Famowood

[evansjw44]

I use Famowood a lot for filling and have for years. Its pretty much the same stuff CC used. The trouble with Famowood is that it's solvent is highly volitale and it goes hard really fast. You used to be able to buy the small cans of magic Famowood solvent. But with the new VOS standards and some shipping restriction you can't get the solvent any more.

However, I have discovered that Toluol or Toluene makes an excellent thinner for Famowood. You get Toluol at any good hardware that carries painter's supplies. Its a lot cheaper than the magic Famowood solvent too.
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Jim Evans

[Don Ayers]

Jim;

Excellent post and very true. where things don't show like under paint etc I started using PL Fix as a filler compound. It works very similar to Famowood and does not dry out as fast. Easy to sand and work with as well. You can get it at any of the big stores.
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Don Ayers
1959 Riva Ariston
1931 Gar Wood 28-40

[evansjw44]

Excuse my ignorance but what is PX filler and where do I buy it. What is it, a polyester or a ?
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Jim Evans

[Don Ayers]

Here is a link

http://www.stickwithpl.com/Products.aspx?ID=X%20Wood%20Filler

Link for MSDS

http://www.stickwithpl.com/pdf/PLr%20FIXr%20Solvent%20Wood%20Filler%20MSDS.pdf
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Don Ayers
1959 Riva Ariston
1931 Gar Wood 28-40

[jwoldeboat]

I have used Famowood for years with great results and have always used acetone as a solvent..When I am finished useing it I always pour a little acetone in the can before sealing it up tight. I have also found that the Famowood with the acetone solvent dries very quickly it so you have to work quickly when filling holes .

[evansjw44]

I used acatone as well for many years. But I found it kind of curdled afer a while. Toluol doesn't make it curdle.
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Jim Evans

[jfrprops]

I confess total ignorance of what you guys are filling, but on my cruiser, under any paint, I fill with Smiths Fill-It over a prep of CPES. I swear you can fill anything with this magical stuff...pure white if mixed right, 50/50 mix and that not very critical, good working time, sets up in reasonable time, sands and planes great....I used to use Famowood, but I used to use a dial telephone too.
John in Va.
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1966 Cavalier Seastrake 33'
1956 Whirlwind runabout 16'
1954 Whirlwind deluxe dual ckpt 16'
1921 Old Town Charles River 17' (founding Captain, James River Batteau Festival)

[Al Benton]

I have used both the Famowood and PL Fix products on woodworking projects. I would have to say the PL Fix stays flexible quite a bit longer than the Famowood does. It also is easier to mix with stain to fill after finish is done (brad and nail holes, etc.).

I haven't tried Smith's Fill-it for filling painted surfaces but that might be a good solution (for painted wood), it doesn't spoil in the can, doesn't set until it's mixed.

Al

[jfrprops]

Al,

Smith's Fill-it is great.
two plastic cans, 50/50 mix....will last forever in the cans unmixed. It is a stiff mix, but I swear I have put it to great test/use and it always works great for me.

You can fill MASSIVE spaces/voids with this stuff, it does not shrink or expand..zero...so what you DO is what you get...you can replace a lot of rotten voids with this...carefull to use soaking CPES first...It is so good that I use it rather than cut-out and/or dutchman stuff. Sticks great too...I once used it as a test, filling a badly worn place where a 1/2 inch threaded dock fastener eroded my toerail in a big high tide and hurricane situation. As a test I did not even prep by undercutting or any workworking...just used a rasp to get rid of loose stuff, soaked in CPES once or twice and put the Fill-it in/on with a putty knife...never keyed in...just smeared on. Next day you can not tell where the repair is after dressing up with a sharp plane and sandpaper. Years later, same report.
I believe in this stuff 100%.
Not just on boats either, old window sills and doors that need patches....
John in Va.
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1966 Cavalier Seastrake 33'
1956 Whirlwind runabout 16'
1954 Whirlwind deluxe dual ckpt 16'
1921 Old Town Charles River 17' (founding Captain, James River Batteau Festival)

[evansjw44]

Famowood is for filling small imperfections. Use it to fill the voids around a screw pulg. Use it to fill a plank joint. CC used it to fill screw hole countersinks where there was no need to see the finishing.

Famowood doesn't fill even close to large voids that one might fill with some epoxy or polyester products. Those kinds I fill with mahogany, cut back to good wood and filled with a "dutchman".
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Jim Evans

[Wlegett]

When I was ready to do deck seams on a 55 continental, the seams were very sloppy and differnet widths from previous finishing. I debated changing the deck and decided to make a 1/8" wood spline and cover with aluminum foil. I took a very small metal spatula ( 1/4" ) lab type and put famowood in the area between the deck and the spline. When the famowood dried, I pulled the spline and foil and I had a perfect 1/8" groove. Sanded, stained and varnished before caulking with white Sikaflex. The deck looks like it just came out of the factory and all grooves are perfect. The color and everything is exactly as new. I am very happy with the project.