How to Patch Chipped Wood before Painting

How to Fix Everything For Dummies

Before you paint your woodwork, you need to prepare it. If the wood is chipped, gouged, or otherwise damaged, and you plan to paint, you can make an easy, invisible repair by using a two-part polyester resin compound:

Clean out any loose material and scrape off any finish so that the patching material will bond better.

Paint always sticks better to clean surfaces. To make your job look professional, be sure to clean before you begin.
Mix the hardener (part one) with the filler (part two) as directed and apply it with a putty knife.

Generally, you want to overfill the hole.
Use a rasp to shape or level the material as soon as it sets up hard but before it cures (dries) completely.

A Sureform tool is another tool you can use to smooth the surface.
When the material is fully cured, sand the patch to smooth and blend it in with the surrounding area.

Woodwork distinguishes an ordinary room from an extraordinary one. If it doesn’t look good, the whole room can look shabby, even if the walls and ceiling are perfect.
Apply a primer to the patch and any bare wood before you paint.

Be sure to clean the patch and wood of loose dust and dirt so the primer goes on smoothly.