More on Liquid Fillers

Colors ground in oil may be added in small quantities. The silica should be added last and mixed in gradually while stirring. Varnishes do not quickly assimilate a thinner, or mix with other substances; consequently, the above liquid filler should stand for one or two days, then should be stirred again and thinned until it will work freely with a stiff varnish brush.

It will spread on the wood more smoothly if strained through cheesecloth and allowed to stand another day or two before being used. The base or coarse materials are apt to settle; therefore the mixture should be stirred often while being applied. A liquid filler with less varnish in proportion to the other ingredients may be mixed as follows:

· 1 quart body varnish, such as a rubbing-varnish

· 1 quart brown Japan

· 2 pounds fine silex

Thin slightly with turpentine, if necessary, to make it spread better with a stiff brush. A liquid filler of the thinned-paste type may be made up as follows:

· 2 lbs. prepared paste filler

· ½ pint turpentine

· 1/8 pint robbing-varnish

You should mix the ingredients in the order given and you can thin them even further with turpentine or benzine if you plan to use it on close-grained, non-absorptive woods. A small amount of any of the colors ground in oil may be added to tint the filler to the proper color. A thin paste filler that doesn't contain any contains varnish can be used for a cheap finish on coarse-grained woods, such as oak and ash.

Liquid fillers are applied to wood evenly lengthwise of the grain, as in varnishing and without being rubbed off, if they contain much varnish, they should be allowed to dry. They should then be smoothed with No. 00 or No. 000 sandpaper before the next coat of finish is applied.

The prepared liquid fillers sold on the market are usually made from valuable formulas, and by experienced men who have good equipment. Therefore, they are, in general, more satisfactory than mixtures prepared by the ordinary wood finisher. Nearly all small shops buy ready-mixed fillers, which are usually put up in cans of various sizes.

You should mix the ingredients in the order given and you can thin them even further with turpentine or benzine if you plan to use it on close-grained, non-absorptive woods. A small amount of any of the colors ground in oil may be added.