Wood Filler Stain testing w/pics

[Mary K]

I did stain testing on some wood fillers and here is what I learned.

First off, I learned I need practice on applying stain. I suckith!!:thumbdown:

Anywho...

I tested Minwax Wood Filler a 2 part filler with a added hardener.

A closeup of Minwax


Here is Elmer's wood filler

A closeup


And Lastly PL wood filler.

A Closeup



Being a beginner woodworker some of my joints on the trim were not exact.. Imagine that huh? So I need a wood filler. I figure for the small gaps between joints, any of these fillers will do. They all seamed to take the stain. But I am going to use the Minwax. It dried quicker and sanded smooth.

The Elmer's look more like wood grain than the PL, but did crack when I put some pressure on the board.

Just thought I would pass this along.

Mk

[Miriam C.]

good test! I was seriously disappointed in the way they all took light stains or just polyed over. The industry needs some work still....

Good luck and I like the color

[Airspeed]

You should try a product called "Color Putty" it is applied after you stain so you can match the stain exactly. It comes in many colors and can be mixed to match any color stain.
I use it after I have the final coat of stain and first coat of what ever clear I am going to use. Then fill any cracks,joints or nail holes then apply the second or third coat of clear. You can make any filled area completely disappear this way. You could make that seam look like one piece of wood in no time. Aaron

[toypusher]

Mary,

You can make up a paste like with sawdust (of the same wood you are going to use it on) and glue (I use titebond II) . If you get the mixture fairly close, it will take stain better than any filler you can buy.

[Mary K]

Mary,

You can make up a paste like with sawdust (of the same wood you are going to use it on) and glue (I use titebond II) . If you get the mixture fairly close, it will take stain better than any filler you can buy.

Hey, I thought of that!!! Remember Auntie M? I said I thought that might work to you in one of our many PMs???

I think I will give that a try.

Thanks Kerry!!!
Mk

[BrwBier]

You may call your self a beginning wood worker. But I have seen many times on TV that the experts also use filler on seams and nail holes and such.
Brwbier

[Podunkfla]

MaryK... Your test has demonstrated something a lot of woodworkers have been frustrated by for eons. I've been building furniture for a long time... and I have yet to find a wood filler that takes stain well enough to consistantly match the wood around it. And, I think I have tried 'em all including making my own with PVA glue, etc. What most of us end up doing that does work well for screw holes and such... is to use plugs cut from the same wood as the piece being fixed. Counter sinking the screws by using a 3/8" forsner bit or a combination drill/bit tool and then using a 3/8" plug cutter for theplugs makes an almost invisable fix if you orient the grain of the plug same as the surrounding wood. I also like to just use a nice contrasting wood and make the plugs part of the "hand crafted" design. Sadly, for things like butt joints & lap joints... there just isn't a perfect answer; it is very hard to make them invisable. Of course you can always use batten strips over the joints and go for the "Slumber Coach" woodie look. This is prolly why woodies were made this way in the first place.

The wax based wood putties you use after the finish is on can work very well. It works kinda like melting various color crayons together to get a color match then patching the flaw with it. In the hands of an experienced pro even fine antiques can be repaired this way... and often are. Along with other restoration techniques like painting in the grain, etc...

[Podunkfla]

You may call your self a beginning wood worker. But I have seen many times on TV that the experts also use filler on seams and nail holes and such.
Brwbier

Hmmm... Experts on TV huh? That's kinda like "Military Intelligence", it may just be an oxymoron?

Most of the "experts" on the woodworking shows are anything but... Even Norm Abrams (and I am a big fan of his) admits he is really an actor that plays "Master Woodworker" on a show. I do think he is highly skilled now after all these years... but he is still an actor. You rarely see the true master craftsmen demonstrating their skills and how they do what they do on television. What Norm and a few others on TV have done is make woodworking look easy and accessible enough the average joe can do it... Which is a good thing. And, it sell tools bigtime, which is why the shows exist anyway. The skill set you need to produce fine furniture and show quality pieces you still have to get the hard way... By experience and, if you are lucky, by picking the brains of what few master craftsmen that are still around.

[Juneaudave]

First off, I learned I need practice on applying stain. I suckith!!:thumbdown:

Gotta love you girl!!! Here's a biggg kiss!!!

Ya know...Brick is right!!! Staining and filling is about as frustrating a thing as you can get into...and I have yet to find the answer. On the bright side...there is a "WOW" factor in play with your Tear!!! Your worst critic on this one is going to be you! As good as your work looks, I can guarantee that there isn't anyone who will notice....just stand back and gracefully accept the accolades!!!

BTW... !!!

[Airspeed]

I searched forever as well for a way to fill brad holes,seams,screw holes etc,etc. But if you REALLY want a PERFECT match,there is no product better than Color Putty! The reason it works so well is that you match the filler color to the finished stained and sealed wood. It is really hard to get a regular filler or sawdust mixed with glue to take stain and be the same color as the finished product, it usually turns out darker or lighter and as soon as you apply the clear it changes color again,Color putty wont do that,once you match the Color Putty to the stained wood it is a perfect match and stays that way.
Another good thing about it is you apply it after the wood is stained and sealed with the first coat of clear and it wont leach into the grain further changing the color of the surrounding wood.
One thing you want to make sure of is not to fill your brad holes in the dark and when your tired or you may pick up the wrong jar from your work bench and not notice it until the next day. (like I did when finishing my rear cabinets)
Take a sample of your stained wood into the hardware store and match it up to some Color Putty, open the jar to get a perfect match.you wont regret it! Aaron

[BrwBier]

You may call your self a beginning wood worker. But I have seen many times on TV that the experts also use filler on seams and nail holes and such.
Brwbier

Hmmm... Experts on TV huh? That's kinda like "Military Intelligence", it may just be an oxymoron?

