How to Sand Scratches on Mid-century Modern Furniture

Mid-century modern furniture has some of the most iconic pieces in all of industrial design. Instantly recognizable pieces like the Eames lounge chair have aesthetic and monetary value. In accordance with the period, most mid-century modern furniture has wood veneer. To keep these pieces in pristine condition, you must take care of them and remedy any surface blemishes as soon as possible.

Things You'll Need

• 0000-grade steel wool or 360-grit sandpaper
• Paste wax
• Chamois

Instructions

1. Apply a moderate layer of wax to steel wool by rubbing hard paste wax with the steel wool. For deep scratches, use 360-grit sandpaper instead of steel wool.

2. Rub the steel wool over the scratches in the wood veneer in the direction of the grain. Rub lightly and just enough to work the paste wax in and minimize the scratches in the furniture. Do not sand through the wood veneer layer.

3. Buff the paste wax with a chamois until the scratches and paste wax disappear and a shiny gloss is left behind.

Tips & Warnings

• If your mid-century modern piece suffers from deep gouges or scratches, take it to a professional to be repaired. The piece will need to be refinished. Wood veneer is very thin and easy to sand through and ruin. A mistake of this caliber will ruin and severely devalue the piece.

References

• The Restoration Studio LLC: How to Tell If Your Mid-Century Modern Furniture is Faking It
• Old House Interiors; Mid-Century Modern; Mary Ellen Polson
• Utah State University Cooperative Extension; Cleaning, Repairing and Reconditioning Wood Furniture
• JetSetModern.com: Neatly Dovetailed: Lane's Acclaim Series
• Herman Miller: Finishes Care and Maintenance