Monaco 2009 Knight Owner's Manual page 66

Excessive dampness, dryness, heat, or cold
can damage solid wood finishes. Sunlight can
change the color or age the wood. DO NOT
allow moisture or spills to stand, always blot
dry immediately. Solvents, alcohol, nail polish
and polish removers, as well as harsh cleaners,
should not be used on finished wood surfaces.
Minor damage to solid wood surfaces can be
repaired quickly and effectively with a bit of
hard work, some careful attention to details,
and most importantly, the right materials.
However, any wood repair or finishing job is
best left for a professionally trained individual.
NOTE
It is important to inform the service
technician of any products used for the
care and cleaning in the event of wood
repairs.
Sanding and Sandpaper:
The following table is a general guide, but
this may vary with wood type. The key to
sanding is using the right sandpaper for the
repair that is needed. Always sand with the
grain.
gRiT gRade
smoothing the surface,
80-120 Medium
removing small marks.
Final sanding prior to finishing.
150-180 Fine
sanding between coats of
220-240 very Fine
sealing.
removing dust spots or marks
280-320 extra Fine
between finish coats.
removing luster or surface
360-600 super Fine
blemishes.
Steel Wool:
Abrasive material composed of long steel
fibers of varying degrees of fineness that are
matted together. Coarser grades are used to
2
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.
Scratches and Nicks:
"Quick and simple" rarely describes repairs
to stained wood finishes; however, a few tricks
used by professional woodworkers can be tried
to repair nicks and scratches.
Fixing scratches in stained woodwork:
Light scratches will often disappear when
carefully rubbed with furniture polish or paste
wax. When scratches appear lighter than the
surrounding dark-stained woodwork, it usually
use
means either that the scratch goes through
the stain into the wood or that the varnish is
flaking off. Deeper scratches can be hidden by
carefully rubbing with a piece of oily nut meat
such as Brazil nut, black walnut or pecan. Be
careful to rub the nut meat directly into the
scratch to avoid darkening of the surrounding
wood. Color the scratch with brown coloring
crayon or liquid shoe dye (especially good
on walnut). Always test a procedure on an
inconspicuous area on the wood to ensure no
damages to the finish occurs.
Staining the scratch with iodine:
Mahogany - Use new iodine.
Brown or Cherry Mahogany - Use iodine
that has turned dark brown.
Maple - Dilute one part iodine with one part
denatured alcohol.
Commercial scratch removers, or stick wax
to match the wood finish, can also be used.
After the scratch has been hidden, polish or
wax the entire area. Deep scratches should be
repaired and finished by a professional.
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:
The finished surface on the wood is a clear
lacquer coating. The lacquer finish can be
repaired should the finish become dulled or
scratched. Scratches extending into the wood
will require wood repair by filling the damaged
area. If there is light damage, the wood can be
steamed to bring the wood surface level.
Lacquer finish sheen can be restored by
carefully using 0000 steel wool or equivalent.
Sand damaged lacquer with fine sandpaper.
Once the scratched surface is smooth, apply
a clear lacquer coating using an aerosol.
Lacquer can be applied by cloth or brush, but
best results are obtained from an aerosol. If
necessary, use 0000 steel wool or equivalent to
bring out the luster and smooth overspray.