Epoxy filler powder- DIY tricks (red colour)

So, After installing my new (old) record vise this afternoon, I decided to epoxy fill over the countersunk coach head bolts I had used, and cover up a few other holes from the bench grinder that used to occupy the position.

It is a bit of a rough and ready sacraficial bench, so I really am not too concerned about it.

As I always seem to do, I had left my real epoxy filler powder (microballons) out on my boat, so it was off to the kitchen to see what I could rustle up.

POWDERED TURMERIC:D

I just so happen to have a massive jar of it in the cupboard,
I didn't care if it went yellow, thought it might look garrishly interesting, I just wanted something really finely ground...
I thought it might go a bit darker being wetted by the epoxy, but it didn't go yellow at all, it suprised me as it immediatly went a really deep very nice red woody colour- not too far from a match to the stain used on the bench. The powdered Turmeric is so fine that it really does work nicely (not quite as good as microballoons but 10x better than fine sawdust) and the colour is just brilliant, it appears to actually die the epoxy rather than just suspend the particles.

Anyway, It hasn't even cured yet, let alone been sanded back, so I can't yet tell how the final look will be.
But, I thought I would ask,
what other tricks for filler powders have been tried, worked or failed?
I have heard of a few, talc, flour, etc, but what else?

Hans.

Ground paprika (a natural red colour)? Never tried it.


Mike

yeah I thought about paprika (basically ground up capsicum or chilli), but thought the texture of Turmeric (as it is a ground up woody root like ginger) would be a bit better.
this is what I mean by Turmeric
yellow powder
http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...9/23044996.jpg
this is the fresh root
http://www.kurma.net/glossary/images/turmeric.jpg

what I mean by the surprise was that this pure pure light yellow powder that stains everything it touches yellow (when you cut the fresh root it stains your steel yellow) instantly turned a deep rich red once it touched the epoxy.
It reminded me of a kid when I used to look at the food dye bottles and get confused by the bottle of yellow- it looked red- and was untill you diluted it down and then it went yellow- well this was the reverse.