A recent New Yankee Workshop episode featured a bookcase made from Mesquite. Norm used an epoxy to fill some voids in the lumber. I'm working on a Mesquite project and need to fill some similar voids. Anybody got an idea what that epoxy product was or where to find something similar?
-
-
worm holes in Mesquite wood
A few years ago when a wing was added to the Texas Capitol building there was a big mesquite tree growing on the place where the building was going to be located. The head contractor on the project had the tree harvested. He took the wood home and while the building was being constructed, he worked at his hobby and made a grandfather clock from the wood. then when the building was finished, he placed the clock over the place where the tree had been growing. In a newspaper interview, he said he plugged some of the worm holes in the wood with a syringe and super glue mixed with glitter. that added character to the wood.INDECISION IS THE KEY TO FLEXIBILITY -
Watching Norm causes worm holes in your mind.
Bruce"Western civilization didn't make all men equal,
Samuel Colt did"
Comment
-
I've used regular two-part five-minute epoxy, as well as super glue. The goopier five-minute stuff is better for filling large voids. Super glue is better for small ones. You can mix in sawdust to minimize the difference in appearance. Use enough epoxy that it's proud of the surface when dry.
Once the epoxy sets you just file and sand. Be careful not to file the wood as it will be difficult to sand out the marks.
Practice on some scrap wood to get the hang of it and to see how it will look on the finished product. This is a surprisingly effective and easy procedure.
JRJRComment
-
I also have used the two part epoxy. I've used Marine Tex epoxy which I prefer over the packaged epoxy sold at the box stores. The white is an off white, and the gray is a dark charcoal color...almost black.
.Comment
-
I use 2 part 5min clear epoxy. Be sure that it's clear not the amber colored ones. U can get it in a syringe or 2 pt. bottles, I got the bottles from Wood Craft. I usually just squeze a 1/4" line (longer line if u need to patch a lot) of the epoxy on a scrap paper and next to it the same length of hardener then mix it together stiring it 40 X. That way u know you got equal amts. I use the clear so I can mix in sanding dust from the wood i'm using. For large deep defects, fill in a little at a time usually waiting about 2hrs between fills. On the last fill thats when I mix in the sanding dust and spread on with an old business card as a applicator/squeegee. I fill it just a little above the surface so I don't have to sand too much. After sanding, sometimes i color it with sharpie pens (blk, brn, orange) to make it look like a knot it takes practice to get the color right. U can leave it clear too.
I use this epoxy when assembling golf clubs too.Comment
-
Thanks for the help!Comment
-
My neighbor, Layne, uses a mixture of Crazy Glue and turquoise chips to fill some of his problem spots.Attached FilesYou might think I haven't contributed much to the world, but a large number
of the warning labels on tools can be traced back to things I've done...Comment
-
-
I've never tried a scraper. The surface is usually uneven, particularly if you added sawdust in a small hole. So for sure, you have to smooth it off a bit before working it to final condition. Epoxy isn't really too hard, but super glue is a bit harder.
Once again, I stress that this is easy and very effective. I suggest to all interested parties to dive in on some scrap and give it a try. You'll find very quickly what methods will work for you.
JRJRComment
-
I believe the project Nahm showed used a black tinted epoxy. Anyone ever tint epoxy?Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. - Thomas EdisonComment
Comment