Repairing Plywood Splintering Edges

Repairing splintered edges on plywood is a straightforward process.

Although plywood is commonly used for shelving units, roofing and floors, the durable material tends to splinter around the edges. Not only do the splintered edges cause injury when handled, but they also make the plywood surface look unappealing and worn out, even if it is still relatively new. Instead of replacing the splintered plywood section with a new piece, blend the damaged section with the remaining surface so it looks uniform. Even though the process is labor intensive, repairing the section will save you from costly replacements.

Things You'll Need

• Thick gloves
• Tweezers
• Wire brush (optional)
• 150-grit sandpaper
• Tack cloth
• Painting or staining supplies (optional)

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Instructions

1. Wear thick gloves to protect your hands from injury. Grasp a pair of tweezers and pull out the splinters from the edge of the plywood. Lift each splinter carefully and bend it so it snaps. Avoid pulling the splinters in the direction of the plywood, since you could damage the surrounding surface. If the splintered-edged plywood is unfinished, rub a wire brush over the edges to remove splinters instead of using the tweezers.

2. Rub 150-grit sandpaper over the splintered edge to smooth out the plywood surface, starting from one end of the piece and working your way to the other end. Move your hand in the direction of the grain so you do not splinter the surrounding surface. Continue to rub the damaged edge until you cover the entire length.

3. Wipe the surface of the plywood with a tack cloth to remove sanding dust residue. Continue to sand the edge of the plywood but extend it beyond the damaged section to blend the damaged section with the rest of the plywood surface. This practice ensures the plywood piece looks uniform.

4. Wipe the surface with a tack cloth. Depending on the finish on the surrounding plywood surface, leave this edge as it is, or apply a matching coat of touch-up paint or stain over it.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you begin, spread tarps or old newspapers on the ground to collect sanding residue. Alternatively, vacuum the floor afterward to collect sanding residue.

• If you are repairing a large section of plywood, wear a face mask during the sanding process so you do not inhale the dust.

• You can substitute the sandpaper with a palm sander. Put a round of 150-grit on the sander and move it over the splintered edge to smooth it out.

• Grade C and lower grades of plywood are more difficult to sand than higher grades.

References

• Inside Woodworking: Knowing Plywood Grades
• Wood Magazine: A Sampling of Plywood Grades
• Wood Working Tips: Cutting Plywood