Despite your best efforts to protect your chairs, tables, and other wooden items, they would still get nicked and dented due to constant use. It’s frustrating, isn’t it?
Well, the good news is that you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to fix the whole thing. With the best furniture touch-up markers, you can make your wooden surfaces look brand new. Unlike ordinary markers, these touch-up kits can hide imperfections on wood since they typically have the following features:
Type of touch-up kit:
Furniture scratch repair kits come in the form of markers, wax sticks, or compounds. Markers are pretty straightforward to use—just remove the cap and start dabbing the nib on the affected area. Wax sticks are similar to crayons. By rubbing it on the scuff marks, it will shed and leave its material on the surface. Meanwhile, compounds are furniture solutions that are applied to the scratches using a lint-free cloth.
Color selection:
The most effective way to hide blemishes is to use colorants that are close to the shade of the furniture’s wood stain or varnish.
If you can’t find a touch-up pen with the exact color you need, you can blend different furniture repair wood markers to customize your favorable shade or layer a light-colored wood tone for a darker finish. Consider using wood stain selectively for a more precise restoration.
Longevity:
Although it is a common practice to reapply the wax or ink, the product should resist fading and discoloration even when exposed to moisture, UV, and normal wear-and-tear for a couple of months.
As the title suggests, this article shall focus on discussing the pros and cons of eight different sets of wood color pens and wax sticks. If you are having a hard time deciding which furniture touch-up kit to buy, read the “Factors to consider when buying furniture touch-up markers” section.
3 Premium-Rated Picks
Katzco 13 piece Furniture Kit
Type: Wax sticks and markers
Package: 6 wax sticks markers, 6 markers, and 1 sharpener
Colors: 6
Rejuvenate RJ6WM Wood Furniture Markers
Type: Chisel-tipped markers
Package: 6 colored markers
Colors: 6
DAIXISM ALB-FRKIT-13 Furniture Kit
Type: Chisel-tip markers and wax Sticks
Package: 6 Colored markers, 6 wax sticks, and 1 sharpener
Colors: 6
Table of Contents
- 8 Top-rated Furniture Touch-up Markers
- 1. Katzco 13 piece Furniture Repair Kit
- 2. Rejuvenate RJ6WM Wood Furniture & Floor Repair Markers
- 3. DAIXISM ALB-FRKIT-13 Furniture Repair Kit
- 4. RamPro Furniture Markers
- 5. Minwax 63487000 Wood Finish Stain Marker
- 6. DEWEL DEWEL17 Furniture Markers
- 7. Guardsman 529834 Touch-up Markers
- 8. Lifreer Wood Furniture Repair Kit
- Factors to Consider When Buying Furniture Touch-up Markers
- How Long Does the Touch-up Marker Color Last?
- Are Furniture Touch-up Paint Permanent?
- How Long Does the Touch-up Marker Ink Take to Dry?
- Can Furniture Touch-up Markers Fix Deep Scratches or Gouges?
- Conclusion
8 Top-rated Furniture Touch-up Markers
1. Katzco 13 piece Furniture Repair Kit
- Type: Wax sticks and markers
- Package inclusion: 6 wax sticks markers, 6 markers, and 1 sharpener
- Application: Deep and shallow scratches on wooden furniture
- Colors: Black, cherry, mahogany, maple, oak, and walnut
Katzo’s 13-in-1 touch-up kit is indispensable for a homeowner and a pet owner like me. The set includes six markers, six wax sticks, and a sharpener, and the color offerings mimic the most common hardwood tones. Best of all, I like that I can mix different hues to match the exact shade of my furnishings.
The wax sticks work as fillers for deep gouges. At the same time, they also act as coloring agents to mask the scratch marks my pets left on the furniture. I think the marker does an excellent job of concealing shallow scratches. Overall, their colors are quite opaque so it only takes a few layers to hide the blemishes.
Using them is fairly easy. All I have to do is clean the affected area, rub the nib over the scratch, and leave it to dry. Yet, even if the whole process is quick, the filler and color adhere well on the surface for a long time. This kit saved me several trips to a professional furniture restorer.
However, the wax sticks and touch-up markers for furniture appear dark. Because of that, they look conspicuous on a light-colored wooden surface.
