Filling nail holes in nice trim
I’m trimming out a cabin in vertical grain fir, and I’m going to use Danish Oil to get a nice natural look that will (I hope) darken over time.
That presents a problem, however. I need to fill the nail holes in the trim, but I’m afraid that if I use a tinted putty, it won’t match when the wood darkens. I have some other trim (professionally installed) where they did this, and it looks really bad.
I’ve toyed with trying to make my own filler by combining sawdust from the fir with the danish oil. Would that work, or is there some other way to get a color match that will last.
Thanks.
Replies
You might want to try posting this question over in the Finewoodworking forum.
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The guys over there will definitely know better but I have done some. I always do the oil finish first and then match the wax putty to the color and fill the holes. I think I've got a picture here of a false beam meeting an original solid one. The wood needs to finish darkening naturally but it actually matches better than it looks here.
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I think you could combine sawdust with white glue. The danish oil would be slow drying, but I never tried that so I'm just guessing.
The oil is slow but the glue will seal the wood grain. Then the oil won't take. The wood will be left looking lighter wherre the glue is in it. Major sanding and scraping results. No fun son!. When they do similar to this on floors, they mix a slurry of fine sawdust with the same polyurethene they use to finish the floor with so the colour works. On walls and casings, I don't think it'll stay in place long enough to heal. This is partly why rubbing oil is not used any longer on most jobs.
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Edited 10/21/2002 8:22:40 PM ET by piffin
Yes, I should have thought of that.
What's the trim in question........if possible.......attach with a 23 gauge pin nailer.
In finished white...I can find my nail hole......most anything else.....especially finish grade wood......even more so if I can shoot the darker grain....it disappears as soon as ya step back.
Maybe cut tight...and back glue.....and pin.
Jeff.......Sometimes on the toll road of life.....a handful of change is good.......
Take a carvers veining chisel-- it looks like a V from the business end-- lift a splinter. Drive in the nail. Apply a wee dab of white PVA or cyanoacrylate(sp?) glue to the raised splinter. Force it back in place. Apply clear sticky tape. Let dry. Sand a wee bit. Polish. Slainte.
I use red oak filler on a fir floors... it's a great match!
That's true, but I think his Q is do you usse it before or after the oil finish?.
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