For added durability and to help hide the filler, apply a new coat of compatible finish over the filled woodwork. Learn more. Wood filler is made up of a hardening resin solution that contains a suspension of wood byproducts. Meanwhile, a stainable wood filler is not suitable for fixing exterior damage because filler is prone to shrinking and expanding with changing temperatures. His other interests include astronomy, hiking, and fishing. Because of this, you will usually need a putty knife to apply it. Thanks all. If you need to add a chemical hardener to your chosen wood putty, you have to take those chemicals into mind as well. Some people skip the priming step, but I think it is important because it helps smooth out the Wood Filler even more and it also helps prevent your paint from being splotchy in the areas you just filled. In most cases, even a large glob of wood filler will start drying in as little as ten minutes. 2022 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. It is much more of a putty-like compound, which can make it very easy to use. Despite some wood putties being advertised as fast-drying, all of these products take a long time to harden. However, they are somewhat different and each needs to be utilized in specific circumstances. 9 Best Home Improvement Projects Under $500, Do Not Sell My Personal Information CA Residents. Since it hardens and does not remain flexible, wood filler is an option for repairing damaged interior walls but not a good choice for exterior repairs. Find out the most common ways it can happen and how to fix it. Once the surface is dust-free, it's ready for primer, paint, stain, or sealer. The Minwax 42853000 Stainable Wood Filler is perfect for cracks and small gorges. #TuesdayTipsWithFallon, Keeping Your Hardware Organized! Typically, the best wood filler for stains contains a high amount of natural wood particles. Sounds interesting.. but what are you using for filler? Wood putty isnt made for large cracks and that sort of thing. Just rub the pencil over the nail hole and rub off the excess with your finger or a cloth. Press matching colored putty into nail holes on your project or trim with the tip of your finger after staining and varnishing. #TuesdayTipsWithFallon. When you're filling nail holes in unfinished wood, use a color-matched wood putty. Start your 14-day FREE trial - and get building. I like the part about adding whiting to make it a little dryer. Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. Due to the chemicals in wood putty, it isnt recommended to use putty on exposed raw wood. Top coat. #TuesdayTipsWithFallon, How to Glue and Fix Hard-To-Reach-Areas on Furniture. Installing door or window trim, baseboards, or crown molding almost always results in nail holes (and sometimes screw holes) that need filling. However, they require a bit more sanding. In-depth articles, up-close photography, and detailed illustrations. The formula allows it to take a soft and pliable form thats relatively easy to apply. Get complete site access to video workshops, digital plans library, online archive, and more, plus the print magazine. Whether repairing fine wooden furniture or filling nail holes in the wall, its likely that either wood putty or wood filler can help fix minor damages and improve the appearance of the project. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. AN ELITE CAFEMEDIA LIFESTYLE PUBLISHER. Also, in many cases, the filled holes will be covered with primer and paint, bothof which provide some stability for water-based filler. Wood filler will not stain the same as wood, even if you mix it with sawdust. I've tried several, don't care for the Minwax myself. Wood putty doesnt cost very much, and it lasts forever. You can also add dyes and tints if the filler does not look like your wood. Theres no need to remove any wood. If the trim is pre-finished or you will finish it with stain and/or clear sealer, carefully select a color-matched filler that blends with the natural coloring of the wood. To get an exact match, you may have to blend two colors. Press the filler into the hole, and give it a quick swipe. All of the first floor trim - base, shoe, door casings, got replaced since the flooring guys not only beat them to smithereens with the machines but got red stain and poly a good inch up on all natural maple trim. depends on where you get them. For example, if you installed the trim with screws, or if you dimpled the wood with a hammer when driving a nail, a putty knife is better than your finger for filling a larger area and for creating a flat finished surface. First time working with Cherry and nails (I built high end cabinetry and furniture, so nails and their holes are unfamiliar territory). These may be knicks and cracks from wear-and-tear or the holes made by nails. Jillian is a freelance journalist with 10 years of editorial experience in the lifestyle genre. