anyone know of a clear epoxy?

btice

btice

Joined
Dec 27, 2002
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I need to "sculpt" a piece of wood and since I am artistically inept, UB suggested that I mix wood dust with epoxy. I usually use JB Weld, but it is gray in color and will not let the natural wood show through. Does anyone know of a good epoxy that will dry clear? Thanks for the help.

Ben
 
btice-- I just did a wood repair with epoxy and wood dust. I used regular 2-part epoxy-- can't remember the brand--whatever they sell at wal-mart. There should be an indication of color somewhere on the package. I try to avoid the 5 minute stuff as I've read it is not waterproof. Anyway, the repair came out great. After I applied tru-oil to the handle, you couldn't even see it.
--Josh
 
Josh, do you use a specific ratio of epoxy to wood or do you just eyeball it?

Ben
 
Ben, this was my first time, and I kinda eyeballed it. I would suggest having more wood dust than you think you need, then add it to the mixed epoxy until you come up with a nice consistency. The repairs I did were rather small areas on a khuk handle. I added a pinch or two of wood dust to a dollop of epoxy (how's that for exact measurement?) and it turned out pretty well. Keep in mind that the epoxy dries clear, so you if you want it to look like solid wood, you'll have to add a fair amount of wood dust. Hopefully some folks with more experience will chime in.
--Josh
 
Josh, I'll bet an epoxy "dollop" is smaller than a cool-whip "dollop."

Ben
 
Devcon epoxy should work great for you. Get the two ton, not the 5 minute(15 minute? not sure, don't have any around here to look at, just have two ton), givevs you half an hour work time. Should be able to pick it up at any walmart, big lots, hardware store, etc, etc. I have used it to fill wood gaps too, but only once, and did same thing, eyeballed it.

Heh, do my gunsmithing and knifemaking in an apt, most of the sawdust gets down in carpet, and just has to get vaccuumed up(hopefully) whenever I get around to vacuuming. So I try to avoid thigns like this. Also don't like filling voids on distinct grain patterned woods like bocote.
 
Thanks for Devcon tip etp. Now is just have to make a bunch of wood dust.

Ben
 
Originally posted by Josh Feltman
less tasty too, I would imagine :)
--Josh
Click to expand...

Depends on whether you used a Whiskey Sour for the catalyst.:rolleyes: :p ;)

That sure sounds good, wish I had some bourbon now instead of the supply of Scotch.:rolleyes: :grumpy:

But perhaps a Salty Dog would do in place, I have the ingredients for that.:D
 
Originally posted by Josh Feltman .....I try to avoid the 5 minute stuff as I've read it is not waterproof.
Click to expand...
Don't know about waterproof, but expect it would be waterproof.
I've noticed that the longer the cure time,
-Usually- the stronger the bond.
And within some brands the higher the temperature resistance.

I use as much wood dust as I can combine with the epoxy
and still be able to have a plastic paste.
The finer the dust the better.
As other pointed out, you get a solid color;
so hard to fill a variegated material.
You can mix dust colors for effect,
but streaky would be hard to duplicate.

It would be a rare occassion that you needed a truly water-clear
epoxy. Many liquid epoxies are a golden transparent that works
just fine.
 
Got the devcon epoxy last night and tried it out on some dust from drilling holes in an old piece of walnut. Worked well except the test product is lumpy. I will try to sand it and see how it turns out. I'm thinking that the dust may not have been fine enough. Would the dust from a sanding project be better, you think?

Ben
 
Originally posted by btice .....Would the dust from a sanding project be better,
Click to expand...
Definitely.
The finer the better.
And, But, Too..................
You can combine fine with course with lumps if you like;
but you need the finer dust to fill in gaps between the courser bits.

You said you needed to 'sculpt' some wood.
Does this mean your making a 'lump' of something and not doing a fill-in?
If so, you might consider the wood putty sold in home stores.
At least one brand use to be sawdust & glue.
Or make your own with non-epoxy.
Depending on the durability vs handle-ability(?) you need.

Consider, if you could make the first version of wax
(parrafin or other), you could make a plaster mould from it,
melt the wax out in a low temp oven,
then pour/push you 'wood' into it for a wooden copy.
If you plan to break the mold carefully to release the wood item,
you simplify the molding/casting process.

Or cast (or squish together) a shape close to the final product
and carve it (thinking something like a Dremal tool).
 
Dean, I am repairing one end of the khuk handle under the buttcap. A little over 1/4 inch has broken off. I don't have the broken piece. I do have a Dremel with the flexible shaft so I can shape it after I'm done. I thought of wood putty, but I'm not sure it would be strong enough.

Ben
 
Originally posted by btice .......Dean, I am repairing one end of the khuk handle under the buttcap.
Click to expand...
The epoxy is the thing then.
If you apply the epoxy/dust without excess,
you can then put some plastic wrap or similar over it
and shape it with fingers/toothpicks/whatever
and when hardened will already have a shiny, smooth surface.
 
Hey, the plastic wrap is an excellent suggestion. Just a sidenote...I dying out here without any specials of the day being posted. How about you?

Ben
 
Originally posted by btice ........I dying out here without any specials of the day being posted. How about you?
Click to expand...
Almost grateful.
Almost.................
My allowance got spent.
Though if something Very special, and Cheap, came up
I might manage something.
 
Well, I think I used too much epoxy. The devcon worked great...made a couple of test pieces. But they're hard as a rock. It's like trying to file granite. It will be solid...that's for sure!

Ben
 
Originally posted by btice .......I think I used too much epoxy. ..... hard as a rock. It's like trying to file granite.
Click to expand...
:D
More wood, more wood, more wood.

When mixed it should look like sticky wet dust
rather than epoxy with dust in it.

Keep adding dust til you think no more will mix.
Then add a little more and knead it (or spatula it)
rather than trying to stir it.

If you can stir it, it's way too thin.

You want it -Almost- to where the mass begins to crumble
when you knead it.

You can also try adding some coarser sawdust to a too thin mix.
The more wood in it the more woodlike it will behave.

More dust, more dust, more dust.
:D
 
I am going to make a substantial pile of dust. It's a good thing I did a test run first, otherwise I would be burning up a dremel trying to grind the stuff down.:D
 
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