Q&A
Question:
I've not been able to find a good stainable wood putty. Minwax indicates that
their putty is, but it really isn't. It does fill the nail holes, but I can
never seem to get the colors right even when I buy the wax pencils to try to
assist. Normally I use Minwax Provincial Stain on my baseboard, pine doors and
trim. Could you please help? (I'll bet I'm not the only one with this kind of
issue.)
Answer:
Many of us struggle with the imperfect science of matching wood with putty.
Despite the multitude of manufacturers and the wide array of colors they offer,
finding an off-the-shelf product to match your wood and accept your stain
exactly is a very tall order. It is really a process of getting the putty as
close as possible to the color of the surrounding wood, and then further
enhancing the repair through the coloring and finishing process.
As you know, putty and wood are different in many ways. Wood has side grain and
end grain. Putty does not. Wood is wood, while putty is a mixture of many
different organic and inorganic products. Furthermore, the density of wood is
dissimilar from species to species as well as to wood putty. This is complicated
by the fact that no two manufacturers' products are the same. As a result,
finding an off-the-shelf putty to match your exact needs is very tricky.
So, what should we do? It is important to get as close a match as possible with
either the wood, or if staining, with the final color of the piece. Then you can
do your best to "make the repair disappear" through the staining or dyeing
process and the finish coat (tinted or not). You will very likely have better
luck disguising the repair by applying colored topcoats of finish, or by simply
painting the area with artist colors. (Be sure to paint in grain lines to match
the surrounding area.)
Several years ago, a trade magazine explained how large furniture manufacturers
color match their products. As no two pieces of cherry or walnut are exactly the
same color (and it is important to make them be the same color as the rest of
the dining room suite), the process of coloring the furniture is actually a
process of coloring the finish -- and multiple layers of finish at that. This
allows a uniform color regardless of the underlying wood and any defects that
are present. It is a little like repainting an old car, but you get the idea.
I hope this helps answer your question. We all struggle with this problem from
time to time. For further reading, check out Bob Flexner's book entitled
Understanding Wood Finishing
. It is a super book that covers most aspects of
finishing wood.
Sam Rieder
Highland Woodworking
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