Repairing holes

You find a beautiful dresser for super cheap.  Why? It has a hole in the side of it. :(

BUY IT!  As long as other things are in working order, buy it.  The average person can fix a hole.

Examine the hole.
See if it is just a surface gauge or if it actually makes a hole all the way through.  (I guess that constitutes a hole but stay with me...)

This one went all the way through. This is the inside view

This is what it looked like from the outside.  It was about the size of a nickel.

Since the hole went all the way though, I used wood glue to glue the inside back to flush (I had to remove some since it had splintered)  

Go buy yourself some wood filler or wood putty.  I like the Elmer's brand, I got mine at Lowe's or Home Depot.  Between $5-10 depending on the size.

(Pic is from "changing handles" blog but it shows the wood filler I like to use)

Take a fair amount of the putty and fill the hole.  You want it to be solid in there but it doesn't have to be flush yet.  Cover the hole and the surface just outside the hole, like a "putty band aid."

(Using my hand, I filled the hole, and wore a glove but you can use a putty knife if you choose)

Now wait.  You want it to harden completely (read directions for amount of time)

 After it hardens, give it a good sand to make it flush with the wood again.  It should be pretty smooth.
The below pic shows after I sanded and put a light coat of paint on it.  I will need 1-2 more coats but then it will not be seen at all.

The next pic is the hole after only two coats of paint. Can you find it?  :)  The light part on top is the flash from the camera.

  Viola. No hole.  -And that my friends, is how you make a $20 dresser (because of the hole) TOTALLY worth the buy.