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CA as wood filler
- Thread starter jwavem
- Start date
- Joined
- May 16, 2005
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Can be a problem, no doubt. I like to give the surface a shot of hardener before applying the glue. The glue wicks into the faults, but cures rapidly on the surface, minimizing penetration.
Same thing with fills. I use chopped bark a lot, and I like a three-step process. First I use thin to run into unseen cracks, then I like to give a shot of accelerator afterward, put the medium on top, stuffing the ground bark into the void. Glue cures quickly enough to keep the bark or dust from soaking it up and rejecting a subsequent finish.
Same thing with fills. I use chopped bark a lot, and I like a three-step process. First I use thin to run into unseen cracks, then I like to give a shot of accelerator afterward, put the medium on top, stuffing the ground bark into the void. Glue cures quickly enough to keep the bark or dust from soaking it up and rejecting a subsequent finish.
It seems that it's a general problem with using CA glue as a filler, especially the thin glue. 🙁 The CA glue penetrates/wicks into the surrounding wood, creating an area of "plastic" wood. I've had better luck using a medium viscousity CA glue for filling small voids. It doesn't seem to wick into the surrounding wood nearly as much.
Another thing to try is putting a thin coat of sealer on the wood first to keep the CA glue from penetrating the surrounding wood as much. I use a "spit-coat" (1 lb cut) of de-waxed shellac as my sealer. Other people used a thin coat of lacquer or a sanding sealer. Or use whatever you'd normally use as your first finish coat. It's been my experience that the subsequent sanding of the surface removes most of the sealer so it isn't apparent in the final finish. Just remember to let the sealer dry before applying the CA glue.
Another thing to try is putting a thin coat of sealer on the wood first to keep the CA glue from penetrating the surrounding wood as much. I use a "spit-coat" (1 lb cut) of de-waxed shellac as my sealer. Other people used a thin coat of lacquer or a sanding sealer. Or use whatever you'd normally use as your first finish coat. It's been my experience that the subsequent sanding of the surface removes most of the sealer so it isn't apparent in the final finish. Just remember to let the sealer dry before applying the CA glue.
john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
Your problem sounds like the CA is running over on the wood outside the crack. This is like putting finish on that area but it penetrates fairly far and won't come off. I put a thin coat of my finish on around the crack and then fill it. The finish keeps it from penetrating the wood outside the crack and it's easy to sand off. Some people use wax but I was worried the wax would partially fill the crack and then the CA would not penetrate as well. John
ditto on john's comment
my method is similar to john's -- i wet sand the entire piece with a finishing oil, THEN use CA glue on the cracks/voids.
additionally, often i'll fill the voids with used espresso coffee grounds, then apply the ca glue ... the grounds seem to help the glue to penetrate and cure ...
then i'll return or resand, reapplying the glue as needed.
my method is similar to john's -- i wet sand the entire piece with a finishing oil, THEN use CA glue on the cracks/voids.
additionally, often i'll fill the voids with used espresso coffee grounds, then apply the ca glue ... the grounds seem to help the glue to penetrate and cure ...
then i'll return or resand, reapplying the glue as needed.