Is wood filler ever appropriate in building?

[Chuck Naill]

I am just curious if using wood filler to cover or smooth out imperfections is acceptable where the neck and body come together or other applications.

chuck

[sunburst]

Wood filler is never used on mandolins, all joints are always perfect...

Actually, well, there's wood filler and there's wood filler. I think it's safe to say that most quality builders don't have a can of Plastic Wood on the work bench, but slight binding gaps, small voids in wood grain and things like that have to be filled from time to time. Also, filler can sometimes be found in places like the inside curve of a scroll on a F style mandolin.

I would not consider filling gaps resulting from a poorly fit neck to be quality work.

[D.E.Williams]

What John said. That pretty much covers it.

I once bought an oak coffee table from a furniture store, and when I got it home and out of the box, it had a nickel-sized section of wood filler. I took it back immediately, but they gave me grief saying that it was normal in the furniture industry. I pretty much laughed in his face, and left with one without any filler. I'm sure they sent it back to the factory and got their money back too.

In a neck/body joint....? Well, my guess is the vibrations would loosen it up eventually and then it would fall out leaving the world to see the fine level of craftsmanship underneath. Ahem.