How to Fix a Hardwood Table That Has Split
- 1). Turn the table upside down so the legs are in the air. This gives you a stable surface to access. Lay the table on a protected surface, such as a drop cloth or tarp.
- 2). Clean the broken sides of the wood by removing any shards and vacuuming or brushing the surface to remove dust.
- 3). Apply a thin line of epoxy wood filler along one side of the split. Do not apply it too close to the edge because it expands as it dries and will spill out.
- 4). Press the split wood together and line up the break until it is invisible. Prop heavy items around the table to keep it in place while the epoxy sets. This can take several days, depending on the epoxy.
- 5). Reinforce the wood by screwing flat metal brackets along the bottom to support the break. Use two-holed brackets so that each hole is screwed onto one side of the break. Choose short wood screws that won't break through the wood on the far side. Use a bracket for every 4 inches along the break. Screw into the wood slowly because hardwood has a tendency to crack.
- 6). Turn the table over once the epoxy is completely set. Dust the surface with a tack cloth.
- 7). Fill the crack on the tabletop with wood putty on a putty knife. Allow it to dry according to package instructions.
- 8). Sand the entire wood surface with 100-grit sandpaper. Dust with a tack cloth.
- 9). Stain or paint the table's surface as desired so the crack and wood putty are completely masked.
