Wood Patch to Match Black Walnut
Thoughts on how to make a durable wood patch formula dark enough to match Black Walnut. February 26, 2007
Question
I have tried every brand of walnut wood patch and none are dark enough for black walnut. Does anyone make ebony patch? Not interested in mixing sawdust with glue.
Forum Responses
(Cabinetmaking Forum)
From contributor W:
Just mix in some Lamp Black or Burnt Umber Huls 844 or water-based pigment, depending on the base of the wood paste you like best.
From the original questioner:
I tried stain, but everyone then has a black finger.
From contributor J:
You will probably have to do a burn-in.
From contributor M:
On the last black walnut job I did, I just used some clear 5 minute epoxy. On some of the bigger knots, I had to put 2 applications on, but once the finish went on, it looked great. You might want to test it on some scrap to see if it will work for you. Some black epoxy may work better for a larger knot.
From contributor B:
I've considered using epoxy for patching knots (and have seen others recommend it). My worry, though, is how it will look after a few years. The wood goes through its seasonal movement, but the epoxy presumably doesn't change dimension very much. Is the epoxy-wood bond so good and the epoxy elastic enough that it won't crack? I haven't seen any info on the longer-term behavior of such patches.
From contributor M:
I used some 5 minute epoxy to fill the checking on the end grain on some elm slab doors that I built 6 or 7 years ago for some folks. I have never heard of any problems that they may have had. I used to know a guy that worked with mesquite a fair amount, and he always used a black epoxy to fill the knot holes. I could be wrong, but I don't think that the movement in the knot hole itself should pose a big problem.
From contributor O:
I have used Trans-tint dyes mixed with my filler for this purpose with good results. Do your filling after your finish is applied so you have an accurate color to work from.
