Replies

1. 
   RSRose | Sep 01, 2002 05:58am | #1

   Butch,

   It's hard to tell what doesn't turn out right about your finish. You mention finish, having switched to gel stain (not a finish) and whether wood filler will improve your finish all in the same question.

   What kind of finish are you using? What final result are you after? In what way does your finish not satisfy you? Are you looking for a finish which shows the wood pores, or do you want to completely cover the wood with an unbroken layer of finish?

   Silex wood filler will fill the pores of open-grained woods like oak, preparing them for varnish or lacquer so that the film finish is not blemished by dipping down into the pores. There are many formulas, but you generally tint the filler the same color as the stain you are using so that the pores fill with that color. There are many variations on this. It is possible to use the filler in a lighter color than the stain.

   The filler in the can is too thick to use. It is thinned with mineral spirits to the consistency of heavy paint.

   It is applied by scrubbing it onto the wood in all directions with coarse rags. Some use burlap. Before the wet slurry has dried, the wood surface is scraped bare with plastic scapers, cardboard, or carefully with metal putty knives, spatulas, etc. The object is to get all the filler off the surface, but leave it in the pores. Finally, the wood surface is burnished with coarse rags to clean the last of the filler off.

   Then the finish is applied.

   There is no way to do this right by just reading about it. It's not at all hard, but it's one of those skills you get from experience. The first few times, you may not get it to work evenly. Eventually it becomes just about fool-proof.

   Rich

   Edited 8/31/2002 11:00:05 PM ET by Rich Rose

   
   

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   Edited 8/31/2002 11:01:26 PM ET by Rich Rose

2. 
   bill_1010 | Sep 02, 2002 10:07pm | #2

   several great books out there about finishing. Jeff Jewitt's book and bob flexner's book are two that come to mind.  Both books go over filling open grained woods like oak, walnut and mahoganies.  Pretty good books IMO

3. 
   Paul_Snyder | Sep 02, 2002 11:17pm | #3

   Here's a link to an article on grain filler - http://www.wwforum.com/faqs_articles/fillers.html

   What problems are you having with your finishes? Gel stain is best used on wood that tend to blotch, like pine, aspen, alder, etc. Whatever trouble you're having with white oak probably won't be corrected by using a gel stain.

   Paul

   F'burg, VA

1. 
   sorethum1 | Sep 03, 2002 06:54pm | #4

   Is wood filler carried by any paint stores? Todd

1. 
   forestgirl | Sep 03, 2002 07:12pm | #5

   Ace, Home Depot, Lowe's, etc., etc., my local small-town hardware store.  I finished a small oak piece a few weeks ago, and used Dalys' paste wood filler.  It was easy to work with and the piece turned out well.  forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   Alan | Sep 03, 2002 08:42pm | #6

   ST,

   Be VERY careful.  No big box I've ever been in has carried wood FILLER, though they all carried wood PUTTY.  Unfortunately too many wood putty makers have labeled their product "wood filler."  Also, most (all?) employees in those stores know little about the products they sell, and certainly don't know the difference between wood putty and wood filler.

   I was in a Lowes looking for filler.  All they had was wood putty.  I asked a clerk if they carried filler.  He marched me back to the aisle I'd just left and pointed to the dozens of wood putties on the shelf.  I carefully explained what wood filler is, what it is used for, and why wood putty won't do.  His reply?  "Hold on.  Now, what's the project?"  As though knowing what I was making would fill in the gaps in his knowledge, or change my needs from wood filler to wood putty.

   Alan

1. 
   bill_1010 | Sep 03, 2002 09:22pm | #7

   Grain/Pore filler is a different animal then putty or home improvement filler(called carpentry filler).  Jeff Jewitt's site or liberon or many finer woodworking stores will sell products designed for grain/pore filler. 

   Ive never seen much in the way of great finish products in the big boxes.  They are geared towards more home products then furniture products as far as diversity.  Check the Minwax isle, if its not with those products then its probably not there.

   Edited 9/3/2002 11:39:14 PM ET by BILL_1010

1. 
   sorethum1 | Sep 03, 2002 11:18pm | #8

   I found some Campbells brand wood paste filler at a local paint store on the recommendation of a finishing shop.  It was the only product I've seen in the north suburban Chicago area where I live, and they didn't have it on the shelf.  They tinted it "mahogany" for me, and sell it in quarts and gallons.  It was $17 for a tinted quart.  I'll experiment with it on some scrap.  This is the real stuff.  Now I'll see how it works. Todd

3. 
   Paul_Snyder | Sep 04, 2002 06:35am | #9

   In my area Sherwin Williams carries a complete line of wood finishing products.

   Another good source is woodfinishingsupplies.com

   Paul

   F'burg, VA