Removing scrapes in an antique door?

Question

Door's about 100 years old, varnished wood (maybe fir) with some unsightly scratches (maybe 1/16th to 1/8th inces deep).. In getting rid of them or at least reducing their appearance:

- my wife thinks we should fill (although no idea with what)

- I think should try to sand down and feather out

suggestions?

Answer 1

you can't fill them, they will never look like wood, it will look like filled scratches and very unprofessional. If the door is 100 years old, it is probably made from local tree's and doors are rarely made from soft woods. (They just wouldn't stand up to the abuse of being a door.) As wood ages it gets harder and harder, so sanding it out is going to be tough, but is the right idea. Sand the entire door and refinish it. You'll be able to tell where you attempted to fix the scratches otherwise. Choose an appropriate finish coat, either UV and weather proof for an exterior application or a water-based poly for an interior use. Don't shortcut, take your time, put your pride in it! And a "Random Orbit palm sander" will make the quickest work of it. Start with course 120 grit sandpaper, then work it with 220 grit. Good luck

Answer 2

You might try sanding off the old varnish down to the surface of the wood. While feathering is a good theory, it generally doesn't do much for the appearance under a clear finish. Something 100 years old is bound to have some character to it and it will still look great, unless you want to disguise its age. I don't think filling it would do either as it is tough to match the color exactly and then there is the question of matching the grain.