DIY – How to Use Wood Filler

Wood filler can be used for patching holes and making dent and scratch repairs. It’s used for interior and exterior filling for defects in wood, moldings, metal wallboards and other painted surfaces. Wood filler, also known as wood putty or wood patch, comes in two main types: water-based and solvent-based.

1. Water-based Wood Filler

• Easier to clean up.
• Contains to acetone or turpentine chemicals
• Doesn’t dry out while inside the can, so always good to use later
• Adhesiveness quality is very good
• Much safer for the environment as water used in place of toxic chemicals

2. Solvent-based Wood Filler

Very dependable product that’s been used for years by do-it-yourself workers

Choosing a Wood Filler

When choosing the right wood filler for your project, remember that adhesion is your main concern. This is what separates one wood filler from another. Here are some characteristics of a good wood filler:

• Won’t shrink when it drys
• Sands easily and quickly with a shiny finish
• Evens out the grains on hardwood surfaces, and soaks up the finish evenly
• When used before staining, make surfaces smooth and reduces grain lines

How to Choose Wood Filler Colors

The color you choose to use will determine the type of finishing effect you will end up with. Here are two tips:

1. Grain Emphasis – To put emphasis on the grain, you should pick a color that is in contrast with the wood’s color or the stain’s color.
2. Grain De-emphasis – To bring visual attention away from the wood grain, pick a color that matches, as closely as possible, to the finish color you want to achieve.

Tips for Best Wood Filling Results

• Test Your Process First

It would be wise to test your process on a piece of unwanted wood first. Seal it, fill it, sand it and add a top coat of pain to it. Once you perfect it, achieving the desired results, that’s when it’s safe to work on your actual DIY project wood.

• Have Color Choices Available

Different colors can be mixed together to come up with just the shade you’re looking for. Try to have multiple choices available when you start your DIY wood filling project. That way, you can mix and match colors, with your wood next to you to compare them to. Note: Solvent-based fillers usually have more color choices for hard to match wood.

Hardwood Floor Tip

For hardwood floors, try using a trowel-grade grain wood filler. It’s a little thinner, which makes it easier to apply to floors and other larger surfaces.