Well, plastic wood is out. It’s no more survivable with 400 grit than it is with 320. Since this is much finer than what other people are using, I’m calling it with that product.
Sorry, Plastic Wood. As far as I’m concerned, you’re defective. Into the trash you go!
I ordered Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Filler (Natural Indoor, 3.25 ounces) through Amazon and it showed up today. I popped off the cap, cut off a large portion of the applicator tip, and squeezed to test consistency.
Damp sawdust. Sticks to nothing, dries instantly. Useless in this state.
I took it to the sink and filled up the remainer of the bottle with water, then shook it until it felt mixed. I tried again and this time it came spurting out like milk. Not quite as useless, but still difficult.
View attachment 561595
Even so, I figured that fiddling around with it further wouldn’t get me anywhere, so I set to work. Only one turn along the spiral, just like last time.
Between trying with my hobby knife and a Q-Tip, I’m not convinced that I got a sufficiently thick layer at any slot in the tube.
View attachment 561598
The bottle is crimped shut like a toothpaste tube and it can only stand up on the cap, and I didn’t realize how inconvenient that is compared to the can of Plastic Wood and the classic Elmer’s White Glue Bottle. I can’t just set it down once I’m done dipping, I have to close it immediately.
What I’m going to do is leave the bottle open for an hour (leaning against the rocket’s box) and leave my handiwork overnight. I’ll try one more application and sanding with this stuff, but I don’t think I can afford to play around with it beyond that. The white layer of paper is starting to pull up at one end of the tube. If the next attempt doesn’t work, I’m giving up and proceeding with the build, and filling the spirals with the primer.