We've raved about Tibet Almond Stick before — in fact, I first bought one after Maxwell posted about them in 2006. Until now though, I've always used mine on lighter wood, like oak. Yesterday, annoyed at all the scratches that have appeared on my dark finish coffee table, I decided to see if, as promised, the renowned stick could get them out, too . . .
The Almond Stick is actually a cotton roll soaked in a "secret family formula." It can be found at most hardware stores for $4.99, distinctive in its cute packaging. It also smells less noxious than other scratch-removing products out there.
For those of you who haven't used Tibet Almond Stick before, it's pretty straightforward: you just rub one end of the stick on the scratch and it usually vanishes. I wiped down my table with a microfiber cloth first, just to get off any dust, but you don't even need to do that.
Alas, it seems it wasn't the best choice for my table. While the wood looks shiny and pretty, the scratches are still there. I do want to get these scratches out, preferably with something eco-friendly, so I may try this coffee ground tip next. Still, after years of success with other types of wood, the Almond Stick is a definite keeper for minor scratches.
MORE SCRATCH REPAIR ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• How To Cover Up Dings in Wooden Furniture
• Use Coffee Grinds To Cover Furniture Scratches
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Use a nut like a walnut or pecan. Works for me every time.
I've had really good luck with Howard Johnson's Restore a Finish on my dark wood. I used the darkest color I could find, which I believe was called espresso black or something similar.
I'm a recent convert to furniture repair markers. You can buy them in a set with different shades (my set has 6), and they're AMAZING for scratches.
Minwax makes little marker pens. Us that to color the scratch and then go over it with the almond stick to protect it, give it shine. I did it on dark wood, pictures here: http://tiny.cc/flsrk
I second unabridged's suggestion— I recently used the Walnut color of the Restore A Finsh on a very scratched up antique wooden box and it turned out great. So great that I was wandering around my house looking for more wood to transform!
The container suggests it can be used on floors. Has anyone used it for their floors? I have a new hardwood floor with some minor scratches I'd like to repair.
would this work for water damage on floors? i have a spot where a pot had water underneath and caused discoloration on the floor and i've been searching for a way to fix this before my landlord charges me to refinish the floors!
We've used it on floors- it works pretty well, but doesn't last long.
so i should do it right before i move out. : )
those markers are the best and easiest...=)
The minwax markers are best for stained furniture (though I also LOVE Old English's bottle of scratch remover for dark woods).
I'm sure you'd have better results with the almond stick if it wasn't a stained wood. Essentially, it seems for the most part, the scratch removers are oils that give a glossy tone to the wood.
The markers are basically stain applicators, which will redye the base wood. I recommend minwax primarily because they have some of the best finishes, and they most closely match what the industry uses colorwise. Other companies tend to miss some of the nuance of color.
Another tip with the pens: When in doubt, go a shade darker. Often times you aren't going to be able to match a scratch PERFECTLY, so by going a shade darker the scratch will look more "aged" and possibly even part of the finish, rather than lighter, which highlights the recent damage.
I'll second bobthefish's recommendation of Old English. Works like a charm every time on darker woods.
On my hardwood floor with small scratches and gouges, I used eyebrow/eyeliner pencil in a shade to match and it worked well.
I JUST used the Old English Scratch Remover for Dark Wood for the 1st time last night. We purchased a Broyhill Sculptra Credenza for a super low $150...only problem was it was riddled with scratches. Figured I would give it a whirl before sanding the whole thing down. It worked WONDERS! I kid you not, the credenza looks fantastic. I ended up scouring the apartment and using it on every little scratch I could find. Perhaps not the environmentally friendliest, but works like a charm.
i'm going to second the walnut/pecan comment. i've used that technique successfully with many of our dark wood pieces - dining table, crib, chair legs. just rub the shelled nut back and forth over the scratch. works like a charm, plus it's cheap and eco-friendly! :)
GREAT
Yeah - Old English is the best. There's a light and a dark, and it's kind of an oily stain. Makes old stuff look new; have used it for years.
I'm a big fan of Howard's Restor-A-Finish, but you do have to buy the right color. They come in Pine, Cherry, Golden Oak, Dark Oak, Walnut, Mahogany, Ebony, etc.
It's generally about $8-10 a can and it's what antiue store owners tend to use on their inventory.
i use the restor-a-finish on all my antiques and it's awesome. i've also used it on hardwood floors with great success.