Replies

1. 
   sandalboy | Aug 25, 2006 06:44am | #1

   A) get used to the scratches they will blend in fine with the ones that are going to occurr with use.   (You could throw some sand on the floor and let it get walked on for a few days to speed this up)

   or

   B) Sand and refinish the whole floor

   or

   C) Try your best to fill the scratches in with polyurethane and a tiny artists brush.  Sort of like doing paint touchup on newer car.  Hopefully the polyurethane is compatible with the prefinish material.

   or

   D) Minwax makes little felt tip pens that are filled with a thin stain/protectant.  I don't know the longevity of this though.

   For your case it really depends on how deep they are, and how much it bothers you.  Maybe you should tell the contractor that you still are not happy with his solution and see what he tries to do next.

2. 
   Daisley | Aug 25, 2006 06:53am | #2

   Depending how deep the scratches are, perhaps try polishing them out with polishing compound and a buffing wheel.  I've used this method on a couple of badly scratched table-tops, and it works wonders.  But if the scratches are too deep, they may still be slightly visible.  Truthfully, the tables never looked so good as when I finished with the polisher.  I used an orbital car-type polisher with a lambskin polishing pad. I can't see why this wouldn't work just as well on the floor?

3. 
   gordsco | Aug 25, 2006 03:03pm | #3

   Touching them up with a little varnish is tricky. I find water based polyurethane the easiest to use but its best to tape off the scratch so the varnish doesn't spread around. The cooking oil has probably acted like a stain and the darkness will likely remain.

   If this is prefinished hardwood, it may be easier to remove and replace the offending boards.

   May neighbors respect You, and troubles neglect You.

   Gord

                           

    

    

4. 
   ditch | Aug 25, 2006 03:08pm | #4

   I agree with Gord, just replace the scratched boards with new ones.

5. FHB Editor
   JFink | Aug 25, 2006 05:18pm | #5

   Here's my 3 step process for this situation - I've used it for all sort of furniture touchups in the woodworking shop:

   #1 - go buy a big box of Crayola Crayons - you know, the BIG one with the sharpener built right into the back of the box

   #2 - pick the appropriate color to match the finished surface of your floor and either rub the crayon across the scrape/gouge until the wax crayon heats up enough to fill in the necessary spot (a heat gun also works great for this, by the way) and just burnish the surface clean with a paper towel.

   #3 - Take the box of crayons to the kitchen table, get out some construction paper and take the rest of the day off.

    

   (*by the way, minwax makes a bunch of wax filler sticks that do the same thing - but they aren't nearly as much fun)

   Justin Fink - FHB Editorial

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