Fixing a Hole in the Side of A Dresser

By: Stacy Verdick Case
On: December 30, 2017

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The Down A Dirty Repair Method

Fixing a Hole in the Side of A Dresser

So when I spotted a 1930’s waterfall dresser it was already being perused by two other shoppers. I was contemplating just grabbing the ticket, running to the register, and leaving them with their mouths hanging open. But no I was good. I did the pee pee dance in the corner and waited (and they took so long).

Finally, one of them spotted the dreaded hole in the side panel. That was too much for them. A deal breaker.

No one tell them to read this blog! I can show you (not them 🤪) how to repair the hole the quick way. It’s easy too but again don’t tell them.

If you thinking it’s easy to fix a hole in the side of a dresser, just fill it with wood filler. Yeah, you can try that but with a hole that goes straight through you’re applying the filler to the bare edges of a 1/4 piece of wood. Maybe it will hold and maybe it will pop out like a cork. I wouldn’t risk it.

Instead here’s what you do.

Find a piece of paneling or a thin strip of balsa or a thin piece of plywood. Cut the wood with a craft knife slightly larger than the hole. Use paneling adhesive to attach the piece to the inside of the dresser where it will not be seen. Let it dry completely.

Now it’s at this point that you can use wood filler to complete the repair. The wood filler now has a large surface to adhere to and there no danger of it popping out.

Sand prime and paint as per usual.

Once the dresser is painted you can even see the repair. See. And the small patch doesn’t interfere with the function of the drawers. Here’s an image of what the repair looks like on the inside.