Varnish + Pastewood filler recipe

[Prashun Patel]

Has anyone mixed pastewood filler INTO a wiping varnish recipe?

I met a guy this weekend who uses it in his 'secret' recipe. What are appropriate percentages?

Of course, this'd only be for opengrained woods....

[Tony Bilello]

Has anyone mixed pastewood filler INTO a wiping varnish recipe?

I met a guy this weekend who uses it in his 'secret' recipe......

I have not tried this nor would I.
If you ever used a paste wood filler you would know why. It is exactly what it is called ...a paste. Mixing this paste with varnish would dilute the paste into a more workable texture (which is not what it is designed to be) and at the same time it would thicken the varnish. The real problem is that the paste is made up of solids that are supposed to fill the pores in the wood. No doubt some of it will but what about the rest of it? It will coat and hide a good amount of grain.

In the wonderful world of high tech chemistry, there are very few 'secret' recipes. If this 'recipe' worked, I can guarantee that some major manufacturer would already have it marketed it and taken over the finishing market.

[Prashun Patel]

I've read that it can be done in WOOD magazine once, so I know it can be done.

I saw and felt his tables and the finish felt wonderful.

I have used oil based paste filler before and I do agree that it's a mess; that's why I ask the question.

[John Keeton]

Shawn, I am experimenting with using a varnish brew and wetsanding with 400 sandpaper. It seems to do a decent job of grain filling and leaves a clear (not muddy) appearance. Still working with the blend and technique, but it is something you may want to consider. It should give the same effect, but with actual particles from the wood, combined with abraded varnish.

[Steve Jenkins]

I agree with John. Wet sand with your wiping finish. Do this with several coats and you will end up with with a full filled silky smooth finish.

[Peter Elliott]

I remember watching this video on Fine Woodworking...

If your a subscriber here is the link...
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesArticle.aspx?id=26295

The video is great and I am going to try this recipe this week.


Some text:

Professional furniture maker Andy Rae shares one of his favorite finishing recipes in this video. Watch as he demonstrates how to mix and apply a wipe-on oil/varnish top coat to a cherry chest of drawers.


The mixture is applied after applying several coats of penetrating wiping varnish, such as Waterlox (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideProduct.aspx?id=25520). It creates a durable and smooth finish on furniture by filling the open pores in the previous coats. Rae also shares some useful finishing tips and techniques that can be applied to any project.


Required Materials:
- Cotton Rags
- 1-part Boiled Linseed Oil (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideProduct.aspx?id=25503)
- 1/2-part Quick-Drying Varnish
- 1/2-part Paste Wood Filler (Bartley's (http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/htdocs/Pastewoodglazes.htm); Benjamin Moore (http://www.benjaminmoore.com/wrapper_pg3.asp?L=prod&K=intprods&groupid=27&productid=64#article))

[Prashun Patel]

Cool. Please advise how it comes out when you try it.

It's funny the other guys recomend wetsanding. I've been experimenting with wetsanding with oil up to 1000gt. I'm really pleased with the results. Silky!

[Peter Elliott]

I am going to try this top coat over several coats of dewaxed shellac.

I have waterlox in the shop and might try a sample board on that as well.

-Peter

[Prashun Patel]

I am going to try this top coat over ****several*** coats of dewaxed shellac.

I have waterlox in the shop and might try a sample board on that as well.

-Peter

Beware this. I've tried using straight paste filler over 'several' coats of shellac. What happens (I believe) is that the shellac partially fills the grain itself and rounds over the edges, such that when you put pastefiller on top and wipe it off, it's really hard to not wipe it OUT of the grain. If yr gonna do it, my humble rec is that you do it over a 'spit' coat of shellac. That'll be enough to protect the wood color and it'll make it a little easier to buff off (I'd use burlap).

I found pw filler to work much like grout. If you've tiled before, you can use the same principles....

[Peter Elliott]

OK....
Right, on the straight paste filler application...

Curious to see how Andy Rae's top coat brew works over dewaxed shellac.