Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Fixing hole in wood

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Expert: - 3/31/2009


Question
I replaced a door and had to make another hole in the door jamb for the strike plate, because the knob sits up higher on the door. Should I use wood filler for a hole that size or something else? I noticed Elmer's makes an epoxy wood repair system, but that looks like it would be for something else.

Thanks

Answer
Hey KC, typically, the best repair would be to carefully chisel out a clean square or rectangle around the perimeter, and fit and glue in a piece of the same species of wood that makes a good match. Minwax also makes a Polyester resin, two part epoxy filler (High Performance Filler)...."Bondo" for wood that will work, but typically, if it's a big hole, filler is not the best solution, and it looks like crud too...unless you're painting over it...you can use that type of filler and some wood also together to make the repair, as it will suggest on the instructions...this type of resin mixes up very gooey and sticky, then goes through a hardening phase where it becomes the consistency of hard cheese, before turning rock hard when cured after about 30 minutes.....the key is to apply it, then make sure to shape it BEFORE it starts to get really hard..usually that gives you about a 5-10 min. window.....hope that helps -post back if need be- Greg

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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