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. However, you do apply them before your stain, so this is less of an issue. Wood putty isnt as popular as wood filler because it can take a long time to dry, but this perceived shortcoming actually makes wood putty an excellent option for outdoor work. Despite the factthat I hate it when other people "Monday morning quarterback" I'll offer the following tip, which I learned the hard way: Before nailing, apply pieces of masking tape to your trim and shoot your nails through the masking tape. This eliminates the nearly impossible job of staining wood filler to match the surrounding wood. Blow everything off with compressed air so you don't wipe grit right back onto the trim. Try it out on the way on a scrap of trim. When you use wood filler, youre probably using it on a large surface. You should use it after you stain the piece, however. For a clean appearance, you can quickly fill in these holes before painting, staining, or otherwise finishing the trim. Use it to occasionally wipe drying filler off of your finger to ensure consistent application. Just tryin to hook you up for success. While the chemical formula of wood putty can damage exposed wood, wood filler is made to bind directly to the natural wood and doesnt need stain before application. #TuesdayTipsWithFallon, How To Fix Flaws In Wood Furniture With Bondo. However, this substance isnt the best for every situation. In this case, its also important to take the time to find or mix the filler with a good color match, since the stain or sealer wont hide it. Many people will point out that wood putty often costs more than wood filler. You do not have to worry about this product coming off or decaying any time soon. Check them out on Amazon here. Step 3: Take the Wood Filler and Plastic Putty Knife and fill in the hole and any indentions that the previous hardware may have left in your drawer/door. You're going to put multiple layers of finish on, yes? Is it OK to copy projects from the magazine? Make scratches and blemishes disappear with a stain marker. That would make sense, then, since one can't sand flush with prefinished. It is highly recommended to mix the filler with sawdust from the wood youre using, as this will make it look more natural. Repeat, if necessary, to fill the hole completely. It will crack and break because it cannot expand and contract like wood. However, other brands harden by themselves. #TuesdayTipsWithFallon, How to use the Zibra 2" Palm Pro to paint furniture. If you used wood filler, you would have to refinish the wood. Below, youll find some common uses for both of these materials. Done this many a time with great success. Stain markers like the one shown are available at home centers and paint stores, but plain old felt-tip markers work great too. They both work in Latex, vinyl, acrylic, Alkyd, natural oil, and "other synthetic resins". Paintable wood filler is also commonly available. #TuesdayTipsWithFallon, How to Clean Your Paint Brush. Knowing the differences in the chemical composition and the various color options is key to deciding where, when, and how to use wood filler or wood putty. To help you out, weve written this complete guide on wood putty vs. wood filler. Choose the wood color that best matches the piece you are repairing. I've tested them out in oil paint and lacquers, big Nogo. Most wood fillers come in a neutral color. Get Ron's videos and articles delivered to your inbox every weekend. It is not suitable for outdoor furniture because it will not expand and contract with the wooden furniture. Exception: Dont use water-based varnish over colored putty. I like to clean it off with a baby wipe or a damp paper towel as I go. We have created these special content collections organized to give you a deep dive into a range of topics that matter. However, the more putty used for a repair, the longer it will take to fully set. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. PaulWhether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right. In most cases, youre going to use wood putty for all small imperfections. If youre staining or clear-sealing the wood, filler is an obvious must. I did not prefinish any of the millwork. Our Recommendation: Goodfilla Wood & Grain Filler Get at Amazon for $21.99 Patch holes inside the home with this quick-drying, paintable, stainable, and sandable wood and grain filler. Wood putty is not stainable, but it does come in a range of wood colors. Wood filler is applied before your finish or stain. Instead of using a suspension of wood byproducts in a binder, wood putty is made with plastic-based and oil-based compounds including boiled linseed oil, calcium carbonate, and universal colorants. After repairing gouges and cracks in exterior woodwork, wood putty can be painted to match the surrounding wood. In the end, youre going to be spending the same amount of money on either option. #TuesdayTipsWithFallon, How