Famowood filler

[bzb]

Picked up a pint can of "Birch"-colored filler, brand Famowood. I've seen this stuff at Woodcraft before, but have never used it prior. It was $5 for the big pint can at the lumberyard, so I decided to try it.

It claims it is made of "real wood" and will not crack or shrink, and is ready for sanding in 15 minutes. I found in my 45 degree garage it took more like 20 minutes until it was really solid. Once sanded, the color is pretty close, but it is still noticeable.

The aroma is much easier to deal with than Bondo. The putty is rather rubbery when you first take it out. After about a minute of air exposure, it turns into the gritty paste that is more typical of other wood fillers I've used. It's rather orange in color, but once sanded turns to a slightly darker color than the birch.

Anyone else used this to fill in minor chipout and screw/nail holes?



On a good note, I just got a new toy, a Canon SD780, so I'll be taking pictures with that from now on instead of my crap iPhone

[Scott Brochu]

Oil based or water?
This will determine (for me) if its good to paint over and not flake off.
Wonder how it does if it is stained over?
You got some testing to do.

[gilscales]

Oil based or water?
This will determine (for me) if its good to paint over and not flake off.
Wonder how it does if it is stained over?
You got some testing to do.

I used to build custom cabinets for a living for several years and this was my GO TO filler for nail hole/chipouts/small crevices ect... I have never found a better brand, when it gets older just add a small amount of paint thinner and stir, like brand new! have used all sorts of oil finishes, water based ect.. never let me down, on a side note when staining the putty will stain darker than the wood so go lighter to counter that effect and you can get a very close match, just test it on scrape with the color you will use and you will know how light to go

[bzb]

Of course, I was impatient and had to test out the T39s together, so I already assembled everything... I just need to put a finish on it!! Damned mother nature ruining my fun.

I tried the old "raise the grain" water test to see what it'd look like with just a coat of poly - and it doesn't match nearly well enough to my taste (then again, I would never stain this stuff). However, the knot patches in the plywood are more noticeable than the filled holes.

As far as cracking or shrinking, that seems to be accurate even in this winter blast we're in the middle of. It's dipped into the 30s in my garage, and everything looks like it did when I first sanded it.

I don't think there'll be a problem with paint over this stuff. I'll do some test scraps and take pics once it gets warm enough to actually allow finish to dry

gil - do you mean go lighter on the stain application, or lighter color on the Famowood? The "Birch" filler is a shade darker than the plywood is already.

[gilscales]

Of course, I was impatient and had to test out the T39s together, so I already assembled everything... I just need to put a finish on it!! Damned mother nature ruining my fun.

I tried the old "raise the grain" water test to see what it'd look like with just a coat of poly - and it doesn't match nearly well enough to my taste (then again, I would never stain this stuff). However, the knot patches in the plywood are more noticeable than the filled holes.

As far as cracking or shrinking, that seems to be accurate even in this winter blast we're in the middle of. It's dipped into the 30s in my garage, and everything looks like it did when I first sanded it.

I don't think there'll be a problem with paint over this stuff. I'll do some test scraps and take pics once it gets warm enough to actually allow finish to dry

gil - do you mean go lighter on the stain application, or lighter color on the Famowood? The "Birch" filler is a shade darker than the plywood is already.

you have to go lighter on the putty as it stains darker than the wood