Best and longest lasting weathered wood crack filler

[Azbear]

My better half decided she wanted this old weathered wood table. “It will be repaired, stained and then sealed”……”it might find a place somewhere in the house, or it might look better outside under the patio, I’m not sure yet”...
It’s my job to fill in the cracks from the weather, and where the boards that were once a nice glued up and turned piece. I have used simple inexpensive wood fillers for very small cracks in the past with success, but I’m thinking this will not work in this case. After reading tons of “how, what, why not’s, on the web, I’m more confused than ever. Melted shellac, water putty, Dape wood filler, Elmo’s wood filler, etc. With some, stain can be used, with some, only primer and paint can be used. Gads!

Has anyone had to deal with this type of repair and what did you use to fill the cracks?

[c6craig]

Hi Azbear,

Depending on how deep the cracks go I have seen some success with using wood glue to fill in the majority of the crack but leaving it just short of even with the top. Then use a stainable wood putty to finish it up and get it smooth. You just need to leave the wood glue enough time to cure fully before putting the wood putty on top, or do it in small increments.

Good luck!

Craig

[Digitalwoodshop]

Nothing in a wood project is forever.... As humidity changes the sponge (Wood) soaks up water and expands then will dry out, shrink and crack...

The only forever is Red Forever Locktite on the QC.:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

AL:rolleyes:

[F.C. White]

Hi Azbear,

Depending on how deep the cracks go I have seen some success with using wood glue to fill in the majority of the crack but leaving it just short of even with the top. Then use a stainable wood putty to finish it up and get it smooth. You just need to leave the wood glue enough time to cure fully before putting the wood putty on top, or do it in small increments.

Good luck!

Craig



What Craig said... but also, indeed, nothing in wood lasts forever out in the elements. But, to give it the best fighting chance you can, try seal'n the entire thing in a trowelable decopage (sp?) after you're done with the fix'n and staining. A couple layers of that stuff (mostly on the areas where rain and weather collects the most) will give it a tough as nails finish. Varathane, too, works, but not as tough as the deco stuff.

[Azbear]

Thanks for the input guys. I did a test of the Elmo wood filler. It sat for one day. I dropped the turned column on my sanding table and a lot of the wood filler fell out. May be I didn't get it into the crack deep enough? Not sure. Will try the glue and filler suggestion today.

Will the wood filler stick to the dried glue, or does it just rest on the dried glue while adhering to the wood surface?

If I apply a sanding sealer over the dried wood filler, will it keep the filler from shrinking?

AW, I understand what you are saying. This repair has to last 'till the day after I'm no longer breathing. For some reason, my better half thinks I can do everything all of the time.

[spalted]

This is just my opinion, and I'm only guessing about the specifics of your intended application. But I don't think any filler or putty is going to give long term lasting results, especially outdoors.

As the wood expands and contracts with humidity changes the filler is going to become loose.

The only thing that can hold up to this wood movement is caulk.
Checkmate is a clear product we use to seal checks and cracks in exterior logs to prevent water infiltration. Log Builder is used to caulk or chink between the logs.

These checks and gaps are probably larger than what you are dealing with, but the principles of wood movement still apply.

I would suggest that anything you try needs to remain flexible and have adhesive qualities as well.

[Azbear]

The caulk you mentioned might be the way to go in this case.

What product do you use?

Can it be stained or painted?


This is just my opinion, and I'm only guessing about the specifics of your intended application. But I don't think any filler or putty is going to give long term lasting results, especially outdoors.

As the wood expands and contracts with humidity changes the filler is going to become loose.

The only thing that can hold up to this wood movement is caulk.
Checkmate is a clear product we use to seal checks and cracks in exterior logs to prevent water infiltration. Log Builder is used to caulk or chink between the logs.

These checks and gaps are probably larger than what you are dealing with, but the principles of wood movement still apply.

I would suggest that anything you try needs to remain flexible and have adhesive qualities as well.

[spalted]

I can't recall all the specs off the top of my head.
If I remember correctly, Log Jamb is made by Sashco, I think it is stainable.

OSI Quad is a very good siding type caulk, but it is not real easy to work. It's very sticky, but you can tool it smooth with a little mineral spirits on a putty knife. It comes in hundreds of colors too.

Checkmate is clear and applied after staining probably not what you are looking for I'd guess.

I'm not positive caulk is the answer for you, it's just the first thing that came to mind. It's worth considering anyway.

[LDD]

Check out this website abatron.com, they have some good stuff.

[spalted]

abatron is a good source for restoration supplies, I think they have a line of epoxy coatings too.

[Eagle Hollow]

Azbear,

If the glue joints are separating, I recommend cutting them apart, running both edges of each piece through the jointer and gluing them back together. Then you should be able to fill the rest of the cracks with a good wood filler.