Just had a drawer front blowout using that new 'fast cure' epoxy filler

I was filling a knot hole on a maple drawer front with a two part epoxy filler that said it was ready to sand in 20 minutes. After 15 minutes, it felt hard, so I started sanding with 120 grit on my orbital. The heat from the sander must have done something because the whole patch bubbled up and cracked the face veneer, ruining the piece. I think the inside was still curing and the heat made it expand. Now I'm out a $45 piece of maple and a morning of work. Has anyone else had this happen with quick setting fillers on thin stock? What's a safer way to do it?

2 comments

2 Comments

sam_rivera1mo ago

That's brutal, man. Maybe next time let it sit for way longer than it says, like overnight even. Heat from sanding is no joke on something that's still cooking inside.

olivia4781mo ago

Actually depends on the material. Some stuff cures fast and overnight would be overkill. The real fix is checking the full cure time on the product sheet, not just the tack-free time.