to Get the "Chippy" Look When Painting a Piece of Furniture. You should sand them before you add a finish. AH! Outdoor wood putty is made to match popular stain colors for decks and fences. See if you can get Cal-tints. How to Install Baseboard Molding, Even on Crooked Walls, Trim Paint Tips for Smooth and Flawless Results, Perfect Trim on Doors, Windows and Base Moldings, How to Prepare Wood Trim for a Smooth Paint Job, How to Install Craftsman Window Trim and Craftsman Door Casing, Fool-Proof Wall Framing Tips for New Construction, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer). Putty should only be used on finished or stained surfaces because the chemicals that are part of its composition can be harmful to exposed wood. Start with a slightly lighter color and apply more stain to deepen the shade. Then smooth it off and polish the area with a dry rag. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. Either way, youre going to want to choose either wood putty or wood filler to cover up these defects. The most common oil used is boiled linseed oil, but others can be found on the market too. Dont expect this simple tip to hide deep scratches, gouges or damaged finishes from a sharp-eyed critic. #TuesdayTipsWithFallon, How To Strip Paint Off Wooden Furniture #TuesdayTipsWithFallon, How to Line Drawers with Paper. Scoop up a small amount of filler with the edge of the knife, press the filler into the hole, and smooth off the top to remove excess. UTC's are compatible with oil and water based finishes. There's a right way to do this. Sometimes, you have to mix the putty with hardening chemicals to get it all the way dry. Even a minute or two is enough for the filler to begin to develop a dry skin on top. House Grail is reader-supported. #TuesdayTipsWithFallon, How To Prep/Paint Laminate Furniture! Though they are both used for similar purposes, wood filler and wood putty are very different. Furthermore, this material is usually used for large cracks, so youll probably use more. #TuesdayTipsWithFallon, My Favorite Primer To Use When I Paint Furniture! Choose which one will work best for your project not which one has the lower price tag. For this reason, it is great for workpieces that have already been finished that need a touch-up. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Thank you so much for stopping by for #TuesdayTipsWithFallon! One secret to a finished look is to hide the means of attachmentin this case, the nails that hold the trim in place. #TuesdayTipsWithFallon, How To Re-Use A Paint Tray! Solvent-based fillers are sticky and oily and difficult to clean up if you wait until they dry. His recommendation is what most pros do. Most people are surprised to learn that professional painters use soft colored putty to fill nail holes in stained woodwork. I don't like Minwax very much either, but it's everywhere. And the only way to do that is to fill the nail holes. Wood filler costs about the same as wood putty. Some guys. Colored putty is available at paint stores, hardware stores and home centers for about $2 per container. Er, right, but . Inside a home, wood putty can repair cracks, chips, and small holes in finished furniture, flooring, and some interior woodwork. It just depends on what you purchase. How to Clean, Renew and Seal a Wood Deck in One Day, How to Build a Custom Insulated Dog House, How to Build a Wood Arbor for Garden or Yard. Wood putty can take a long time to fully dry and set. Who wants to stand on a ladder sanding crown? Step 2: Take a small piece of painters tape or masking tape, large enough to cover the hole, and place it on the inside of the drawer/door so that you can no longer see the hole. Update Privacy Preferences But for a quick spruce-up, colored markers are just the ticket. The differences between wood putty and wood filler begin with the composition of each product. Next,apply your putty, then remove the tape: you'll avoid contaminating the wood surrounding the nail hole withthe conspicuoussmudges one sometimes sees surrounding an otherwise innocuous nail hole. It's best to overfill the hole slightly, leaving a slight, smooth ridge over the area. I keep the tape on until the very end of the project, too, so that the Wood Filler has time to dry nice and hard. Once the wood filler is applied it will dry and harden within just a few minutes. Even if I am not planning on reusing this hardware, I like to keep them on hand in case something accidentally goes wrong and I need to reuse them. It will cut the filler flush and anything out side of the hole won't stay. Deane is a member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board. Wood filler also dries very quickly. With wood putty, you should just be using a tiny bit on a small imperfection. #TuesdayTipsWithFallon, My Favorite Brush To Use When Applying Polyurethane. Using180- or 220-grit (extra-fine) sandpaper, gently sand the filler with a few light