Any woodworkers on here?

hc25036

Maybe not very money saving, but we treated ourselves to an expensive barbecue as a retirement treat. This has a 'Royal Mahogany' table that is intended to be used outdoors. The information says that the table may have natural blemishes.

Just a few weeks after delivery, I noticed what looked like damage caused by a burn - a small bulge on the surface - and set about sanding it down to make a repair. What I found was wood filler that had been used to fill a defect around a knot in the wood that had bulged out. Looking more carefully, I found several knots on the table top that had been filled and where the filler has shrunk to leave a gap. I'm guessing that these will eventually fail as well.

The picture shows the sanded-down repair (you can see a small bit of filler that I missed) and another smaller area where the filler has shrunk (marked). There are other larger bits like this elsewhere on the table.

I've contacted the manufacturer for comment, but are there any experienced chippies on here that can comment on whether the filler looks to be adequate?

keith969

My Dad sometimes used to make furniture in mahogany, although he mostly worked in oak. All I can say is that he'd never have used wood with visible defects like that, but then it was indoor furniture. He also would not use filler!

I wouldn't call filler a 'natural blemish', it has no place in good quality furniture.

hc25036

Thanks Keith - it might be acceptable if it had been done well! I've found around 6 places where filler has been used and all are shrinking leaving visible defects!

Hong_Kong_Phooey.

Can you post a pic of the whole table?

If may well be that if it's not too formal in looks you can get away with filling it with epoxy.

hc25036

It's a support for a barbecue - https://www.biggreenegg.co.uk/special/configure/tables-and-bases/royal-mahogany-table-large.

I can definitely fill it with epoxy - I've made a chopping board from an oak offcut doing just that. The question is whether the standard of the original work up to standard?

Hong_Kong_Phooey.

It's cosmetic not structural.

Apodemus

I'd reckon it is probably in-keeping with the rustic nature and function of the piece. Wouldn't be acceptable in a French-polished dining table, but ok for this. But you are the owner and if it offends your eye...

Kiran

Go for epoxy, dye it if necessary to a shade darker than the surrounding area and it will look like wood grain or a knot

Lorian

expoxy or else ronseal wood filler is pretty good for this sort of thing.

Do use the right colour (mahogany) rather than what they used. It had the characteristic that you can fill it a little high as it sands nicely. It won't last as long as epoxy but a small tube/tin will keep for several years as long as its kept really airtight and away from extremes of temperature.

tony6403

This would be my choice - never found anything to beat it.
https://www.rustins.ltd/brummer/our-products/exterior-wood-filler