repairing a minor groove in finished crib
 

I was moving the crib I built for my daughter today, and my belt buckle snagged on the cap of the foot board and pressed a groove into it. It isn't very deep at all, and didn't appear to break through the polyurethane finish or the oil stain.
It probably won't even bother anybody but me, but I'm wondering what would be a good way to repair it.

I've read somewhere about using an iron and a towel to steam grooves out of wood, but I don't think that was for finished work.

Anybody?
Thanks

I'd use a 'burn in' stick otherwise known as a shellac stick----There is a long learning curve with those so I don't know that I recommend you try it---

Let's see what others have to suggest-----

I would simply call it patina. :jester:

Are you sure that the finish is safe for toddlers? Urethanes tend to contain isocyanates, I don't know about them all but if it has it, it's bad stuff.

Please give us a reference for that---I always thought that the cured product was safe for childrens toys----

If he posts the product I'll go ahead and look it up. He may have done his homework, if not I would make sure before I let the gnawing commence.

Health and safety

Fully reacted polyurethane polymer is chemically inert.[25] No exposure limits have been established by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) or ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists). It is not regulated by OSHA for carcinogenicity.

From Wikipedia---

It's okay to go back to eating your furniture.

I grew up on lead toys, so no problem.

Sorry for the late reply. I've been on other projects.
This was the Cabot semi-gloss polyurethane (brushed on, not the spray).
Like Oh'Mike, I'd read that polyurethane was completely inert once it dried.
I actually let it dry for six weeks before I assembled it because I read it can take up to a month, and I wanted to be sure.