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wood filler compound ?

user-111700 | Posted in General Discussion on July 10, 2007 12:34pm

Hi All, I’ve got a project that I’d love some advise about. I’m wanting to repair a 4” hole at the inside bottom of a doorframe in a french door that was fixed poorly by someone else. I can take the old stuff out with my finger. What kind of wood patching compound would you suggest? It was water damaged. took care of the water with some drainage stone to keep away from house. Now got any ideas ?

 

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  1. FastEddie | Jul 10, 2007 12:40am | #1

    Bondo works well for some people.  HD & Lowes sell it in the paint dept labeled as Home Repair filler or something.  Tan color, that's the only difference between the stuff you would buy in the automotive dept at Walmart.  Some people say there exdpansion properties of bondo and wood are different enough that the bondo will pop out.  I have not seen that.

    Abatron sells a product WoodEpox.  Great stuff, and pricey.  Do a web search.

    Rock Hard Wood Putty could be used, but it has to be kept painted.

    You say it's in the doorframe.  Is it the part of the door jamb that touches the slab?  Or is it part of the door panel that swings open?  If it is the jamb, then you probably should not use the Rock Hard because the chances are that it will wick up moisture again.

    "Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

    "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt



    Edited 7/9/2007 5:41 pm ET by FastEddie

  2. kate | Jul 10, 2007 12:41am | #2

    Sounds like a spot for epoxy putty.  Check out Abatron.com.

  3. Danno | Jul 10, 2007 01:07am | #3

    For a hole that big, I'd be inclined to cut a patch out of similar (or better) wood and trace the patch onto the door frame and cut (or route) the bad spot out and glue the patch in with waterproof adhesive. Don't know how you'd keep Bondo and such from sagging and so on.

  4. factotam | Jul 10, 2007 01:14am | #4

    Minwax High Performance Wood Filler would be a good choice for the repair you need to make

    http://www.minwax.com/products/woodmaint/wood-filler.cfm

    1. Piffin | Jul 10, 2007 01:32am | #5

      That is what I normally use - easy to buy and works well. They have the wood hardener to stabilize adjacent wood fibres so it will stay put too. 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      1. rasconc | Jul 10, 2007 04:03pm | #15

        Elmers makes a rotted wood repair kit, I used it to repair some windows and sills.  Ease of use was pretty good, I was looking for the Minwaw product and did not find it.  Jury still out on the durability, it had a tube of "stabilizer" (looked like glue to me) to harden adjoining areas.  Macklanburg-Duncan used to make one also.

    2. FastEddie | Jul 10, 2007 02:20am | #6

      Minwax hpwf is nothing more than custom labeled bondo."Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

      "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

      1. alrightythen | Jul 10, 2007 07:28am | #8

         

        "Minwax hpwf is nothing more than custom labeled bondo."

        I was just about to say that.

        I've used em both. They both work great...only the stuff for cars is cheaper.

        also the small tube of hardner is never enough for me, I always run out. at the auto parts store you can buy a big tube of hardner that will last the whole can.

        incedently the hardner for the bondo dosn't quite work the same if mixed with Minwax. it hardens more slowly and doesn't seem to reach the same hardness. must slightly different components.

         

         

           View Image                                          View Image    

        Edited 7/10/2007 1:21 am by alrightythen

        1. nikkiwood | Jul 10, 2007 09:07am | #9

          <<"Minwax hpwf is nothing more than custom labeled bondo.">>That's not been my experience -- at least with the wood epoxy products like Abatron and PC Woody. Years ago, I would use Bondo (the brand), and it would start to crack and move in a few years time, but that was not the case with the wood epoxy .Abatron claims their products are formulated to more closely match the expansion/contraction cycles of wood, and from my experience, that seems to be true.********************************************************
          "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

          John Wooden 1910-

          1. alrightythen | Jul 10, 2007 09:55am | #10

            the Minwax stuff is not like the stuff you are talking about. You are talking of the expoxy type products ie PC woody that you mention.

            The Minwax product that was mentioned is indeed seemingly identical to the bondo ( auto body filler) products. 'cept they make it come in a tan colour as opposed to a red or blue. wether or not there are any other additives I don't know, but it is not like an epoxy type product, such as the ones you mention. 

               View Image                                          View Image    

            Edited 7/10/2007 2:58 am by alrightythen

          2. nikkiwood | Jul 10, 2007 04:41pm | #16

            I haven't used the Minwax product. I think there is a lot of confusion between the automotive, bondo-type products (with the tube of hardener), and the epoxy wood I am talking about (two putty-like materials you mix together). What kind of experience have you had with the bondo stuff?In my case it always fails after a few years; but with the wood epoxy, I have repairs that are still good after 10-15 years (that is, still adhering to the adjacent wood, with no cracks).********************************************************
            "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

            John Wooden 1910-

          3. FastEddie | Jul 10, 2007 03:06pm | #14

            Pay attention Nikki.  Bondo is very different from Abatron, and I would use Abatron over anything else if it were available.  But it's not stocked in many stores, and tends to be expensive."Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

            "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

  5. MikeHennessy | Jul 10, 2007 02:24am | #7

    Ditto what Danno said. A deadman patch out of matching wood, diamond shaped. That's the classic patch used by old-world craftsmen pre-epoxy and bondo. It makes the patch something that adds to, rather than subtracts from, the door and, if done right, it pretty much disappears.

    Mike Hennessy
    Pittsburgh, PA

  6. mycarwood | Jul 10, 2007 01:56pm | #11

    I would remove all of the damaged wood from the area and install a dutchman.  But I'm a woodworker.  It's not hard, just time consuming.  Wood bondo or any other fillers do work, but they won't give you the end result a dutchman will. 

  7. DanH | Jul 10, 2007 02:03pm | #12

    For a hole that big in a wet area you should glue in a dutchman.

    So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
  8. User avater
    PaulBinCT | Jul 10, 2007 02:33pm | #13

    Just simply filling it isn't likely to work well Susan. If it's going to be painted you could try filling the hole with some chunks of wood, and then using Bondo (from an auto part store) or another 2 part epoxy type of filler (I think Minwax is the most common brand) from a Home Depot type store.  It's a bear to sand, so use no more than you need and apply it in thin coats allowing it to harden fully between coats. Iffy, but good chance it will work.

    If it's going to be stained, you really will need to cut a large plug from a similar wood and glue it in.

    PaulB

    ooops, how did I miss all these replies? ummm... what they said

     



    Edited 7/10/2007 7:34 am ET by PaulBinCT

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