Best ways to fill in grain on plysood for a smooth finish?

[cracker39]

In what form and/or brand is this filler epoxy purchased and what do you thin it with? I'm not familiar with it.

[cracker39]

I used to make my own tack cloths, but didn't remember the recipe, so I was looking for it and found several web sites that would be helpful to woodworkers.

Site with many woodworking FAQs
Site with general information, message board, and many woodworking links
Info on sandpaper, sanding, finishing, DIY tack cloths, wood filler, etc.

[cracker39]

HD is sadly lacking in supplies. I asked about wood filler, and they referred me to Minwas paste wood filler. I asked about other types and the guy didn't know. I finally found a can of "water putty" that is a power that mixes with water to form a paste, so I bought one to try. Yesterday, I thinned some Elmer's wood filler and brushed it on a test piece. After it dried, I sanded and it did smoothe the grain enought that I think another coat would do it.

I'm going to cut out the remaining pieces of skins and wipe them down with water and let them dry 24 hrs to raise the grain, then sand and try my filler powder on a piece.

As for epoxy, I remembered that I have two 2-quart bottles of bar top epoxy that is mixed and poured on to make a hard glass like surface. I may try mixing a little and thinning with alcohol as an epoxy sealer and use it on a test piece. BTW, does using epoxy on flat plywood to seal it make it harder to bend? I wanted to seal and fill the grain on my top pieces before Installing. That would leave only the filling of screw holes with bondo and it would be ready to prime and paint.

[Chris C]

Yes, Dale, epoxy on the surface will make it harder to bend, but bend it will! If you put water putty on it and then try to bend it, you'll have a total disaster because it is not at all elastic! Basically what you have with water putty is chalk!

[cracker39]

Thanks, Chris. I'll try the water putty on the sides that are aready installed and not subject to bending. They are the oak pieces that have more grain. The label says it dries rock hard and is permanent. The top is all luan. Wetting and then sanding when dry and a few coats of sealer may fill the grain on that. Or, I may think down more of the wood filler.

[cracker39]

Well, I got bitten again. When I got down to cutting for the roof skins today, I found one piece that was rough on both sides. It hink it was a sheet of the sanderply that got in with the luan. I had already rough cut the width before checking out both sides. Another piece has curled so much it would be hard to keep flat. So, I guess I'll have to go check through the pile to try to find two RELATIVELY good pieces. I noticed a sticker on some it stating that it comes from "different sources", but did not state where it came from. I know that from now on, I'll be a lot more particular about the plywood I buy.

[critter]

hey all,
does anyone know of a source of epoxie other than the rot doc and what kind would it be,how applied ..brush...roller ..sprayed and are you talking of epoxie as a chemical or a paint?..kinda confussed but thats normal

[mikeschn]

I'm watching gadgetman's paint job... check it out here...

http://tnttt.com/viewto ... 3093#93093

Mike...

[Sandy Claws]

I am about to start on a Teardrop after finishing a Epoxy composite boat. If the surface you are talking about is exterior I would say definately EPOXY! Here is a source for epoxy by the quart or gallon. This epoxy is a resin and can be mixed with sawdust to make a putty, or with microballons to fill surface imperfections. I would also recommend the white epoxy primer and also the LPU 2 part paints. This company is also a fine source for marine plywood. Here is the site:

http://plywood.e-boat.net/products.php?id=6

If you would like to see the boat, it is at the Flickr.com site. Search for sandy claws.

Like boat building, teardrop building is more labor intesive than material intensive. It is false economy to use cheap materials!! The difference between the good stuff and the cheap stuff is very small looking at the big picture. Do yourself a favor, and do it right the first time! You won't be sorry!