Carousel animal/rocking pig request for suggestions.

[tonytiger]

For over a year, I have been attempting to create a large rocking pig about 2' x 3' x 8" for my grand children to ride on. I laminated 5 pine 2X12's for the body. While carving down I have uncovered cracks/splits and knots that are leaving a rougher looking project. I expect to fill the holes & splits with shavings, glue and saw dust. Next I was going to cover these problem areas and joints with auto body compound. The base coat of paint will be white with texturing sand added. The project will be fininshed with acrylic paints and a protective varnish topcoat. This is my largest project to date and I am not sure if this is the right way to correct and hide problem areas that will be subject to rough use. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[AlArchie]

There are several wood fillers that may work better than the sawdust and glue route. Some are simple putty types, like Plastic Wood, and a few other solvent based fillers. Elmer's glue makes a water based putty and Ace Harware, True Value and others market their own store brands. I've used them all successfully. Then there are the two part epoxy based fillers; Quick Wood, Carpenter's Putty and other brands. These are a bit more difficult to use (not much though) but really are a lot more durable and work a little better after they have cured. That bondo type auto body filler will work just fine, too.

Working those knot areas may be best handled with a wood rasp. Get one with a fine cut so you don't have a lot of rasp marks to sand out later. A "four-in-hand" rasp is a good addition to your carving tool bag and runs around 10 bucks. It has two diffferent cuts, rough and fine, and two profiles, flat and round, so it gives you a lot to work with.

Make sure you seal those knots, before you finish with primer or paint,or the pitch in them will bleed through later. either use shellac or a sealer specially made for pine knots.

Al

[Thor]

Tonytiger, I do hope you'll show us pictures. Seeing projects like that in progress is very inspiring to the rest of us.
Good luck with it.
Thor

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Just thinking maybe a drop of water and a drop or two of polyurathane glue (grizzly type) in the cracks to stabilize and the bondo or "apoxie" as a skim coat on top to hide it? Not sure if its right, but what I would do. Smile

[sbirkes]

If you can find a body filler called "Rage Gold" your sanding job will be easier than sanding Bondo, or most other brands.

I was watching TV some time back and happened to have a show on showing Jesse James (custom bike builder) working on a bike. His paint man was sanding a tank and it looked like the body putty was coming off so easy with sandpaper that it was amazing. From doing my own body work I new that there were differences in the sandability of the various puttys.

I was getting ready to do a sculpture job calling for a lot of body putty sanding and sure wasn't looking forward to sanding the hard stuff.

I called Jesse James and he hooked me up with his paint man who gave me the name Rage Gold and agreed that it was easy sanding. I use it on all the jobs requiring putty and sanding now. I never have found it at consumer type auto parts stores but have got it at body shop supply places. It's worth searching out if you expect to have to do much putty and sanding.

A google search for "rage gold body filler" gets you suppliers and info. Good Luck

[Kenny_S]

Steve, that is some good stuff, but, basicly it is for outer skim coating that Hi Ho was talking about. To stabilize the cracking they Grizzly with a little water will stabilize the crack where it would not crack more and would be a good medium to use for that. Now, the Rage Gold, I don't lnow how it would adhere to the glue. We used a auto spot putty which when wet sanded it came off good. The spot putty was used to fill in any smal imperfections in the lead we used. Now lead men any more though. well very few.
JMHO.

[tonytiger]

Thanks for the suggestions. Looks like they may really get me moving again. I will share a few photos in a little while.

[susieq]

May I suggest one more product to look into? It is called Power Poxy. It used to be readily available here in Florida at Home Depot but then they quit carrying it. It is still available but I have to send for it now. You might check around where you live. Hardware stores, etc...
Here is a phone number where you could call for more info on locating it or ordering it. (866) 232-4681

I have used it for years and you can carve it, sand it, paint it, even add on where you didn't leave quite enough wood for some detail you were carving.
It is a two part epoxy wood and comes in two jar like tubs. Use two separate utensils to get the stuff out of the tubs though. One little bit of one accidentally getting in contact with the other and it will be ruined. It is great stuff to use other wise. Good luck with your pig. I would love to see a picture when it is finished.
susieq