I typically fill voids with CA glue and any numbers of fillers, or I
just leave them as they are, but I'd like to try some epoxy. I've used
the 5 minute type of epoxy before, but for uses other than filling
voids. I've also used the West System when building a 21 foot, two
person kayak.
My questions a

- What type of epoxy is considered the best for filling large voids?
- What do you use to color it black?
- Does copper or brass powder as a filler look decent?
- I've heard of people using paint. What kind works well? Is my memory
correct that some kind of powdered paint is used?

Thanks for any help.

Art Learmonth

"Art and Diane" wrote in message
news:S1gRe.318744$xm3.200255@attbi_s21...
I typically fill voids with CA glue and any numbers of fillers, or I just
leave them as they are, but I'd like to try some epoxy. I've used the 5
minute type of epoxy before, but for uses other than filling voids. I've
also used the West System when building a 21 foot, two person kayak.
My questions a

- What type of epoxy is considered the best for filling large voids?

Any epoxy will suffice, but not by itself. It requires some sort of filler
material to span large openings. Microballoons (tiny hollow plastic
spheres) have been the traditional filler, but West System offers a number
of others as well. What these fillers do is thicken the epoxy mixture
sufficiently to maintain a general shape. You could also use wood dust from
the piece you're creating. Mix in enough filler to create something between
thick ketchup and wood filler paste. Generally a slower-setting epoxy works
best for this. The fast-setting types (5 minute) tend to remain rubbery and
difficult to work with after "hardening."

- What do you use to color it black?

Carbon. Lamp black or powdered graphite work well. I've seen other
materials used as well, but can't remember what they were at the moment.

- Does copper or brass powder as a filler look decent?

Sorry--never tried either.

- I've heard of people using paint. What kind works well? Is my memory
correct that some kind of powdered paint is used?

I seem to recall that Lee Valley and some other woodworking houses offer
pigments in powdered form. Might be worth some experimentation.

I've seen ground-up turquoise (stone) and coral used to color epoxy, with
nice results. I really don't know why powdered metals wouldn't work well
either. There is nothing corrosive in the epoxy constituents that should
cause brass or copper to tarnish prior to setting up. Worth some
experimenting, I'd think.

Jeff

"Art and Diane" wrote: (clip) - What do you use to color it black?
- Does copper or brass powder as a filler look decent? (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Ebony dust is good for coloring the epoxy. For other shades, I have
collected some old dried out jars of poster paint. It can be crushed into
powder and blended to match wood colors. I have found that a black filler
can look quite attractive, while a slightly mis-matched attempt at matching
the wood can look bad.

Brass and copper shavings or powder can work, but do a test. Sometimes the
epoxy causes the metal to tarnish, so you don't get the bright sparkle you
expect. A good source is the key machine at the hardware store.

Hi Art,
I've used several different types of epoxy and had the same results with all
of them. For coloring it black I use a small amount of India ink. Metal
powders look terrible with epoxy. If you are trying to get a metallic look,
stick with CA. My favorite colorant/filler for epoxy is a product called
Pearl-Ex. Its a material made from finely ground mica powder and comes in
around 30 colors. Some very bright and vivid. I always get good comments
when I use some of these brighter colors. Hope this helps.
Tony Manella
ndd1"at"prolog.net (remove "at")
http://home.ptd.net/~ndd1/
Lehigh Valley Woodturners
http://www.lehighvalleywoodturners.com/


"Art and Diane" wrote in message
news:S1gRe.318744$xm3.200255@attbi_s21...
I typically fill voids with CA glue and any numbers of fillers, or I just
leave them as they are, but I'd like to try some epoxy. I've used the 5
minute type of epoxy before, but for uses other than filling voids. I've
also used the West System when building a 21 foot, two person kayak.
My questions a

- What type of epoxy is considered the best for filling large voids?
- What do you use to color it black?
- Does copper or brass powder as a filler look decent?
- I've heard of people using paint. What kind works well? Is my memory
correct that some kind of powdered paint is used?

Thanks for any help.

Art Learmonth

Not necessarily for turnings, but I've used left over toner from a printer
to color epoxy black. The one application I had worked very well to blend
with black rubber grips. Maybe if I'd used less it might have been less
"gummy" looking. Anyway, easy and cheap to try.

"Art and Diane" wrote in message
news:S1gRe.318744$xm3.200255@attbi_s21...
I typically fill voids with CA glue and any numbers of fillers, or I just
leave them as they are, but I'd like to try some epoxy.

- What type of epoxy is considered the best for filling large voids?
- What do you use to color it black?
- Does copper or brass powder as a filler look decent?
- I've heard of people using paint. What kind works well? Is my memory
correct that some kind of powdered paint is used?

Slower stuff is normally more transparent.
Soot.
If you need it. The epoxy used to mend copper piper looks all right with
cherry.
The water-soluble paints, so I've heard. Kid stuff.

I like to grind bark and sprinkle it on the surface of a fill to avoid that
dead fish eye look you can get with sawdust. Doesn't soak up as much CA or
epoxy on the surface, will take a bit of oil.

Hello,

I'll second the recommendation for using mica powders with epoxy. They
produce vivid colours and are available in numerous colours. These can be
obtained at any art supply store, or art and craft supply stores like
Michaels. Lots of options for getting them via the Internet as well. Dick
Blick is a good source.

I've used wood dusts as well, with good results. I use a simple coffee
grinder to powder shavings into a consistent size. These are then metered
through wire screens to accurately calibrate the dust.

Another great filler is rock powders and is one of my favourite blending
adjuncts for epoxy. I crush my own, but you can buy them already crushed
from numerous places, lapidary suppliers and turning supply companies like
Craft Supplies In Utah.

