I didn't realize that I had some tear out in the curl in this oak table top. It's too late to change, as it's glued up.
The tear out is shallow, but must be dealt with. It's gonna be stained with Varathane oil based stain, so I need to take that into consideration when fixing it.
Can any of y'all help out?
My initial thought was just fill the grain with a product like aquacote, but then I saw you were going to stain it. I mean you could just fill the grain with a filler that will take stain, depending on how you stain it.
Id soak that area and apply heat from an iron to raise the grain. It might be shallow enough to swell the fibers enough and sand flush. Might have to do it a number of times.
How wide is it. It might just be easiest to run it through belt/drum sander since its a top.....1/32 of an inch wont be missed.
Since i'm guessing this is a piece you're selling, I think I'd rip it off and glue on a new piece. I've never seen a filler that will take stain and not be noticeable. There may be some available, and i just haven't seen it.
Filling and stain is a risk I would not take. In the Dallas area there are numerous places that will sand a wide piece. I have used them several times. The best place, Fort Worth Plywood, has a 50" planer/sander combo and they charge the least...$0.50 per sq/ft per pass.
Hope you are able to find a service to help.
I have had good success filling tear-out like that with clear epoxy. Then sand smooth, stain with gel stain, and finish of choice. Most of the time you can't see it; particularly if you don't know it ahead of time. Be sure to fill with epoxy before applying stain.
(03-20-2022, 01:12 PM)®smpr_fi_mac® Wrote: [ -> ]I didn't realize that I had some tear out in the curl in this oak table top. It's too late to change, as it's glued up.
The tear out is shallow, but must be dealt with. It's gonna be stained with Varathane oil based stain, so I need to take that into consideration when fixing it.
Can any of y'all help out?
Card or cabinet scrapers are my go-to solution for tearout. I don't use oak, so I don't know how well it scrapes. Worth a try, if you don't mind a slight hollow in that area.
The stain could create an impermeable layer between the epoxy and the wood. You must have some scrap oak pieces around to try it first.
I'm not a finish expert, so like Aram, I'd go with a card scraper unless the tear out is severe. Start away from the tear out, and scrape well past the spot in width and in length so you're not creating a noticeable hollow.
Simon
(03-20-2022, 09:16 PM)Handplanesandmore Wrote: [ -> ]The stain could create an impermeable layer between the epoxy and the wood. You must have some scrap oak pieces around to try it first.
I'm not a finish expert, so like Aram, I'd go with a card scraper unless the tear out is severe. Start away from the tear out, and scrape well past the spot in width and in length so you're not creating a noticeable hollow.
Simon
Please note that I suggested applying the epoxy first with the gel stain on top after sanding it smooth.
In my opinion, those chip-outs are too deep to plane or scrape away.
I just had the same type of tear out but on an alder panel. I decided to repair it even though it will not show. I used clear "Stick Fast" CA glue and an accelerator. Never used it before. I just spread it over the tear out and sprayed the accelerator on it. Sanded smooth to the feel. Applied the first coat of Arm R Seal and I can hardly see the repair. If I get the light just right I can see it, but this is the first coat. I am very surprised how well it is turning out.
Arm R Seal isn't a stain. I've tried epoxy with osmo and it worked but osmo wasnt stain.
Simon