Replies

1. 
   Jed_C. | Apr 14, 2000 10:40pm | #1

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   I'll try to put this gently, before the dogs come after you. Gaps are something you want to avoid on "fine new wood cabinetry." Paintgrade? Now that's another matter.

1. 
   RichardM | Apr 15, 2000 06:35pm | #2

   *I agree, the cuts should be absolutely perfect. But for those "rare" times that it is not ..... I need a good filler solution.

1. 
   gpwestmoreland | Apr 16, 2000 07:17am | #3

   *Richard, I'm sure most of us try for tight joints in mitered moldings and in the long run it's usually quicker to just do it right the first time or pull the sloppy piece out and replace it with one that fits. But that's not always possible, so here's a procedure you could try: Take a matching length of scrap wood to the table saw and set the fence to rip so the offcut will be about 1/32" to 1/16" wide. (Hope you're not trying to fill a gap any wider than this.) But don't rip it completely off. Stop the cut after the kerf is an inch or two long (this should be all you need) and back the wood out of the blade, keeping it pressed firmly against the fence. This little flimsy piece that's still attached to the length of scrap wood is your filler piece. The reason for not ripping it all the way through is that its too small to conveniently hold in a vise to shape it. Put it edge up in a vise and take a sharp block plane to the filler, putting a taper on one edge. You're trying to produce a filler about the size and shape of a single edge razor blade. When you have one edge as sharp as you can get it without crumbling, cut it off with a chisel. Test fit it into the gap. If it fits ok, put a drop of glue on the corner of a sheet of paper or a business card and spread the glue in the gap, then insert the filler piece. When the glue dries, clip as much of the filler piece away as you can with diagonal cutters (wire cutters). Cut the rest down with a paring chisel or carving gouge, or sand. This won't make the repair invisible, but if you choose the filler piece carefully and work carefully it looks a lot better than a sawdust/glue mixture or wood putty. Besides, it's tedious enough to convince yourself to do it right first next time. Hope this helps. GP.

1. 
   RichardM | Apr 16, 2000 10:12pm | #4

   *Thanks ... I will give this process a try and I will make sure to get those cuts perfect the next time.