Filling holes with Nitrous Cellulose vs Aquadhere and sanding powder

[gmcginty]

To match up holes in Jarrah I use powder from the orbital sander mixed with aquadhere into a paste and on she goes. Sand it down next day and it comes out fairly close. I read an article the other day where this furniture guru was using nitrous cellulose in place of aquadhere. Goes the mixing to a paste routine etc. Presume he knows what he's talking about. Anybody tried this? What is it?

Regards
Greg

[DarrylF]

Haven't used it. I tend to use epoxy or better still CA glue (superglue) to fill cracks, gum veins, borer holes or around knots. Thin CA to stabilise everything, then thick to fill the hole - you can get an accelerator spray that sets it very quickly, and the right glues from Carbatec or any hobby store. Comes out looking like the gum vein etc, but flush to the surface.

Personally I prefer to make a feature of it basically - it is REAL wood after all, not MDF

[Shane Watson]

It works and it is a method thats been used for many a year. But its not neccessarily the best method. I used laqcuer by itself it fill holes but i was using 2 part a/c laqcuer so it worked a treat.

[leighd]

the best gap filler i have used is west systems but it is a bit expensive to use for all gaps so i use sellys plastibond to fill gaps that arnt to important.
You can use oxide colouring to match the wood u are using and a small container of oxide colours will last years.

West sytems costs about $140 for 4 litres of resin, 500ml of hardener, and mircofibre filler, which i think is about 500-1000g.

Plastibond costs $10 for 450g and $54 for 3.4kg If u want to fill small gaps you should open them up with a chisel a bit more so the filler can get deep enough so it dosnt snad off and to make sure the crack dosnt come apart anymore.

West sysems is also a very good glue to use but i normally only use it for my good projects made from hardwoods, and use pva for other stuff and cabinets becuase pva is easier to clean up than west systems.

[bsrlee]

I'd skip the Nitro-cellulose - its basically the same stuff as old film stock or smokeless powder was made from - and its not exceptionally stable. It can be a bit of a laugh if someone leaves a burning cigarette on it tho' O

[gmcginty]

Thanks for the feedback. I should have explained my question better as I'm quite familiar with clear resins and epoxy mixed with ocres but I'm looking to fill very small holes/joints with something that matches the wood hence my explanation of using sanding powder mixed with something like Nitrous Cellulose. Does Nitrous Cellulose change the powder colour so it doesn't match the wood or ? Is it a safe chemical to handle?

Regards
Greg

[Mmcbain]

Greg,

You wouldn't by any chance have any relatives in Adelaide - called Peter?

[gmcginty]

There aren't that many of us but I don't know any McGooooo's in Adelaide.

[journeyman Mick]

Greg,
I think it would be nitrocellulose lacquer that the furniture guru was referring to. I've used it and it's a lot better than PVA as it doesn't react to hardwoods with a blue or black stain and dries a lot faster. I've mixed it in a jar and used it for weeks. I don't know how compatible it would be with other finishes though, I've only ever used it under lacquer (single pack pre catalysed or acid cure).

Mick

[darrencch]

I only pay around $85 for West sytems 4.8 ltr kit try another suplier also clear casting resin ($18 per ltr)is good for gum holes ect

[AlexS]

Darren, where do you get your casting resin for $18/litre? I've been paying a lot more than that.

[darrencch]

Price was from Protec Paints in Mt Gambier SA don't know where he gets it from think it maybe from Fiberglass International But they had none in stock when I needed it and had to pay that much for 500ml from a boat supplier .

Try calling a manufacture or two most have retail sales and much cheaper prices ....do some internet study and sound like a pro on the phone get the best price you can