Fixing dents in wood grips...UPDATE

[SLT223]

Boy did I just really piss myself off. Too much stuff the gun safe. The front sight of my Ruger MKIV collided with the combats grips on my 28-2. Can someone explain to me how to lift the dent, if you have experience doing so? I’ve heard of using an iron with a wet cloth, but have never done this myself. Does it really work? Will it damage the finish? These grips were perfect before this happened.

Edit:
Ok I watched some youtube vids, but this process looks a little scary to me since I’ve never done it and really don’t want to make matter worse. Any advice on process would be greatly appreciated.

95% fixed! A very small divot remains that is easier to see than feel. It needs to be replied any so I think a light sanding will make just about disappear.

Thank you all for the help gentlemen. Any recommendations on what oil to use? I’ll probably have to sand and oil both panels to create a match.

 

[Troystat]

If it is a dent and not a scratch you might be able to steam the dent out, put a little bit of water (use a syringe if you have one) on the dented part let is set for just a bit then put a piece of cloth over it and take a hot iron and heat the cloth until it dries, you might need to do this twice. If the wood is still there and has not been gouged out it will raise. You might need to spot retouch the finish. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

 

[2152hq]

Looks more like a scar/scratch than a dent.
The steam process only works on a 'dent',,the wood is compressed. The fibers are not broken, just pushed inward.

The steam process will remove the finish in most all instances from the area you treat, and it's tough to keep treatment confined to just the small area of the damage such as this.

I usually wet the damage area by placing a wet Q-Tip on the spot propped up so it just sits on the damage. The water is then absorbed by the damaged wood.
That softens the wood but also it gets a lot of water into the damaged area.

To steam it back out, small areas like this I use a soldering iron. The tip is drastically hotter than a steam iron.

Take a small cloth and fold it over once or twice and wet it.
Place a corner of the cloth on the damage and lightly press the tip of the soldering iron on the cloth.
You'll get steam!!
Lots of it. Careful of your fingers.
Push the iron down lightly onto the cloth to generate steam. Move the cloth over
on the damage area as soon as the cloth starts to dry out in that small area which won't take long.

The water you soaked into the wood will also generate steam and help raise the fibers of the wood.

Take a break and re-wet the cloth and also place some more water on the damaged wood are itself.
You should start to see some results even after the first go at it.

You can keep working at the spot trying to lift the fibers as high as possible. Less pressure with the soldering iron tip gets better results than pressing down hard trying to generate more steam.
You will be pressing the wood fibers back down as well if you do that. The steam will generate just as well with light pressure on the cloth.
Just keep it good and wet and the 400F+ soldering iron will cook that water to steam in no time.

After the steam work it will dry quickly from the heat. The area will look off color and dull from lack of finish.
It will need very careful light sanding to level the area.
Then match the damaged area with stain and finish so it blends with the orig surrounding finish.

All Done!

 

[fleabus101]

Listen closely to 2152hq!!! You cant get better
advise from anyone. His experience is a
terrific asset to our forum..
Merry Chritmas to all..
Randy..

 

[Troystat]

2152hq stated it much better than I did, good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[Doug44]

If that don’t work I am afraid you will have to sand it out. Either way you will have to touch up the finish. Good luck.

 

[peterdeb]

2152hq procedure should be a sticky..

 

[Jason Demond]

I have steamed dents and gotten excellent results, but you'll have to lightly sand and refinish the grip.

Sadly, that doesn't look like a dent. It looks like the grain has been broken. You might lessen it somewhat with an iron, but you are not getting rid of it. Filler will look like ****. Sanding will get rid of it... but you can never go back to original.

 

[SLT223]

So the next step is refinishing. I watched some videos about stock refinishing. Looks like 220ish grain paper with ting diluted one to one with mineral spirit will work for the first coat, then let dry, and apply another coat or two with a thicker mixture and massage at least one of the later coats with 600 grit. Does that sound about right?