Snibley Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 In completing a dark cherry shadow box, I was told that for filling in corner gaps or trim gaps ...it in this case braid nail holes, that walnut wood filler will hide or blend where it won't be noticed. Unfortunately the dark wood is showing the wood filler so much that I think I might have to start this project over, but due to a deadline this option is not preferable. I was trying to stain the cherry (I used red mahogany) so it would not show the wood filler but the brad holes are very noticeable. I was actually going to try and dig out the walnut wood filler to maybe use something else but that seems like a lot of tedious work with not knowing if the end result will prove satisfactory. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can save this project so that these holes are not noticeable. Wood gel varnish work...I have never used it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 You might try drilling out the putty and refilling the holes with a mixture of the sawdust of the wood you're using and a little Titebond glue. Try one hole to see the results before you get too carried away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snibley Posted May 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 Yes that was exactly I was going to do...but I am a little..(.a lot) worried that the cure might be worse then the cause, I never thought these brad holes would give me so much grief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 Or, on a scrap piece of wood, shoot you another brad and use a nail set and tap the wood fibers around the hole, into it, and sand it and see how that looks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 Dig out a little, use CA glue and hand sand until the glue dries.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 I would use epoxy, and when mixing the epoxy add a few drops of the stain to it. Then apply the stained epoxy to the holes. Sand as per normal and finish. Option 2 - leave the holes unfilled until your finish cures. Then use a wax stick to fill them in. Like steve always says, test on scrap first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snibley Posted May 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 I will try as many of these as possible hopefully one of them works, thanks gents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 I use " Color Putty" dig out the filler, slight depth is ok. Color putty comes in many shades and can be mixed. It stays semi soft so it goes in nail holes after the stain and finish has dried. Always make a test finish sample using the exact steps you intend for the piece, sand the same grits, use the same filler etc. Find out that the filler doesn't stain dark enough on the test, not the project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 Or give up on matching, drill and plug with contrasting wood. The woodworker's best technique; if you can't fix it, make it a feature! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 I'll just say it...filler is never "unnoticeable." Whether it's putty or epoxy or sawdust and glue or spit and dirt. Which is why you don't use nails. This is no help for you right now, I know...but for future reference - reinforce your joinery some other way. Nails holes just be ugly...no way around it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 ==>cherry shadow box.... walnut wood filler. Cherry darkens over time... In several years, it’ll be much harder to detect a Walnut-tint... ==>filler is never "unnoticeable." Spot-on... ==>you don't use nails Well... Nails were/are frequently used in period pieces to attach moldings and other miscellaneous cross-grain tasks (nails bend with seasonal %RH, screws deform once and don't spring-back). The trick is to conceal them... You can become rather creative... For example, if the nails are evenly distributed, you can turn them into a feature... Set the nail with a #2 Robertson drive bit, then fill the void with 1/8” square Gaboon Ebony plugs --- just claim its "G&G-inspired".... I've done this on at least a half-dozen pieces, works great... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 Nails were/are frequently used in period pieces to attach moldings and other miscellaneous cross-grain tasks True. Let's have this conversation again 200 years ago and I'll probably be more flexible. Plugging screw or nail holes a la G&G or Maloof chair joints and filling holes with goo are two different ball games. I'm cool with one of 'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 ==>goo are two different ball games. I'm cool with one of 'em. I'm with that... ==>Let's have this conversation again 200 years ago and I'll probably be more flexible. I deal with 200yo pieces with cross-grain moldings reinforced with nails quite frequently... It works well -- very well... You apply hide glue from the front corner to about a third along the edge (keeps the miter tight), then set a nail at around mid-way along, then at the back... You can then apply another molding to cover --- you're now going long-grain to long-grain... Done all the time... The glue joint fails long before the cross-grain nails... Modern woodworkers seem to disdain nails --- suspect it’s because they don’t know how to use them properly... It’s a tool in the toolbox, just like any other -- can be used well or not – depends on the craftsman... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 Modern woodworkers seem to disdain nails --- suspect it’s because they don’t know how to use them properly... Guilty. If I built period pieces I'm sure I'd get on board with the methods of the period. But I don't, so I guess I'll keep my hammer in the DIY tool box and my nose in the air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 Just a tool/technique -- someday you might be interested in applying moldings to a modern piece -- it's a good tool/technique to have in the toolbox... If you visit one of the Shaker museums, you'd be surprised just bow many pieces remain together by nails alone (the glue having failed years before) – and you wouldn’t know it unless the guide points it out... The piece is just fine.... A nail placed by a craftsman who knows what they are doing is hard to detect and holds very well for centuries – and the nightmare of everyone comming along later... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snibley Posted May 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 Well I thought I would update this issue, this afternoon I started experimenting with basically every aspect that was suggested with the exception of going for the G&G method as this was not an option. Needless to say ( and as I suspected, and was told) I could not match the filler be it the walnut, color puddy or wood glue. So as I bowed my head in defeat, I set the table saw and router table up and made a new face frame for the shadow box.....but learned a lesson and after all isn't that why we do this crazy stuff. Thanks again 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 Sorry you couldn't save it.. Unfortunately, with consequences comes learning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilgaron Posted May 27, 2015 Report Share Posted May 27, 2015 Not that it helps with the brads, but there are decorative nails, too, for future reference. Rosehead copper nails look nice and can be gun-blued. I've not tried rosehead cut nails or forge head nails but I can see how they could be used in appealing ways as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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