Aqua Coat Water-Based Clear Wood Grain Filler Gel, Fast-Drying, Low Odor, Low VOC, Sandable, Stainable & Paintable, Easy Water Cleanup, Glossy Finish, 16 oz

The Aqua Coat Water Based Wood Grain Filler Gel has been a game-changer for my woodworking projects. This fast-drying, low-odor clear wood filler is not only effective but also environmentally safe, which is a huge plus for me. I've used other wood fillers in the past, but this one stands out for its non-toxic properties. It's a pint-sized powerhouse that I can always rely on to fill in those pesky gaps and imperfections in my woodwork.Craftsmanship has become a pleasure with this wood filler gel. It seamlessly blends with the wood grain, leaving a flawless finish. The fact that it dries quickly allows me to proceed with sanding and finishing sooner, saving me valuable time on my projects. The low odor is a breath of fresh air compared to other products I've used, making my workspace much more comfortable.In a world where environmental consciousness is vital, I appreciate that Aqua Coat has created a product that not only works exceptionally well but also prioritizes safety for both users and the environment. This wood filler gel has become a staple in my woodworking toolkit, and I can't recommend it enough to fellow wood enthusiasts. It's a must-try for anyone looking to enhance their woodworking experience with a top-notch wood filler.

It works great. I used it on my dinning table to make it smooth. I used thin coats at a time.

Grain filling is tedious. Multiple coats and sanding take a lot of time (especially if it is 31 old golden oak cabinets). Very easy to apply and dries relatively quickly. Paints over well. Although other products can be used (DryDex or similar) painting over those products can leave undesirable results. I think Aqua Coat is the best product for this task, but it certainly would be better if it didn't shrink requiring more (usually 3) coats to get a satisfactory result. That said... I recommend.

I wish I would have found this product a long time ago for my wood projects. Easy to apply. Easy to sand. And a decent price as well. This will be my go to wood/pore filler.

So this stuff works great on some wood, but for others it does not work so great. The one thing I love about this stuff is that it is a clear gel that can be tinted and is easy to spread and work into the grain. I used a transtint mission brown in the grain filler over the general finish dark cherry stain and my goodness does it make the grain pop. It was absolutely beautiful. So thats what I like about this stuff. What I do not like about it and the reason I gave it 5 stars is because it just does not work very well on heavily coarse grained woods such as red oak and ash. Works great for fine grain woods such as maple and sycamore though. Now if the manufacturer stated that this product was not good option for heavy grained woods. Then this would be a 5 star product, but you are led to believe it will be great for any type of wood and that is just not the case. This stuff will will with heavily grained woods, but it is a time consuming process, because you will have to apply 5 or 6 coats of the stuff. Maybe more with an hour of drying and sanding in between each coat.So your project is a fine to medium grain wood then I say go for it. This stuff will work great for those. If you are working with heavily grained wood though. Then look for something else as there are better grain fillers out there for this type of wood.

The best thing about this filler for me was its soft gel texture. It's not so loose that it flows but not so viscous that it's hard to spread. I applied it easily with a shop towel, working it into the grain with a circular motion. It dried quickly - I typically gave it 45 minutes but could have probably sanded sooner. One mistake I made was that I applied/sanded 3 coats of filler before any seal coat on my finished piece and that prevented some of the end grain in particular from absorbing my finish and taking on the darker color we see when we apply our first coat of finish. That left my piece a bit splotchy until I gave it a vigorous sanding and then re-applied my wax oil finish. My plan for future will be to apply a coat of shellac or finishing oil, then proceed with the Aqua Coat filler until smooth before putting on my final finish coats. I've always found the texture of filler to be a pain - too runny or too stiff - and this product really hits the sweet spot for me.

This product produces a completely clear fill on open pored woods like oak, walnut, ash, hickory, etc. However, it does require a small amount of skill and the right technique to use it (as do all grain fillers), so I'm not surprised to see that some are reviewing this product poorly as a result of not being able to simply open the jar and have it create flat surfaces all on its own. Here's how I use this product:1. Prep the surface by sanding (to 220) or planing2. Apply Aqua Coat using a plastic card and trying to press it deep into the pores of the wood.3. lightly scrape the plastic card over the top to scrape off the excess. Be careful when you do this, you want to try to do it in 1 swipe and you don't want to press too hard because you can pull the grain filler back out of the pores.4. Wait 45 minutes, use a paper towel to wipe up any globs you might have missed, and then lightly sand the piece with 220 grit5. Repeat this process until the pores are completely filled. There is no 'set' number of times to recommend for this, you need to judge how many coats are necessary on an individual basis. Keep going until you can scrape your nail across the board and not have it catch on any pores.6. Apply your topcoat of choice, if you're worried about oil based varnish adhering properly then just hit it with a coat or two of dewaxed shellac firstI like this product because it retains the depth of the pores since it drys clear. This gives projects a 3D appearance instead of coming out flat which can happen when you use wet sanding + oil methods to grain fill.