I'm anticipating the finishing of a new kitchen floor. I've decided to use Bonakemi water-based Deep Tone Sealer and Naturale finish coat, so that I can enhance the wood grain but otherwise keep a natural and durable finish with a flat matte look. The concern is the filling. It seems to me that in the kitchen I'll want to towel over all cracks between boards and otherwise, large or small, just to make an easy to clean solid surface, just as Don Bollinger shows on page 119 of his book. The problem is he's wearing a cartridge filter mask and (obviously) using an oil-based filler. What water-based product can I mix with my fine sawdust to fill the cracks? Also, how does this process work relative to the needs of the deep tone sealer? Afterall, I don't to "pre-seal" nor leave residual haze of sawdust covering the grain like a stain.

Bona Kemi makes a water-based trowelable filler (Pacific filler), thin it down to a workable consistency, and trowel fill the floor in between your medium and fine sanding. Or you could use Timbermate which is able to be used as a grain-filler as wel. When you are Grain-Filling water down the Timbermate to a very thin consistency and trowel fill the floor after your fine sanding and between your screening. When i do it, I grain fill then screen with 100 to 120 grit screen. If you are having trouble removing the fill, then you may have applied too much, as manfacturers are fond of saying "test in an inconspicous area!"
Hope this helps.
Curtis E. Whipple

Thanks for the reply Curtis. Do these filler brands you mention allow me to control the color myself with sawdust from the wood I'm using, or do I have to take an off the self color?

alant,

What you are referring to is a lacquer based thick liquid commonly called "wood flour cement" or "wood dough". Glitsa America sells it but it is a lacquer product so care needs to be exercised when using it. Here's the link:

http://www.glitsa.com/productsDetail.cfm?prod=11

Vermeister also makes a product one can mix with the edger dust called " Aqua Filler" but from my understanding, one cannot use a stain over it.

http://www.vermeisterusa.com/products_f ... filler.asp

Thanks Gary for you input. Naturally, I'll want a water-based low VOC formula that's consistent with the latest technology "GREEN" floor finishes.

My latest favorite ... TIMBERMATE. Great stuff. Many here will comment that sanding it off between courses really dulls thier paper... they're right. But you cant beat how well it matches most species and it can have stains added if you prefer.

I have at times used it between finish coats then when it dries I have used dampened rags (with water) to wipe off the excess material ... you know ... like grout. Then buff and final coat.

have you guys tried mixing sanding dust with drywall compound and using that as a filler? I have a mock up i'm testing it on

i used wood wise i also tried mixing saw dust with drywall compound it was horrible to work with. I recommend wood wise it disappeared when the stain hit.

Woodwise "wood patch" for large gaps, nail holes, "full trowel filler" for filling grain and micro gaps.
Works every time, best product I have used.
Takes the stain just like the wood, and has a tenacious hold so doesnt come loose like less expensive fillers.