Results 1 to 2 of 2
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    melbourne
    Posts
    32

    Default sealing cracks in old bridge dressed timber!

    hey there

    i just purchased some fantastic looking rustic timber today and plan to make a coffee table.

    the timber is very visually attractive and has light cracks scarring its entire surface. what i will be wanting to do, ideally, is to seal/fill these cracks to enable me to sand down to a completely smooth finish and then shellac/wax etc...

    so, the question i have is, what can i use to the fill the cracks/incisions without ruining the appeal? ive read stuff about putty, pva and saw dust but thought i should ask none the less.

    thanks in advance, timbertom.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Bundaberg
    Age
    54
    Posts
    160

    Default

    I know of two ways to disguise unsightly cracks like these:

    Firstly, use a powdered resin type glue mixed with sawdust. The glue sets rock hard in under 30 minutes and takes all finishes. CA glue can also be used but you don't get a lot of time to work with! When I use it I fill the crack with sawdust then dribble in the CA.

    Secondly, use a propriatery coloured wood filler you can get from any hardware store, but go darker. The colour of the filler tends to be lighter than the wood it's supposed to be blending in with and I find that a dark crack looks better than a lighter one!

    If the timber has a cranky grain as well (Karri springs to mind here) the cracks can also "lift" off the surface after a year or two so I'd be looking at a thickish finish, possibly sanding sealer followed by shellac. Cellulose based sanding sealer is great because it penetrates deeply and sets quite thick in minutes!

Similar Threads

  1. Sealing cracks in old timber for oil finish?
    By Gunnaduit in forum FINISHING
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 9th August 2009, 11:27 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •