The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Furniture Finishing

AGITATING THE FILLER

"When the filler is the right consistency and the proper color, its shade producing the same or darker shade than the stain, as desired, it is ready for application. The filler should be mixed in a large receptacle, if much filling is to be done, and only enough for the day's work at hand or sufficient to finish the job, if a small one. The filler must be stirred very often, top will not fill properly, and when you reach the bottom, it will be too heavy and tough and will not wipe off well or level.

APPLICATION OF FILLER

Fse a stiff bristle brush, from two to four inches wide and with medium length bristles. The width of the brush, of course, depends on the size of the pieces you are to fill. After the filler is thoroughly stirred, flow on the filler liberally and brush out with the grain and across the grain in such a manner that the filler is forced into all the pores. Some advocate the brushing across the grain as the last operation, but this is not necessary if sufficient brushing is done to insure the sinking of the heavy particles into the pores. Finish with a light stroke with the grain. All surfaces can be coated to advantage if horizontal, as a heavy coat can be thus applied to such woods as oak and mahogany where much filler must be used in order to fill the wood properly. However, it is not necessary to do this unless you feel that one filling is all you expect to give the wood and you wish to be sure that this filling will fill thoroughly. Many cabinet pieces are filled well on the tops and drawers, because they are placed in a horizontal position when filled, when the sides and frames are poorly filled and noticeable.

The filler acts better on a horizontal plane surface than on a perpendicular one. Laying all surfaces horizontal would, of course, upset schedule in a factory, and for various reasons is not regarded as practical.

FILLING CARVINGS

Carvings sometimes are not filled because the filler tends to round the edges and fill the recesses too much, and it is difficult to wipe out such places. If the carvings are not filled, they must have at least one coat more of material than the rest of Ihe finish and usually an extra coat of shellac.