage (as well as the delicate carving). I have the intro to “The 6-Million Dollar Man” TV show running through my head: “we can rebuild him…”

Step One: Rebuilding

First, I had to fill the hole to match the thickness of the chair edge. I used thin layers of DAP® Plastic Wood to build up the area.

Step Two: Carving

Next, came the tricky part — making the filled section match the original. I got out my woodcarving tools and did my best to replicate the original decorative pattern.

Step Three: Blending

Then I built up layers of stain little by little using Varathane® pens. They’re like permanent markers but with furniture stain for ink.

Finally, I added darker stain to mimic the grain of the wood and fill the carving lines. Once finished, I protected the repair with a light coat of Minwax® Polycrylic.