Wasted $80 on that 'miracle' grain filler everyone was hyping

I fell for the ads about that new synthetic grain filler that said no sanding needed. Tried it on an oak table top I was refinishing last month. Looked great at first but after I applied the stain, it peeled off in chunks. Had to strip the whole thing down and start over with good old Aqua Coat. Lost about 6 hours of work and the $80 for the can. Anyone else get burned by a product that was supposed to be a shortcut?

2 comments

2 Comments

richard_kelly541d ago

Did you actually read the directions on that can? Most of those new age fillers need a sealer coat before you put stain on, not the same as traditional wood filler. I almost made the same mistake with a different brand until I noticed the small print. Honestly though, I tried one of those "no sand" fillers on a junk test board first and it still didn't bond right even when I followed everything. The hype around these products is way too strong, they make it sound like magic when really you're just paying for extra steps.

andrew_nguyen641d ago

You ever try just mixing fine sawdust from the same wood with regular wood glue? I use that for gaps and it stains way better than any of those tub fillers. Takes a bit of patience to get the mix right but it bonds solid and you can sand it smooth without special steps. The trick is to pack it in tight and let it dry overnight. Never had it shrink or crack on me like the store bought stuff.