Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | May 27, 2010 08:39pm | #1

   There are a number of commercial oil based pore fillers that will do the job.  Sherwin-Williams makes one that is nearly all silica as the filler, which gives less shrinkage, and more translucence to the filler.  BUT, it's sold only in gallons, at roughly $65 per each.  Old Masters pore filler also has a high proportion of silica filler and comes in quarts.  Given the more limited distribution of Old Masters you may need to find a mail order source.  (By the way, with high silica content you need to be careful if any sanded is needed since silica in the air can be dangerous to breathe.)  But, with oil based pore filler, if you wipe off the excess well after the solvent evaporates, very little if any sanded will be needed. 

   Others like Behlen Pore O Pac will get the job done, but extra shrinkage may require an extra application. 

   I don't recommend water based pore fillers.  They really shrink a lot, and dry so quickly that you are almost certain to have to sand off much of the filler.  I don't like such sanding.