Help! Advice on filling channel where dado wandered

[Yasha Renner]

Hi everyone. I'm building a wall-mounted coat rack about 64" long, with a small shelf that is sitting in a dado, which runs the length of the back board. It's made of red oak, and I'm finishing with Waterlox. When I cut the dado the board wandered, leaving a noticeable channel ranging from 1/16" to 1/8". I already have a few coats of Waterlox on the piece and it's looking great, except for the unsightly void.

I've tried filling with Shellac but that was a bust. I don't have a good source of fine sawdust, so that's out. Any suggestions? At this point I'm thinking I should just finish it and fill with Mohawk wax.

IMG_20230122_1004142.jpg

[Maurice Mcmurry]

Color Putty Is a decent, post finish, wood filler.

Screen Shot 2023-01-22 at 12.09.42 PM.png
Screen Shot 2023-01-22 at 12.08.05 PM.png

[John TenEyck]

If you can recut the dado that's what I would do. Cut it wider and glue in a piece of wood to fill it, then recut the dado needed for the shelf. If you can't recut it, then I'd add a trim strip of wood to cover the gap.

John

[andy bessette]

If you can recut the dado that's what I would do. Cut it wider and glue in a piece of wood to fill it, then recut the dado needed for the shelf. If you can't recut it, then I'd add a trim strip of wood to cover the gap.

John

This.

Don't bother with fillers. Repair it using a piece of the original wood stock if possible, so the grain and color are close.

[Kevin Jenness]

If you want the gap to disappear, recut the dado wider and replace the shelf with a thicker piece. Filler will always look like filler.

Chances are the keys, hats, gloves, letters and general culch populating that shelf will hide the gap just fine!

[Yasha Renner]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I had already glued the shelf in place so putty it is. The gap is irregular shaped otherwise I'd try the trim strip.

[John TenEyck]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I had already glued the shelf in place so putty it is. The gap is irregular shaped otherwise I'd try the trim strip.

Huh? A trim strip will cover an irregular gap. That's the purpose.

John

[Yasha Renner]

Huh? A trim strip will cover an irregular gap. That's the purpose.

John

Please explain. I posted a picture of the work piece... the channel to be filled is wavy. Thanks.

[Stan Calow]

For irregular gaps (if they're small enough) I will often use a piece of masking tape as a dam (on the inside of dado) and fill the gap with CA glue, either colored or with sawdust if I have it.

[John TenEyck]

Please explain. I posted a picture of the work piece... the channel to be filled is wavy. Thanks.

You would put the trim strip over the gap, against the shelf. It's an added piece.

John

[Yasha Renner]

Oh, right! That's brilliant! Think I'll add a cove detail too. Thanks for the tip.