Burning-in Defects in Wood Products

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Filling a Large Scratch with Burn-in Stick

Scratches, dents and gouges are filled by melting a burn-in stick of the appropriate color into the damaged area, then slicing away the excess for a level, smooth repair.

The technician in this photo is filling a 10" scratch in a mahogany elevator interior with the appropriate color burn-in stick.

The Burn-in process

The practice of burning in was developed in prior centuries as a means of repairing finishes and minor defects and damages in furniture.

Burn-in "sticks" made of shellac mixed with colored pigments were melted into the repair area with a blade heated over an alcohol lamp (bunson burner). The heated blade was used to remove the excess material and level off the repair. Burn-ins are accomplished today utilizing the same ancient skills together with more reliable and portable modern products.

Burn-in sticks today come pre-formed in hundreds of shades and colors, including clears, ambers and semi-transparent colors as well as opaques. The burn-in knives used range from oven- and burner-heated ones, to electric and even cordless butane ones like the one shown here..

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Finishing the Burn-in

After having leveled the repair, the technician lightly abrades it with very fine steel wool, then french padding is applied to seal the burn-in. At this point, color adjustments can be made with pigments in order to blend in the repair. Adjustments to the sheen are also made by applying aerosol clear sprays in the desired sheen.

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