# Wood Flour Substitute

**URL:** <https://forum.clcboats.com/t/wood-flour-substitute/45838>\
**Category:** Builder's Forum\
**Created:** [November 24, 2017, 3:13pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/wood-flour-substitute/45838 "2017-11-24T15:13:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Frank\_Wiewandt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Frank\_Wiewandt](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Frank_Wiewandt)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 3:13pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/wood-flour-substitute/45838/1 "2017-11-24T15:13:13Z")

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Finishing up final construction of my Eastport and noticed I have very little wood flour left. I'm almost done with any fillet work, but not quite. Also, will have some holes left to fill before epoxy coats.

Can I substitute the dust from sanding that I collect from my orbital sander? Often I leave the little bag attached instead of hooking it up to the vacuum hose when I'm sanding in a tight spot, then suck it out when it fills. I could save quite a bit of this if I tried.

Would fine wood dust make a reasonable substitute for wood flour?

Frank

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**Author:** ![Gerald\_Cole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@Gerald\_Cole](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Gerald_Cole)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/wood-flour-substitute/45838/2 "2017-11-24T19:24:36Z")

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That's what I used for the fillets. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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**Author:** ![Frank\_Wiewandt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Frank\_Wiewandt](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Frank_Wiewandt)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 9:27am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/wood-flour-substitute/45838/3 "2017-11-25T09:27:34Z")

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Thanks JCole,

Wasn't sure if there is anything in the "flour" that's useful. I think I'll start saving what wood dust doesn't get sucked up in the dust deputy. Suprised I haven't seen that as a "tip" somewhere.

Frank

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**Author:** ![Laszlo\_Morocz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Laszlo\_Morocz](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Laszlo_Morocz)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 9:41am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/wood-flour-substitute/45838/4 "2017-11-25T09:41:43Z")

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Frank,

You may want to run it through a set of strainers and flour sifters to get the really fine flour-like powder and to remove any splinters that could snag the glass, your gloves, etc.

The idea keeps perenially re-appearing as a tip on pretty much every boatbuilding forum (this one included), either as an inquiry like yours, a hey-look-what-I've-found tip or in some cases as a sticking-it-to-the-man taunt showing that the guy's found a way to get around "them" and "their" conspiracy of high prices which are just meant to screw the poor ordinary struggling boatbuilder.

Congratulations on your independent re-invention and thanks for not using the word "sheeple" :-)

Have fun,

Laszlo

&nbsp;

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**Author:** ![Frank\_Wiewandt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Frank\_Wiewandt](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Frank_Wiewandt)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 11:31am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/wood-flour-substitute/45838/5 "2017-11-25T11:31:37Z")

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Laszlo,

I also try not to use the word "newbie." (Even though I sometimes resemble one. :-)

OK, I'm repurposing Grandma's sifter:

![](http://i67.tinypic.com/s5l1xl.jpg)

What other sorts of "strainers" are you talking about? I might be able to find a chunk of mosquito netting fabric lying around, but any screening seems like it would have too big of holes.

Frank