Monaco Cayman 2005 Owner's Manual page 118

Steel Wool:
Abrasive material composed of long steel fibers of varying degrees of fineness that are matted togeth-
er. Coarser grades are used to remove paint and other finishes; the finer grades for polishing or
smoothing a finished surface.
Nail Holes and Small Cracks:
Fill nail holes and small cracks with wood putty or dough for unstained woods prior to any sanding.
Stained finishes require filling holes and cracks after the stain has been applied. Putty should match the
stain closely in color.
TIP:
A little sawdust and wood glue can be used to make putty for end grains.
Fixing scratches in stained woodwork:
"Quick and simple" rarely describes repairs to stained wood finishes. However, a few tricks can be
tried. When scratches appear lighter than the surrounding dark-stained woodwork, it usually means
either that the scratch goes through the stain into the wood or that the varnish is flaking off.
Dents:
Small dents may be repaired by using steam. To raise a small dent, place a damp cloth over the area
and hold a medium-hot iron on it. The steam causes the wood fibers to swell back into place. It may be
necessary to repeat this process until the dented area is level with the surface. Allow the area to dry.
Restoring the clear finish:
Check the scratches carefully. If flaking varnish is visible with dark-stained wood underneath, only
the clear finish may need to be restored. Rub the loose varnish with fine steel wool or fine synthetic
steel wool until you have removed the flaking varnish and slightly roughened a small area of the finish
surrounding the scratch. With the tip of a rag, a small brush, or even a cotton swab, apply a thin coat of
wipe-on finish. Apply finish to the damaged area only. Several coats may be needed to hide the scratch.
Re-staining the wood:
If bare wood is visible at the bottom of the scratch, the wood will need to be re-stained. To remove
damaged varnish, lightly roughen a small area around the scratch with sandpaper, steel wool or syn-
thetic steel wool. Find a stain that is a shade lighter than the wood finish. Stain the bare wood with a
very small amount of stain on a rag, brush or cotton swab. If the color is too light, apply several coats. Rub
away excess stain with a dry rag. If the wood becomes too dark, use a rag moistened in mineral sprits to
lighten the wood. Select a lighter color stain and continue.
Several companies have simplified this repair process by designing oil-based wood stain into mark-
er-like containers to rub on to the scratch. Start with a stain color that is lighter than the original finish,
because torn and scratched wood fibers will absorb stain and darken quickly. A second coat can always
be applied if the color of the first coat is too light. Once the color is blended, patch the clear finish
as described above and apply a wipe-on finish.
118
Section 3 --- Exterior & Interior Care
Cayman 2005