
Filled epoxy is extensively used in boatbuilding so its strength and resilience is well proven. Where a combination of adhesive properties and filling are required the choice is going to be epoxy + a dry filler material. On the downside they have a characteristic sweet plastic odour (you're smelling styrene) that some people find objectionable and is toxic at high concentrations.īasically only the one consistency is available to the user. They are easy and fast to mix, bond very well to wood, harden quickly and dry extremely hard 1. So in no particular order I'll list some very strong fillers that can be used interchangeably for some jobs, but not all.īondo, and other polyester fillers, are the go-to product for many people working with wood where strength is the requirement. Obviously this includes any blends of an adhesive with a wood dust or other powder, but it's also relevant to straight epoxy products and other two-part fillers where there is a separate hardener - in some products only slight variations in proportions can greatly affect final strength (usually negatively). It’s like having a $5 insurance policy sitting on the shelf.Įverything you ever wanted to know about Durham’s Rock Hard Water Putty but were afraid to ask.There isn't a single definitive answer to this because many of the options have variables that affect the properties of the set/hardened product. I would certainly recommend this product to the DIY weekend warrior. This will depend on the thickness of the the water putty in the hole and the humidity level.
#Durham rock putty free#
Re-apply a second coat, if desired.įeel free to prime and paint once the water putty has had adequate time to dry. Give it plenty of time to dry and sand it smooth. Basically, just fill the hole and smooth it level to the surface. Once you get it to the right consistency, take your smallest putty knife (1" blade is good) and work it around just a bit and put some on your blade or spatula. By the way, work quickly with the putty as it will becomes more difficult to work with with each passing minute. Otherwise, you might as well just throw it away. If you want to be green, have a re-usable pail, or vessel, on hand and wash it out thoroughly immediately after you’ve finished applying the water putty. It is easier to work with and stays where you put it if you follow that one simple rule. You want the consistency to be much like wood putty, if not a little bit drier than that. I just pour some Rock Hard putty powder in an old coffee can, soup can, or whatever I have sitting around that I could easily toss in the trash and then add a small amount of water. You can follow the directions on the can for mixing instructions or you can do what I do.

The dryer ran for about 15-20 minutes before I was satisfied that it was about as dry as it was going to get. This would insure a good bond with the water putty that I would apply. Once I was satisfied that the rotted wood was removed in its’ entirety, I got out my daughter’s hair dryer (Lord knows I don’t use one) and let it blow on the interior of the cleared-out hole to thoroughly dry the wood that remained. I also used a small chisel and hammer to chip away the wood that was in the process of rotting and a small paint brush to clear away all of the rotted debris.

I used a flathead screwdriver to dig the rotted wood out of the hard-to-reach crevices. In my case, I had a water rot issue on the exterior of the door frame at the bottom. Rock Hard is a gypsum-based filler product that has to be mixed with water in the correct amount to become something resembling putty, or bread dough, that you can apply with your putty knife. It comes in a powder form, much like talcum powder, and it’s not pliable out of the can. In my case, I always have some Rock Hard available…um…err… that’s sitting on my shelf on my work bench…yeah.ok. You have to replace the entire door frame…OR…do what I did…and what was also suggested by the folks at the big orange box.

Trouble is…it’s part of the door frame itself and not sold in places like Home Depot and Lowe’s. I originally wanted to replace the 2" x ½" board that is attached to the frame. I happened to have one of those small wood rot problems on one of the door frames of my house. I’ve used this stuff for years, on occasion. "Rock Hard" is a great product and nice to have around when you come across small wood rot problems here and there. I also mentioned it towards the end of the article. You may have noticed a can of Durham’s Rock Hard Water Putty in one of the photos. In my most recent post, I talked about planing the bottom edge of a door that sticks on the threshold. If you buy thru these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