- Blends in well with common hardwood furnitures
- Easy to mix into new colors
- Comes with wax sticks
- Conceals shallow scratches well
- The filler and color adhere well for long
- Stands out on a light-colored wooden surface
2. Rejuvenate RJ6WM Wood Furniture & Floor Repair Markers
- Type: Chisel-tipped markers
- Package inclusion: 6 colored markers
- Application: For damaged furniture, hardwood, laminate floors, or kitchen cabinets
- Colors: Cherry, espresso, mahogany, maple, oak, and walnut
Out of all the different types of touch-up tools I tried, I think Rejuvenate markers are the easiest to use. I just have to open the lid and start drawing on the blemishes.
Formulated for furniture scratches, this set comes in light, mid, and dark shades of brown. This way, I can start with the lightest marker and build up to the darkest tones if I need to blend colors.
These markers allow me to reach the nooks and crannies more quickly thanks to the chisel tips. Plus, they also help me mix different colors more evenly.
Another reason why I’m recommending this set is that the wood absorbs the markers’ inks quickly. Although this forces me to blend faster, I also think it can prevent smearing and bleeding.
What sets this product apart, however, is that it not only works on wood but also laminate floors and cabinets. Regardless of the surface, I only need a few layers to conceal the nicks and dents since the ink is very opaque.
My only gripe is that the colors of the markers’ caps are not consistent with the ink color. I had to test them on a white palette each time I had to use them. But considering that this set is pretty cheap, I’m more than willing to overlook this trivial issue.
- Easiest to use
- Comes in light, mid, and dark shades of brown
- Reach the nooks and crannies more quickly thanks to the chisel tips
- Help me mix different colors more evenly
- Only need a few layers to conceal nicks and dings
- The colors of the markers’ caps are not consistent with the ink color
3. DAIXISM ALB-FRKIT-13 Furniture Repair Kit
- Type: Chisel-tip markers and wax Sticks
- Package inclusion: 6 Colored markers, 6 wax sticks, and 1 sharpener
- Application: Coloring agent and fillers for scratches, scuffs, and nicks
- Colors: Black, cherry, maple, mahogany, oak, and walnut
A top choice among homeowners and renters, the DAIXISM offers six markers and six wax sticks, as well as a sharpener to keep those crayons pointy and ready to use. Not to mention, the colors included in the set emulate the shades found in most wooden furniture and floorings.
I never had a hard time trying to blend different markers to copy certain wood tones. All in all, I really love the fact that these touch-up tools do not require complex techniques to fix the scratches.
Normally, I would fill deep scrapes and scratches with wax. After that, I would use the furniture touch-up pen to even out the color and wipe off the excess moisture with a rag. What’s more, it dries into a water-resistant finish. This way, I don’t have to worry that I might accidentally wash off the inks when I clean up my furniture.
As far as the quality is concerned, I noticed that the wax sticks are longer than other brands. Just the same, the markers seem to have a lot of ink in them. Generally speaking, the markers’ inks are highly pigmented. They can effectively cover unsightly scuff marks but they do not hide white paint splatters very well.
- Emulates the shades found in most wooden furniture and floorings
- Do not require complex techniques to fix the scratches
- Fill deep scrapes and scratches with wax
- Use the marker to even out the color
- Dries into a water-resistant finish
- They do not hide white paint splatters very well
4. RamPro Furniture Markers
- Type: Chisel-tip markers and wax Sticks
- Package inclusion: 6 Colored markers, 6 wax sticks, and 1 sharpener
- Application: Suitable for vintage and modern wood and wood-veneer furniture with light scratches
- Colors: Black, cherry, maple, mahogany, oak, and walnut
Most homeowners are not carpenters, and RamPro understands this all too well. Hence, the brand has put together this user-friendly furniture repair kit for wood scratches and wood-veneer damages.
Composed of six markers and six wax sticks of both light and dark colors, I can correct minor imperfections by combining different colors to match the exact shade and tone of any wooden object.
What I find very impressive is that the wax sticks look almost invisible once they dry inside the gaps. Besides, I like that the furniture pens are equipped with chisel tips, as they allow me to cover large scratches within minutes.
More importantly, their inks layer and blend very seamlessly. I’m also amazed that this stuff is fast-drying and indelible. It reassures me that I don’t need to redo the touch-up every so often. I can clean my furniture without worrying that I will remove the inks on the surface.
However, this level of permanence also can cause some problems. For instance, undoing a mistake I made is difficult, so I had to be extremely careful when I applied the ink.
