Touching Up Stain-Grade Crown-Molding Joints
Get seamless results with this trick for filling gaps.
Done right, stain-grade crown moldings showcase the talents of the trim carpenter who installed them. Even the best carpenters need to fill a little gap now and then, however. For this task, I use an acetone-based wood filler keyed to the color of the wood.
The problem is that these fillers dry quickly, making it a challenge to putty even a nail hole. To solve this problem, I use a glue syringe. If your local hardware store doesn’t have them, a quick search online will turn up plenty of sources. The important dimension is the nozzle. It should be 1/16 in. to 1/8 in. dia.
In a well-ventilated area, I thin the putty with acetone to a density that is a little thinner than peanut butter, then load it into the syringe body. Now I can regulate its delivery to its intended target with a precision unobtainable with a putty knife or a finger. When the syringe is not in use, the putty near the tip will harden, making an easily discarded plug that will keep the rest of the putty workable
— Frank Jones; Wilton Manors, FL. Edited by Charles Miller.
From Fine Homebuilding #234
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- How to Install Built-Up Crown Molding
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