In last issue’s eZine, one of our expert’s suggestions for a question related to Sealing Plywood Edges with Paint mentioned Bondo®-type filler. This reader had a caution regarding using this type of product around fabrics. – Editor
“A comment on the use of the “Bondo” type fillers. The catalyst in most of these is benzoyl peroxide. We learned thorough many sad consumer experiences that the benzoyl peroxide contained in acne medications is a powerful bleach, capable of destroying the color in clothing, bedding and, most expensive, carpets. The acne medications contain a maximum of 10 percent benzoyl peroxide; the Bondo catalyst is 70 percent. This stuff is about 500 times more efficient a bleach compared to chlorine bleach at 5.25 percent. You might want to warn users of this. I recently inspected a number of incidents of bleached carpet in an apartment complex, which were ultimately traced to the filler used to repair rotted window frames. As best we could tell, the user had it on his hands, and in addition to some very nice hand prints on the carpet, apparently wiped his face, and the contaminated sweat dripped onto the carpet – the result: over $40K in damaged carpet!” – C.R. Mitchell
Painted Wood: It’s a Crime (But Pine is Not)
And, in response to the enthusiastic discussion in the last issue’s Feedback section on whether painting wood was “a sin, or just very wrong,” this reader provided another option. – Editor
“Painting a beautiful wood surface is worse than a shame, but not quite as bad as a sin. It’s most accurate to call it a crime. Some woodworkers similarly disparage using pine for projects, but they’re wrong. I’ve never needed to provide for wood movement in any of the things I’ve built from pine.” – Moh Clark
