I'm finishing some 1" thick black walnut. I've never worked with walnut before. It has small cracks and gaps around knots, as well as a few shallow "gouges". None of these appear to go all the way through the board.

Walnut1.jpg Walnut2.jpg

I'm planning on finishing the piece with Waterlox.
1. Would you recommend filling these with epoxy?
2. Would the epoxy work in those shallow gouges or will it just come out when I sand the board?
3. Would 5 minute epoxy be OK or should I pick up some longer setting (thinner) epoxy?

Thanks!