- Match the exact shade and tone of any wooden object
- The wax sticks look almost invisible once they dry
- Cover large scratches within minutes
- Their inks layer and blend very seamlessly
- Don’t need to redo the touch-up every so often
- Undoing a mistake is difficult
5. Minwax 63487000 Wood Finish Stain Marker
- Type: Oil-based wood stain marker
- Package inclusion: 1 Marker
- Application: For nicks and scratches
- Colors: Dark walnut
Instead of inks, waxes, or paints, this Minwax marker utilizes actual wood stain to touch up and refinish wooden objects and laminated floors. That’s why it conceals the scratches like they never existed in the first place. Beyond that, it is also useful for embellishing woodworking projects.
In a single purchase, I get only one marker, so I have to ensure I get the exact color I need. The dark walnut is apt for most of my pieces, but note that the brand also offers one-of-a-kind shades like Golden Oak, Red Oak, Red Mahogany, Provincial, Early American, Ebony, and Cherry.
Once applied, the stain will be absorbed into the wood pores in a couple of minutes. Still, it would normally take an additional 2 hours for the chemical to fully dry. However, I don’t see this as the product’s weak point since it gives me ample time to layer or blend colors.
I also love that the marker comes with a chisel tip as it helps me get to the different parts of the scratch fairly quickly. Besides, I only need a small quantity of the stain to cover blemishes.
The only thing that I don’t like is that it gives off a glossy finish, so I cannot use it for wood furniture with matte finishes.
- Uses actual wood stain to touch up and refinish wooden objects and laminated floors
- Also useful for embellishing woodworking projects
- The brand also offers one-of-a-kind shades
- Gives me ample to time layer or blend colors
- Helps me get to the different parts of the scratch fairly quickly
- Cannot use it for wood furniture with matte finishes
6. DEWEL DEWEL17 Furniture Markers
- Type: Markers and filler sticks
- Package inclusion: 8 Markers, 8 filler sticks, and a sharpener
- Application: Fix discolorations and scratches, and fill deep holes
- Colors: Oak, maple, mahogany, cherry, walnut, black, white, and gray
Whether it’s repairing gaping cracks or covering minor scratches, this set of markers and fillers from Dewel will not disappoint! For starters, it includes more color options compared to a standard touch-up kit.
Besides the usual wood tones like maple and cherry, it also has white, grey, and black, which I find very useful for retouching my grey-brown furniture pieces.
What I love about this kit is that it lets me produce a shade identical to the type of wood I’m fixing using both the wax and the markers. Using the paint pen for furniture is pretty straightforward as it is no different from coloring surfaces with regular alcohol-based art markers.
As for the fillers, I can melt two different waxes and mix them. Apart from copying the actual shade and tone of the wood, this method allows the wax to take the shape of the gaps on the surface.
Figuring out how the kit works does not require rocket science, and I don’t run the risk of accidentally messing up since the ink and filler can dry within seconds.
However, the markers are not well-pigmented. I need to apply multiple coatings to get the color to appear closer to the surface I’m trying to fix.
- Includes more color options compared to a standard touch-up kit
- Melt two different waxes and mix them
- The ink and filler can dry within seconds
- Easy to use and blend
- The markers are not well-pigmented
7. Guardsman 529834 Touch-up Markers
- Type: Markers
- Package inclusion: 3 markers
- Colors: Light, medium, and dark brown
As a brand that has been around for over a century, Guardsman has perfected several furniture protection products, one of which is this set of touch-up markers. It should not come as a surprise that it is highly recommended by furniture restorers.
Compared to other types of touch-up tools, these markers do not drip excess inks, making them easy to apply on vertical surfaces.
I also like to use them on both indoor and outdoor furniture because the ink is highly resistant to UV. It has been months since I first tried this on a garden chair and I’m amazed that the color has not faded.
Admittedly, I was a bit on the fence about this set’s ability to help me produce a shade that closely resembles the colors of my furnishings and ornaments. Upon testing, I realized that it’s okay to work with fewer markers—they blend well enough to hide those nasty-looking scratches.
All the markers in the set are highly pigmented. As such, they enable me to conceal damages in a few strokes. Note that the mid-tone is appropriate for mahogany pieces due to its reddish tint.
Unfortunately, the lightest brown appears darker than the color indicated on the cap so I could not utilize this kit for very light wood tones. Other than that, I think this touch-up kit is fantastic for small repair jobs.
