Replies

1. 
   MBerger | Jan 20, 2009 03:59pm | #1

   Hi Benny.

   I'm sure Gary can chime in with a good answer (he is the dovetail doctor afterall) but I recently dealt with a similar issue and found that a good solution was to fill the gaps with wedges of matching wood, as described by Phil Lowe in this article:

   http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=26866

   Hope that helps!

1. 
   Binkydo | Jan 20, 2009 06:30pm | #2

   Hello Mark,Thank You for advice and I will keep the article except the difference is the joints are very tight they just have some very small gaps in them so they don't look clean or smooth and the gaps are to small for wedges.Thank You
   Benny Collins

1. 
   MBerger | Jan 20, 2009 06:35pm | #3

   Then here's another tip. Mix some saw dust from the same wood with shellac and fill the gaps like you would using wood puddy. The shellac mixture prevents the filler from standing out; mixing with glue will make the filler very apparent.

   Matt

1. 
   Binkydo | Jan 20, 2009 06:39pm | #4

   Hello Matt,Thank You I will give that a try.Benny

2. 
   tom77 | Jan 21, 2009 05:44pm | #5

   Another trick is to apply some gap filling super glue and then sand over the joint. The sawdust will adhere to the adhesive and fill in the gap. The color will match pretty well after the glue sets. You may have to do more than one application in some cases.Good luck, Tom.

2. 
   user-148830 | Jan 22, 2009 11:30pm | #6

   Hi,
   Well all my suggestions have essentially been presented.
   I find that wedges are the best way to disguise a gap, even a small one. You can make a very tiny wedge, half the size of a toothpick, with your sharp chisel. Keep your hands behind the blade always. Make your toothpick so it can enter the hole easily and put a drop of glue in the hole first and then bang the wedge in. Saw it and then chisel it off flush with the surrounding surface for a flawless look. [This is the reason you never throw away your off-cuts when working on a piece, until it's out the door. You will have the perfect match for grain and color laying about.]

   But if that's too much trouble, then make some sanding dust and mix that with epoxy to fill the small hole. Check the dust amount and mix of the epoxy on a piece of scrap. The more dust usually the darker the mix gets. Good luck and congrats on finishing the piece.

   Gary Rogowski
   http://www.northwestwoodworking.com

1. 
   Binkydo | Jan 26, 2009 02:34am | #7

   Hello Sir,Thank You very much and I appreciate your help with this need.Benny