I made a breakfast table (tabletop) fom recycled barnwood. There are nail holes which are black from the oxidized iron (some of which go all the way through the top and wormholes which are also black. I stained it with a walnut color gel stain and tried filling the nail holes with 60 minute epoxy. (which I thought would remain clear) I then shaved the epxy flush with the surface with a chisel. This worked great for the mall nail holes, but the worm holes, some of which are 3/g inch to 1/2 inch wide and oblique (ie partially open tunnels) took on an opaque green/gray color which is objectionable. I thought the holes should be made flush to the suirface so food, spilled milk etc.. doesn’t get stuck in them which would be difficult to clean.
I could partially scrape/carve out some of the epoxy if I were to use a black opaque filler for some of the wormholes. I could also leave some unfilled.
Any suggestions welcome. Thanks.
Jay
Replies
I don't have any better suggestions for filling the holes, but there's nothing wrong with showing off that "character" and leaving it mostly as is.
I want to show off the holes and keep them visible, which is why I tried to use a transparent filler. From a practical standpoint though I don't want liquids to drip through the table into our laps.
Also, now that I have turned several of the larger holes a disgusting shade of green/ gray with epoxy I'd appreciate suggestions as to how to make them black again, before I re-sand and re-stain, then topcoat. Thanks.
Jay
Jay,
I am just finishing up a Craftsman style rocking chair and there are a few worm holes in the 1/4 sawn white oak and I really think they add character to the wood. I have finished it off a bit darker than my wife likes it but this is MY chair and I have seen a lot of antiques that the worm holes have not been covered up.
My .02c worth,
Greg
Just a thought. I have encountered a similar situation. What I did was to use colored epoxy to fill the holes. I used aniline dyes; in this case I created bright red and blue epoxies. True it was quite a contrast to the natural coloration of that particular wood, but the end result was one that appeared pleasing and artistically unique. The thought occurred to me as a result of seeing a pine piece in a previous issue of fine woodworking that the maker had used crayons on as a decorative accent.
If this is too bazaar for your tastes you could inlay wooden butterfly keys or some similar embellishment that would enhance the overall effect. I have on occasion used similiar approaches to covering up boo-boo's, and was pleasantly surprised on each occaision that the recipients felt the effect was one of the more attractive aspects of the piece.
Try Envirotex to fill the holes. More viscuous (more runny) than epoxy which means it will flow into and completely fill the hole, allowing all air to escape, and drying clear as glass.
Or, you can take your plane, make some slivers of oak, and glue them into the holes to fill the voids. It'll look more like a knot, but the slivers will accept a finish more evenly than any other filler.
If you're looking to highlight the voids, Envirotex is the way to go.
tony b.
You can dye epoxy black and replug. The black seems to be a common enough need that some 5 minute epoxies already come that way. I even found black epoxy in HD once but it's typically a specialty item. I'm pretty sure Stewart-McDonald sells it if you dont want to dye it yourself.
If you build it he will come.
Thanks. I decided to try this already and colored the epoxy with van dyke brown Japan color. (which looks almost black). I am paring the epoxy flush with the surface with a sharp chisel. Some scratching and removal of stain has occurrd so I will sand and re-stain with the walnit color gel stain that I had applied before I filled anything. I think it is going to work well but I'll let you know by posting to this thread. Thanks again to all for the advice.
Jay
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