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From a search on here I've seen lots of you good folk using normal plaster filler (spackle) as daub for building walls and mixing PVA (and optionally sand for grittiness) in to help it stick when used on MDF constructs.
Tucked in the back of my cupboard (in one of those dark places where lesser mortals fear to go alone in) is a pot of old wood filler that's a bit gritty and I wondered if anyone has used this to represent daub on buildings? Normally I would class this as too expensive but its not going to be used up any other way and I'm too mean to just bin it :D
So is it worth a go?
TIA
Andrew
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In a phrase, try it and see if it works.
I think you are on to something here that I imagine will turn out some dandy wattle and daub or an adobe look depending on your application.
Truly amazing what great things come from small things, like wood putty (dough).
Best wishes!
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Thanks for the comment / encouragement :)
I was surprised not to find any mention in my search but I am sure the costs are significantly different between wood filler and plaster filler...
Nothing ventured, nothing gained - at least I can let all know the result.
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Main problem so far is getting it to stick to the plain sides. Despite sanding the gloss off the MDF, the filler just slides around and takes a fair bit of working to put in place…
On the back it does say 'roughen the area with a knife' so the fine sandpaper scratches may not be enough. I'll try the deeper scratches tonight.
On the plus side is the resulting texture - nice a gritty / bumpy when just dabbed onto the wall so I'll see how it dries today and pop up a before / after picture.
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Before and after look virtually the same so only one picture - no real colour or smoothing change but it seems to have bonded well as I could not pick / pry any bits off and its only had 12 hours to dry. Sands well - I now have a smooth bottom :o
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8M5Sj7FqpEw/UrIejw4iwQI/AAAAAAAADpA/Uvh-FLw8Av0/s800/P1000883.JPG)
It is a real pain to get on though - even the scratches do not help much and the slightest dry bit on the pallet knife makes it pull up from the board (here on sanded MDF):
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_vm3vuRr60U/UrIej6RHw7I/AAAAAAAADoc/8WGdV-je3g8/s800/P1000884.JPG)
Best way I have found is to have a slightly wet knife and spread it on and then let dry a short while and then smooth down. This has given me a rough back wall and smoother front walls - but what the heck - never take guests around back :D
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Maybe if you cover the area in a crepe bandage or gauze it will stick better. It's currently not geo anything to bind onto - your walls are still too smooth.
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Bravo most excellent!
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Perhaps try priming the wood with pva scattered with a little fine sand. That might provide a key for it.
Al
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After a bit of pain, the filler sat fine and I am really happy over the result :)
First up the front - this was smoothed with a drop of water on a pallet knife before the filler had dried more than a couple of minutes:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZmxXkoH0e94/UrhR7Wi97pI/AAAAAAAADpc/NRmvSPcsifE/s800/P1000886.JPG)
and the rougher back (obviously the occupants care about the visitor impressions as this is not as 'finished'):
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RHBvp6Q5w5c/UrhR7nhj_tI/AAAAAAAADpk/motS4to_pCc/s800/P1000887.JPG)
Painting was very simple…
- Undercoated using Halfords grey primer (my go-to tin for all things now)
- Rough dry brush with W&N yellow Ochre
- Wash with very thin W&N Mars Black
- Dry brush with W&N Buff Titanium
- Dry brush with Vallejo Dead White
- Wood (both my stays and the door) done in GW Graveyard Earth and dry brushed with Buff Titanium
The roof on other hand was a bit of fun:
- 1 used tea towel glued down with PVA (found out too late the towel shrunk)
- Towel then washed with PVA twice to go solid
- Light wash of Mars Black - quite strong in colour
- Painted with Vallejo Olive Green and Mars Black mix
- Flocked with a mix of Woodland Scenic fine turf (at least three packs but one may have been a 'home mix')
This gives me:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DgUooIbOv4E/UrhR8bH1mXI/AAAAAAAADp0/_QtxRmXtbP4/s800/P1000897.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u4u1JGXV388/UrhR77ubgWI/AAAAAAAADp4/An7fUPrXt9s/s800/P1000896.JPG)
Not bad for a £3.50 Warbases building and much more faff than PVA and grit but I do like the result of the filler and pallet knife.
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That works well. Just reminds me I hate plastering! lol
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That's the ticket!
It works and it is very convincing.
Topper!
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Well I managed to get two building done and just put an order into War Bases for a few more.
Think the bases are an overkill and I may trim them down long term but here are the current two completed buildings:
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--LxG_-anAA8/UvFEmOrmx_I/AAAAAAAADr0/mlo33FYCoNk/s800/P1000930.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U2mVlqRmvF4/UvFEmN5AaeI/AAAAAAAADr4/q3hD2IKqRYk/s800/P1000932.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Pa7eXQ11sl4/UvFEl0ab4mI/AAAAAAAADsA/Ijj1Xy8bllc/s800/P1000934.JPG)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F26PxQY6JLM/UvFEmjqJ2_I/AAAAAAAADsE/GfpI-y9LqPE/s800/P1000935.JPG)
Though still a pain to use on smooth wood (or even rough wood) I do like the result for rough daub and will use it again.
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Very nice end result. I think that's the beauty of Warbases' products, they are very cosy effective bases for your own ideas.