- Easy to apply on vertical surfaces
- Highly resistant to UV
- They blend well enough to hide those nasty-looking scratches
- Can conceal damages in a few strokes
- The lightest brown appears darker than the color indicated on the cap
8. Lifreer Wood Furniture Repair Kit
- Type: Wood filler, wax sticks, and markers
- Package inclusion: Wood fillers, markers, wax sticks, brushes, sandpapers, hand gloves, sharpener, and scraper.
- Application: For filling and touching up scratches and holes
- Colors: 12 choices of common wood tones for fillers, and 8 choices for markers and wax sticks
Lifreer’s repair kit saves me the trouble of having to figure out which items to buy in the hardware just to get a quick repair furniture job done.
In addition to the markers and wax sticks, this set throws in twelve different wood fillers, seven brushes, sandpapers, a pair of gloves, a sharpener, and a scraper. Thanks to these tools, I managed to revamp the vintage pieces I scored from the thrift shops!
Using the markers, I blended colors to retouch superficial scratches on a wooden chopstick holder. For the holes, I mixed different fillers to match the exact wood tone and pour the mixture into the crevices.
The wax sticks that came with the kit were really handy for fixing the smaller gaps. Lastly, it’s easy to smoothen out the surfaces using the scraper. And, I can hardly even notice the defects after the touch-up.
I just wish that the manufacturer considers making markers with lighter colors. All the touch-up pens are on the dark side of the spectrum. While they work well with dark wood tones, I can’t use these shades on light-colored furniture.
- Saves me the trouble of having to figure out which items to buy in the hardware
- Blend colors to retouch superficial scratches on a wooden object
- Mix different fillers to match the furniture’s color and pour the mixture into the crevices
- Smoothen out the surfaces using the scraper
- All the touch-up pens are on the dark side
Factors to Consider When Buying Furniture Touch-up Markers
Color and tone
Although it may seem obvious and simple at first glance, it is very crucial that one spend time looking at different color options and visualize how they would fit in the overall design. The last thing that you would want to happen is the colors sticking out like a sore thumb because you didn’t distinguish between purple and violet.
Blendability
The ability is very important when it comes to touch-up markers. You want a marker that can easily mix and blend with the colors around it. That way, when you’re fixing up scratches or little marks, the marker can smoothly match the surrounding area. It makes the touch-up look natural and seamless.
Ease of use
Touch-up markers are fairly easy to use since they work like most permanent or dry-erase markers. On the other hand, wax sticks are like crayons as they shed some of the waxy material to cover the dents and holes. If the inks do not blend well, or if the wax stick is too stiff, then you will struggle to make a clean and precise touch-up.
Dry time
Some touch-up markers take less time to dry than the others and once they are dry, removing them will not be an easy task. At the same time, dry inks allow you to more accurately blend different colors on top of each other.
Long-lasting results
Remember, the ink or wax material of furniture touch-up paint products can break down when exposed to the elements. The good news is that there are high-quality repair kits that use waterproofing and UV-resisting solutions. This way, you don’t have to reapply the ink or wax frequently.
Package Inclusion
Some brands sell individual markers while others put together wax sticks, wood fillers, and a slew of other tools. Which one you should buy will depend on the kind of damage your furniture has sustained. A set of markers can go a long way if you only need to cover superficial scuff markers. But for deep holes, wood fillers are necessary.
How Long Does the Touch-up Marker Color Last?
Typically, cabinet touch-up markers or wax sticks can last a couple of months on a wooden surface before you need to re-apply them.
Are Furniture Touch-up Paint Permanent?
No. Since you constantly mop the hardwood floor or wipe the furniture, you need to reapply the furniture touch-up paint or wax every few months or so.
How Long Does the Touch-up Marker Ink Take to Dry?
Wood repair compounds take between one to three hours to dry. Note that the drying time varies depending on how much product you applied and the humidity.
Can Furniture Touch-up Markers Fix Deep Scratches or Gouges?
No, most markers are intended for surface scratches. For deep gouges, you can try epoxy putty or wax sticks.
Conclusion
If you have pets at home, you would most likely know how difficult it is to protect your wooden furniture against their claws. Thankfully, you can hide those surface-level damages with the best furniture touch-up markers. Just rub the marker on the affected area and the scratches will be gone in an instant!
Hi, I am Eveline Kessler, a content creator. My love for colors and arts draws me here to join the Intermediarts team with Leilani. I am responsible for testing new products and techniques with her and providing honest reviews and tips based on our experience. I have gained a lot of knowledge from this, and I believe you will find her suggestions to be invaluable as well.
