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Black filler

Joined
Nov 21, 2008
Messages
89
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7
Location
Greenwood, SC
Long story short - I need to fill screw holes on the bottom of a bowl. I decided to turn a “mote” as a decorative ring which will hide the screw holes, see photo. Now I need to fill the ring with a filler, preferably black. I’ve tried adding black dye to Bondo filler - didn’t work. Thought about black CA glue. I’m sure someone has come up with a solution. Suggestions as what to use will be greatly appreciated.

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I need to fill screw holes on the bottom of a bow
Black CA might "wick" out from the holes and get into the surrounding grain.

What we (friends and I) use for many things is an epoxy called PC-7. My potter friend uses it a lot.
Mixed, it's thick black paste, could probably be applied with a syringe a plastic tip, with the tip cut off a little. (I keep these around the farm). Could be smoothed with a small tool before curing. I use tiny Stainless Steel doiuble-ended spatulas for small such things. After setting up, it can be sanded, filed, chiseled if needed.

I buy the 1 lb in two cans quantity. You can buy it in small containers. Most hardware stores also carry it.

I'd still seal the surrounding area first.

JKJ
 
Here is the recipe that I use. Black CA glue mixed with Black Chalk dust. Works great for large area fills. Mix the glue and chalk dust then apply to area to be filled like you would with putty. When mixed with the chalk, you have a 5 to 10 minute working time depending upon the ratio of glue to chalk and temperature. Dries hard within 15 minutes. Turns great and is easily sanded if needed. Chalk dust is about $3 at Home Depot. Have not had issues with fade or bleed into surrounding wood, however that may be due to the type of woods that I have used. I would check on test piece.

Jay Peterson
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Plenty of good suggestions for filling the holes. But consider using a waste block glued to the bottom of the blank on your next piece. Then you won't have to deal with the holes.
 
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Before we had 4 jaw scroll chucks, the stock faceplate hole covering was felt. You could inlay a felt circle there for a really cheap fix. Cork and leather would also work. Even a ring of wood would look nice.
 
Or you could cut a ring in some black wood and glue it in there. Or walnut that you color with ebonizing solution or marine boot polish dye.
 
Suggestions as what to use will be greatly appreciated.
Another possibility is pewter.
poor molten pewter in then turn it flush

Pewter won’t adhere to the wood so a dovetail in the wall will hold it to the wood
The screw holes should hold it on.

Pewter melts at about 450 degrees.

you can literally melt pewter in a tin can using a torch

Rule #1 hot pewter looks like cold pewter.

The pewter rings on this gavel were made by wrapping cardboard around it with a small funnel in the cardboard (spew) to pour the molten pewter through.
This was a gift gavel for a club president - not a very good photo
Rings can be poured right into a groove keep it near level to fill the groove.


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