No matter what you decide to use, do a few test "blobs" to make sure the end
result is what you are trying to achieve. The quantity of filler you use can
dramatically affect the visual look of the fill, so don't risk a fine piece
until you're sure of the outcome. Also, one final bit of advice... Make sure
the epoxy is correctly mixed (mixing time and proportions) and let it fully
cure before you attempt to reduce it in your abrasive protocol. Premature
sanding will produce and "unintended and undesirable" result.

Through the years I have used and perfected many epoxy application protocols
in a woodturning environment. If carefully mixed and used, it produces
excellent results. Good luck to you and best wishes in all of your
woodturning endeavours!


Better Woodturning and Finishing Through Chemistry...

Steven D. Russell
Eurowood Werks Woodturning Studio
The Woodlands, Texas

Machinery, Tool and Product Testing for the Woodworking and Woodturning
Industries

³Woodturning with Steven D. Russell²
Volume #1 CD ROM e-Book * Available for Shipment
Volume #2 CD ROM e-Book/DVD Video * Available for Shipment
Volume#3 DVD Video on Bowl Turning --- Now Filming, Available Shortly

I use WoodEpox from www.abatron.com. This is a 2 part epoxy putty that was
designed to replace rotten wood. Turns and sands just like wood. Abatron
has a limited number of colors, dry powder, but black is one. I have used
different liquid colors with it, water and oil based, with good success. I
have never tried metal shavings but think that they should be fine to use.
When using black with mesquite the WoodEpox looks just like the natural
black in the wood. PS Strong as hell and sticks to any thing. Just lay,
repeat LAY, a blob on metal and it will takes a hammer to get it off when it
dries. GREAT STUFF!

--
Art Ransom
Lancaster , Texas

www.turningaround.org

Art and Diane wrote:
I typically fill voids with CA glue and any numbers of fillers, or I
just leave them as they are, but I'd like to try some epoxy. I've used
the 5 minute type of epoxy before, but for uses other than filling
voids. I've also used the West System when building a 21 foot, two
person kayak.
My questions a

- What type of epoxy is considered the best for filling large voids?
- What do you use to color it black?
- Does copper or brass powder as a filler look decent?
- I've heard of people using paint. What kind works well? Is my memory
correct that some kind of powdered paint is used?

Thanks for any help.

Art Learmonth

I use 5 min. epoxy the kind in two separate tubes. I color it black with
a drop of black dye (alcohol based). Brass filings look good but curls
and small chunks like you get from drilling brass give a better
appearance. Crushed turquoise added in looks really good. Just leave the
filler above the level of the surrounding wood, then next day turn it
level and sand.
I usually mix up too much, and have learned to retrieve the turquoise by
adding denatured alcohol to the left-over mixture and stirring. Pour off
the alcohol and repeat a couple of times.
If the void goes all the way through the object (bowl), I put a piece of
blue painters tape on the inside to cover the void, then fill it from
the outside. Fill it while the epoxy is liquid to avoid large bubbles.
--
Gerald Ross
Cochran, GA

Friends come and go, enemies accumulate.





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Hi Art

I have used 5 and 15 min. epoxy, just don't believe that 15 min. will do.
Also used some slow special epoxy that was over date, (aircraft and
satellite use), it makes not much of a difference. what you use IMO, I
have tried epoxy with brass and copper powder/filings and never got the
real metal look that way, now I always use CA with the metal, I did use
copier/printer black powder and it looks ok, just wait long enough for
the epoxy to harden up, like 24 hrs, for large voids I like to use
chunks of wood if I can and if it does not show, saves on epoxy, and no
"speed heat" as can happen when filling large holes.
As for paint or other material I have not used it so your guess is as
good as mine I would say, and others may give you their take on that.

Have fun and take care
Leo Van Der Loo


Art and Diane wrote:
I typically fill voids with CA glue and any numbers of fillers, or I
just leave them as they are, but I'd like to try some epoxy. I've used
the 5 minute type of epoxy before, but for uses other than filling
voids. I've also used the West System when building a 21 foot, two
person kayak.
My questions a

- What type of epoxy is considered the best for filling large voids?
- What do you use to color it black?
- Does copper or brass powder as a filler look decent?
- I've heard of people using paint. What kind works well? Is my memory
correct that some kind of powdered paint is used?

Thanks for any help.

Art Learmonth

Thanks you all for the comments. They've been a big help.

Art

Art and Diane wrote:

I typically fill voids with CA glue and any numbers of fillers, or I
just leave them as they are, but I'd like to try some epoxy. I've
used the 5 minute type of epoxy before, but for uses other than
filling voids. I've also used the West System when building a 21
foot, two person kayak.
My questions a

- What type of epoxy is considered the best for filling large voids?
- What do you use to color it black?
- Does copper or brass powder as a filler look decent?
- I've heard of people using paint. What kind works well? Is my
memory correct that some kind of powdered paint is used?

Thanks for any help.

Art Learmonth

- What type of epoxy is considered the best for filling large voids?

Any general purpose epoxy including boat building epoxy, but add a thickener
like Cab-O-Sil and fillers like calcium carbonate or fibers like wood or
plastic.

- What do you use to color it black?

Black pigment dispersed in the right vehicle for epoxy. I would not use
hardware store 'universal' pigment, which is dispersed in glycerin.

- Does copper or brass powder as a filler look decent?

It can look great. It is also called 'cold cast brass', google it. You need
VERY high loading levels of metal and just enough epoxy to wet the metal.
Beware, some acid hardeners will react with brass.

- I've heard of people using paint. What kind works well? Is my memory
correct that some kind of powdered paint is used?

Liquid plastic resins are notorious for being effected by other chemical. Paint
is going to have all sorts of resins and dryers, which can effect the cure.

Dan