Do you remember the dresser I posted about a few months ago that had the burn mark on its top? It looked like this – yuck.
I had planned on painting the top after filling in the burn mark. However as I started sanding, I realized that the wood grain was just sooooo lovely. So, I am now trying to salvage it instead. 
Here is what I have been doing today.
I first sanded the whole top down with 60 grit sandpaper and tried to sand out as much of the burn as possible. I added Elmer’s wood filler, let it dry, then sanded it back before applying more filler. The burn is an actual deep hole that I am trying to fill up bit by bit. It is drying now.
It is vintage and “perfectly imperfect” 🙂 I just couldn’t paint over that gorgeous wood! All tips on the process will be much appreciated – is there a product you recommend for such deep marks?
I will share the outcome and the finished piece tomorrow.
And, what a glorious day to be working in my garage with the most heavenly view!
Lucky me!
Hope you have success,can’t wait to see results.
My experience has been that the wood filler never stains the same as the rest of the wood so it really shows. I will be interested to see how it works for you and what options you try as I have a desk in the same condition right now that I want to redo.
Hi Linda, I don’t think that it is possible to actually eradicate it. Try to blend. It will still show but not be such an eyesore. Or, if all else fails, paint it 🙂
I haven’t had luck with staining wood filler either. But I still didn’t want to paint over the entire top, so I put strategically placed stripes on the top. See my blog posts here:
http://sunflowerhugs.blogspot.com/2013/04/rustic-grey-dresser.html
http://sunflowerhugs.blogspot.com/2013/05/posh-red-dressers.html
Awesome solution!
I agree with Linda in that the filler rarely stains the same with most stains. I have had success with black stain but you wouldn’t see that beautiful natural wood
Yes, I was thinking that Java would do but decided on a lighter, washed look. Still visible but hey, it is “perfectly imperfect!” Cheers!
Hi Suzanne,
Looks like you have done a GREAT job sanding down the top. I have done a LOT of refinishing over the years and agree with Linda, above. The stainable wood filler doesn’t match the texture of the wood around it, even when you prestain the blob of it ahead of time in a paper cup before filling the burn hole. You could try the colored Minwax wood putty. Find a shade that matches your stained top, gouge out a little of the Elmers and fill the top of your hole with the colored putty, flush with the top of your piece. This is tricky, I know…….just an idea to try. If all else fails, you can paint the top of the piece. I’ve also tried a plastic wood for burns in the past……prestain a blob of it, fill the burn and touch up the spot little by little with a Q tip dipped in your stain. I was never completely satisfied, but the texture of the plastic wood filler looked a little better next to the real wood beside it.
Good luck!
Sharlee
Thank you SO much for your advice! I am going to try the plastic wood next time when I do a darker stain. Appreciate the tip!
You might want to consider a paint that is a similar shade as the stain you have in mind. It’s been my experience that the fill is very different. Can’t wait to see it.
Crazy idea: It looks like the grain goes around it as if it were a knot in the wood – so make it darker and try to make it look like a natural knot.
Great minds think alike lol! Check it out today – kind of looks like a knot?
I was thinking something similar to Pat’s comment, above. I’ve recently read on another post about faux wood painting techniques. Maybe you could blend it in using some of those techniques. It is a lovely top!
That’s what I use Suzanne but it will not stain the same. Elmers has a product called Wood Filler Max and it comes in tubes of tinted wood filler. This way you can get a closer match to the stain color you will be using and it’ll conceal the repaired area far better. I know Home Depot carries it.