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Patch Gouges
Fill in gouges with colored putty sticks, sold at most hardware stores and home centers. This putty works well for small holes and nicks but is somewhat trickier to use as a fill for larger damage like we show here. Unlike hardening putties, it remains soft and somewhat flexible, so you have to shape it carefully. And it won’t hold up under heavy wear. 
Click image to enlarge.
1. Buy several
sticks of putty similar to the color of the stain you want to match. Scrape
flakes from each, then mix and knead them with your finger tips until the color
is right. The heat from your fingers also softens the putty for easy
application. Make the patch slightly darker than the furniture; lighter will be
more obvious.
2. Press putty
tightly into the gouge with a small flat stick, then flatten it and scrape away
the excess with the stick’s long edge. Round the end of the stick with
sandpaper.
3. Wipe away
any putty adhering to the wood around the gouge, and smooth the surface of the
putty with a clean cloth. A thin, light-colored line will usually appear around
the perimeter of the patch. Use a matching marker to color this line, as shown
in Photo 2 under "Touch Up Scratches."
Click image to enlarge.
4. Spray the
patch with two or three quick passes of shellac, then after it dries, a few
quick passes of spray lacquer—either high gloss or satin, depending on
your furniture’s finish. Never apply lacquer or polyurethane/varnish
directly over a putty patch; it will leave a permanently soft mess. Shellac
will harden; however, the patch will remain somewhat pliable under the finish,
so don’t attempt this on a heavy-wear surface.
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