About wood fillers...?

[Jerome]

I'm currently refinishing the wooden coaming boards on my Typhoon. The previous owner had only applied 2 or 3 coats of varnish, and by the end of my first season owning the boat it was pealing away.

I've used a chemical stripper to take most of the old varnish off, which has worked pretty well. I'm also sanding and using a scraper. What I'm finding though is that along with beautiful expanses of smooth and richly tanned teak, some parts of the wood have lost a lot of the wood pulp. This gives the wood the appearance of dark streaks.

I've thought of just sanding the grooves smooth, but then thought that I'd be eliminating a bit much of the board's thickness. I've been wondering if anyone's used wood fillers to remedy this condition. And if so, what kind. I was thinking that after filling and sanding the wood smooth I'd apply the coats of varnish.

Your input is appreciated.

Jerome
'Io'
hull #977



Jbasma@aol.com

[M.R. Bober]

I am unaware of anyone using filler, but for what it's worth. Many (if not all) two part teak cleaners use a caustic agent, which erodes the softer wood quite quickly.
Mitchell Bober
RESPITE
CD330



thebobers@eros.com

[Rich]

If you get to the point of trying a wood filler, I have found that 3M's wood fill product is easy to work with. It fills voids well, doesn't expand a lot, sand down very nicely. It is not a structural filler though.

I used some on my cedar siding about eight years ago. When I was repainting this summer, I couldn't locate the fill, even with the siding strippped.

It excepts some stains well, you would want to experiment on whatever filler you use to get a color match before refinishing or you'll really see the fill.

I'm currently refinishing the wooden coaming boards on my Typhoon. The previous owner had only applied 2 or 3 coats of varnish, and by the end of my first season owning the boat it was pealing away.

rpassmore42@hotmail.com