Replies

1. 
   JamesS | Dec 10, 2007 09:14am | #1

   Iv'e done it both ways you mention with good results. Sometimes I mix the sawdust w/ BLO b/4 shellac w/ good results too.

   James

2. 
   Dave45 | Dec 10, 2007 05:46pm | #2

   That should work, and I've also used clear epoxy mixed with sawdust.

   Whatever you try, experiment on some samples made from scrap first. - lol

3. 
   saschafer | Dec 10, 2007 07:56pm | #3

   Filler made from shellac will tend to dry very quickly, so you have to work fast. You can add some of Behlen's Behkol shellac solvent, which contains butyl alcohol and therefore evaporates a bit more slowly. Or you can just add butyl alcohol yourself, although it's not easy to find. It also has a rather unpleasant smell.

   -Steve

    

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 10, 2007 08:24pm | #4

   Steve, what would be the advantage of mixing the dust with shellac rather than epoxy?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   saschafer | Dec 10, 2007 09:07pm | #5

   "Steve, what would be the advantage of mixing the dust with shellac rather than epoxy?"

   Don't ask me; I'm not the one who suggested it. ;-)

   It's just a traditional technique. In general, shellac is easy to work with and easy to fix if you make a mistake, so it does at least have those advantages.

   -Steve

    

2. 
   stanley2 | Dec 11, 2007 03:44am | #9

   Chriss Minick covered this subject in Nov/Dec 1996 FWW (pp 89-91).  He only uses colored epoxy to fill cracks around knots or to glue knots in place.  Of shellac, he says: "For projects getting a clear finish with no stain, I mix fine sanding dust with shellac until it is a thick paste.... once dry I sand flush and seal the entire porject with a thinned coat of shellac....the repair virtually disappears."

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 11, 2007 06:13am | #10

   Thanks for the reference!  That clarifies things.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

3. 
   JamesS | Dec 12, 2007 04:21am | #11

   For me it's a lot easier to use shellac than epoxy. (I'd have to go buy some epoxy)

   James

4. 
   dherzig | Dec 10, 2007 11:30pm | #6

   I have also seen the suggestion of using hide glue. I will be trying it on some mahogany tomorrow.

1. 
   captainkidd | Dec 10, 2007 11:53pm | #7

   I am going to use Hide glue with sawdust for my Cherry shelf project. Reason why I am going with hide glue is that it will take stain where a shellac or epoxy mix will not. I don't think the OP is going to be staining so it should be fine with using shellac or epoxy.B.Kidd

5. 
   chaim | Dec 11, 2007 01:24am | #8

   Its good advise to do a few test pieces and check for stain penetration etc. so you'll be good to go when the moment of truth arrives!

   Chaim

   Make your own mistakes not someone elses, this is a good way to be original !

6. 
   WoodShopGuy | Dec 12, 2007 05:02am | #12

   Good idea.

   Actually if you mix some wood flour from your project with clear lacquer, rather than shellac, you will probably have a more manageable result and the equivalent to what is sold as wood putty, Famowood, etc -- but the color will be more exacting since it if from your own wood in the project.

   This is cool stuff for very minor imperfections (serious flaws need redoing, IMHO!) that dries very quickly and is easy to thin as much and often as necessary with acetone or lacquer thinner.

   Cheers!

   Edit: The downside is that it obviously won't accept most dyes or stains and is only for clear finishes, or if you want to do subsequent matching with glazing or toning.

   
   

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   Edited 12/11/2007 9:09 pm ET by WoodShopGuy