Most of the "experts" on the woodworking shows are anything but... Even Norm Abrams (and I am a big fan of his) admits he is really an actor that plays "Master Woodworker" on a show. I do think he is highly skilled now after all these years... but he is still an actor. You rarely see the true master craftsmen demonstrating their skills and how they do what they do on television. What Norm and a few others on TV have done is make woodworking look easy and accessible enough the average joe can do it... Which is a good thing. And, it sell tools bigtime, which is why the shows exist anyway. The skill set you need to produce fine furniture and show quality pieces you still have to get the hard way... By experience and, if you are lucky, by picking the brains of what few master craftsmen that are still around.

I feel so honored to be around such greatness. Having missed the episode that Norm admitted he is only an actor I'm glad to finally know the truth. All these years I believed the story about Norm working with his dad and being a master carpenter. I feel such a fool. Thanks for giving us the FACTS, as everyone should realise, a fourm on the internet is the place to get the TRUE FACTS. Thanks again
Brwbier

[Podunkfla]

You may call your self a beginning wood worker. But I have seen many times on TV that the experts also use filler on seams and nail holes and such.
Brwbier

Hmmm... Experts on TV huh? That's kinda like "Military Intelligence", it may just be an oxymoron?

Most of the "experts" on the woodworking shows are anything but... Even Norm Abrams (and I am a big fan of his) admits he is really an actor that plays "Master Woodworker" on a show. I do think he is highly skilled now after all these years... but he is still an actor. You rarely see the true master craftsmen demonstrating their skills and how they do what they do on television. What Norm and a few others on TV have done is make woodworking look easy and accessible enough the average joe can do it... Which is a good thing. And, it sell tools bigtime, which is why the shows exist anyway. The skill set you need to produce fine furniture and show quality pieces you still have to get the hard way... By experience and, if you are lucky, by picking the brains of what few master craftsmen that are still around.

I feel so honored to be around such greatness. Having missed the episode that Norm admitted he is only an actor I'm glad to finally know the truth. All these years I believed the story about Norm working with his dad and being a master carpenter. I feel such a fool. Thanks for giving us the FACTS, as everyone should realise, a fourm on the internet is the place to get the TRUE FACTS. Thanks again
Brwbier

Actually, I have no doubt Norm Abrams is a master carpenter and came pretty close to graduating with an engineering degree as well. He did work with his father who was an accomplished carpenter and he went on to become very successful in his own right. So maybe I was unfair portraying him as an actor. He does build every project on his show and does it very well indeed. There is no doubt he has done more to popularize woodworking than anyone else on the planet. Here is a little of his history from the UMass archives: http://www.umass.edu/umassmag/archives/ ... _norm.html

[Mary K]

First off, I learned I need practice on applying stain. I suckith!!:thumbdown:

Gotta love you girl!!! Here's a biggg kiss!!!

Ya know...Brick is right!!! Staining and filling is about as frustrating a thing as you can get into...and I have yet to find the answer. On the bright side...there is a "WOW" factor in play with your Tear!!! Your worst critic on this one is going to be you! As good as your work looks, I can guarantee that there isn't anyone who will notice....just stand back and gracefully accept the accolades!!!

BTW... !!!

Thank ya Dave!!

Yea, I know wood filler and stain don't mix well, but I just tested a few on hand to see which one was better.

I will be doing the plugs on the countersunk screw holes but I still have little gaps in my joints. I think the filler and uneven color will add character. And At this point...I just ready to be done with it and go camping.

Thanks everyone for your input.

Mk

[tonyj]

Camping? Who has the time for camping? I spend all my spare time on designing, building, correcting my design, tearing out, re-designing, chasing down parts, fabricating, drinking beer (you knew that one would make the list!), taking pictures, posting to the "Thread-Killer" forum, going to work at my real job, mowing the grass and sleeping.

C'mon MaryK--you should have figured this out by now. This ain't a recreational activity--it's a time-suckithing hobby.

If you want to go camping--buy a tent!

[Mary K]

Camping? Who has the time for camping? I spend all my spare time on designing, building, correcting my design, tearing out, re-designing, chasing down parts, fabricating, drinking beer (you knew that one would make the list!), taking pictures, posting to the "Thread-Killer" forum, going to work at my real job, mowing the grass and sleeping.

C'mon MaryK--you should have figured this out by now. This ain't a recreational activity--it's a time-suckithing hobby.

If you want to go camping--buy a tent!

No!! I can not go on like this forever Tony... My yard work (or lack there of) is suffering terribly for all the time I spend building. My neighbors will start a petition soon if I don't get the yard cut. Thanks goodness they can not see the back yard....Have you ever see St Augustine grass grow 12" high... I'll take a picture for ya..



I actually drank 2 beers last night, first time in years I can remember that I drank that many. (Sad, I know) but do you think it might have something to do with building TD's???

Mk