Wood Filler

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 11:42 am

I just purchased and used some of the Durham's. (Form the big orange box store) $8 for a 4 pound can. It does not take much water to activate this stuff and get it to a workable paste.

Pros:
It tools beautifully
It sands easily when dry
It sets very quickly (10-15 minutes until it can be sanded)
Relatively low cost
No shrinkage that I can tell.

Con:
It SETS very quickly! Even in a sealed container!:eek: It's not like other powders where you can mix a batch, leave it in a sealed container and come back to it later. I wasted probably 1/2 pound or more.

The can does not provide detailed formula for mixing, so you have to be comfortable with mixing to desired consistency, I like a warm peanut butter consistency for spread-ability.

Advice:
Read and follow the directions and only mix what you can use in a session. This includes a dinner or lunch break. I mixed up a batch and started patching, was called in for dinner, when I came out from dinner (30 minutes?) the remaining batch in the sealed container was "Rock Hard". Fortunately it popped right out of the plastic container I was using. But was mostly waste.

Work in small batches, a scoop or 2 with a putty knife into your container with just a little bit of water 1 oz or so? at a time.

Good stuff though, glad I saw it here and picked some up.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:32 pm

I have used it both with bare wood and to repair painted or stained wood. Always, always always mix less than you expect to use. It mixes quickly so no reason to waste it. Jim

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:12 pm

FWIW, it does not dry, it sets!

Think chemical reaction triggered by water.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:13 pm

JPG40504 wrote:FWIW, it does not dry, it sets!

Think chemical reaction triggered by water.

I sure wish I was smart enough to always use proper terms. Then again I would never have passed a chemistry exam. Thank for the lesson. Jim

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:43 pm

JPG40504 wrote:FWIW, it does not dry, it sets!

Think chemical reaction triggered by water.

Thanks, post edited.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:56 pm

JPG40504 wrote:FWIW, it does not dry, it sets!

It sets first then it dries...

.

lightnin · Post by **lightnin** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:12 pm

Don't think plaster... smooth the surface as much as you can with the putty knife
save a lot of sanding work.