Epoxy filler

[Gofor]

I am making a table out of walnut, and found the need to fill some "defects" in it. I used 5 minute epoxy mixed with sawdust. Here is what I started with (just one of several):


I finished up with it looking like this after wetting with MS.


and another:



Actually, they look to color match fairly close to the eye, but are readily visible in the photo.

My question is:
Is there a better way? This is the bottom of the table top, but I do have some cracked knots, etc in the "show" side.

Go

PS: More pics in my gallery in the Epoxy patching album.

 

[Trent Mason]

Looks great to me. :icon_thum That is a really good idea. :widea:

 

[toolferone]

I also have filled some walnut knots with expoy, but instead of sawdust I bought a black colorant for the epoxy and just made my knots black.

Not a great pic, but you can see the knot.

 

[Gofor]

What kind of black colorant? Will the oil based tints like I can buy at Michaels work?

Go

 

[JRD]

You might want to try mixing old coffee grounds into your glue or epoxy.

I use it frequently to fill voids in turnings. It makes a sandable, black filler.

Jim

 

[Partman]

You might want to try mixing old coffee grounds into your glue or epoxy.

I use it frequently to fill voids in turnings. It makes a sandable, black filler.

Jim

So is that regular or decaf ? :rotflm:


Danny

 

[jerrye]

I also have filled some walnut knots with expoy, but instead of sawdust I bought a black colorant for the epoxy and just made my knots black.

Not a great pic, but you can see the knot.

Check around. Hardman used to make epoxy with the resin tinted black. I have used it for golf club assembly, and it works well. When it cures it is sorta opaque, so I'd think it'd do what you want here.

 

[Sandy Rose]

I have not tried this on knots - but for small cracks, gaps and tears, I mix fine dust from sanding the piece I'm working on with clear ureathane. When I stain over it, it doesn't discolor the same way wood filler does.

 

[Allan Campbell]

You might try googling for stone supplies. I bought some colorant they use with epoxy to fill defects and joints in granite counters. I have only used it a few times, but it seems to work well and a small tube is at least a lifetime supply.

I have also heard of using the leftover toner from a copying machine cartridge.

In my experience, you want to color the filler darker than the surrounding wood. The eye is attracted to a lighter color, but not a darker color (within reason).

Most of my filling has been in sap pockets in cherry and black works well there. It looks natural in cherry so I would expect black to work even better in walnut.

Good luck (and try whatever on a scrap first, it's hard to remove to try again).

Allan

 

[Travis Porter]

You can use UTC's and or japan colors (from Michaels, AC Moore, etc) with the epoxy. I have also seen shellac burn in sticks for sale in some of the ww catalogs, but have never used any myself.

 

[Joe Lyddon]

You can use UTC's and or japan colors ...

What are "UTC's"?

Thank you.

 

[Travis Porter]

Universal Tinting Colors. Basically, what the paint store uses to color paint.

I have been reading too many finishing books lately.

 

[jmauldin]

You might want to try J.E. Moser Epoxy putty. It comes in a variety of colors and all you have to do is press it in place, level and sand when dry. I have used it for years. You can get it a Woodworkers Supply, Rockler, and Klingspor, as well as some other places. It is great stuff.
Jim in Mayberry