passes. Most of the time you cant find the nail holes in my trim. The sanding dust will darken with the wood and become invisible. So, to fix that problem, I just go ahead and fill the holes 90% of the time. Learn how to do it with tips along the way. Or maybe you are reffering to prefininshed wood? Put a small dab of filler onto your index finger. You know where cherry is going to go over time, and you know that darker filler won't stand out as much as lighter. However, this isnt really the case. The ColorPutty stays pretty pliable (probably due to the oil in it, thus the need for whiting) - but I like the pliable part while I'm mixing it up. It is not the easiest filler to use because of this. This can be used after you have finished the furniture, which makes it perfect for repairing furniture that has already been sitting around for a while. Youre just making the filled area smooth and removing excess filler from the surrounding wood. The standard measurement for hardware handles/pulls is typically 2.5 3.0 from center-to-center. It is also fast drying and sands very quickly. Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Featured Image Credit: Mabeline72, Shutterstock, The brad nailer and the finishing nailer are very similar, and many people get confused about what each one Is for and when is the. Fillers come in a few different colors to match common wood species. I don't know if UTCs would be compatible with it, doubt it, but like that idea. Not trying to be arrogant. The putty can also accumulate dust and debris while drying, which is another problem of its own. I dont want the filler to stand out after the cherry darkens. Happy filling!! You should use wood putty for small imperfections, like nail holes. UNLIMITED membership - Get access to it all. It will help to dry the stuff out and prevent adhesion problems of the final coats. **Sometimes there is some grit and grim around the edges where the hardware sat for years, so if necessary, I take a 150 grit piece of sandpaper and sand down those areas until everything is even and smooth. You can find tons of different brands and many different colors. Filling holes in the drawers of your wooden furniture is something that you should definitely know how to do if you want to change or update the look. I usually end up using UTCs in commercial putties, brecause there's never the right combination to match my custom finishes. However, for large breaks, you may have to use wood filler and then refinish the whole piece. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. Pete has been working in the trades since high school, where he first developed a passion for woodworking. . These repairs can add up and cost you more money in the long run. Become an UNLIMITED member and get it all: searchable online archive of every issue, how-to videos, Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking digital series, print magazine, e-newsletter, and more. Step 1: Take off your current hardware (Pulls, Knobs or whatever is currently on your piece of furniture) and put them in a baggie. Paint Your Window or Door Trim, The Best Wood Fillers a Home Improvement Expert Recommends, How to Install Shoe Molding or Quarter-Round Molding, Refurbish Your Table Top so It Looks Like New, How to Update Wood Veneer Paneling With Paint, How to Refurbish Particleboard Furniture With Paint, How to Fix Chipped, Peeling Paint Before Repainting. Meaning, if you take off the handle/pull and look at the back of it, this is the space in between the center of the screw holes. You can use sawdust to make it look more natural and use it across a large area. Keep reading to learn more about the differences between wood putty and wood filler, as well as when to use each product. This helps prevent the Wood Filler from oozing out the other side. This repair stands out from minor nicks and scratches because you have to actually mold and shape the wood filler to match the surrounding undamaged edges of the furniture before the wood filler hardens. This is SOP for finishing trim for me: Stain, (if you're staining), let it dry 24 hours. After the filler has dried for about 15 minutes, sand off the crumbles and protrusions with your finger. Take very fine sanding dust and mix with just enough urethane to make a putty. That's an activity I prefer to minimize. Most lighter colors darken when they are dry, so you often need to purchase a color that is lighter than you think you need. #TuesdayTipsWithFallon, How to Easily Fix Broken Drawer Stops On Your Wooden Furniture #TuesdayTipsWithFallon, How to PREVENT Milk Paint From Chipping When Painting a Piece of Furniture. That's actually fairly common to run into. You can even use two or three colors on the same piece of wood to match areas of light and dark wood grain exactly. Click for full details. If you want to save this blog post, just pin it to your Pinterest page and/or feel free to share it elsewhere.