Eidsness, who can be found online as XC Painter, also insists on cleaning and vacuuming all holes prior to filling, and, expecting some shrinkage, prefers to overfill the nail holes, using a putty knife to feather the filler into the surface of the trim. The party piece of the ONETIME spackle has to be the fact that it is exceedingly easy to clean up compared to other products in its class. This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. It cannot be sanded, so a practiced application technique is required to fill holes just right. For common nail holes and cosmetic repairs, Greens go-to is Zinssers Ready Patch, a water-soluble spackle that dries hard, doesnt shrink, and sands easily. Some products are ready for paint in under 20 minutes, and others need 48 to 72 hours to set up. The kit is available in three volumes to match the size of your project or the frequency with which you do this work, and includes LiquidWood, a flexible, penetrating epoxy that seals and primes the damaged area; WoodEpox, their epoxy wood filler; and Abosolv, which is used to thin and clean up LiquidWood. Spackles are typically vinyl, water-based products that dry hard and sand easilyand many are indeed intended for drywall repair. Use this to gauge how much filler you will need going forward. For repairs that are more structural in nature, Green prefers West System epoxy. Thankfully, we have taken it upon ourselves to sift through some of the top hole filler substances on the market to provide you with the very best the industry has to offer in each respective category. Johnson recommends staining the wood first, using a color-matched putty, and then applying the top coat. The wood around the repair will just continue to degrade and the repair will fail. Like all of these epoxy products, the material can be sanded and shaped, colored with pigments, and painted. Wood filler for nail holes can also be used for filling holes in masonry and drywall, which makes it the handyman and professional contractors best friend, especially when working with surfaces that have seen a lot of remodeling or harsh weather conditions. Although wood filler is a versatile substance that is both easy to use and affordable, it is not graded for use in outdoor conditions. We may earn a small commission from purchases made through them, at no additional cost to you. Is your workpiece replaceable? Absolutely. And Marsha Caporaso, president of Abatron, another epoxy manufacturer, warned that people can get carried away when making repairs with epoxy. Spackle is now a generic term used to describe a number of different products from a number of manufacturers that, like fillers and putties, are difficult to categorize. 2022 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. As an added benefit, Minwax claims that the product is skin safe which means if you really want to get your hands dirty you could remove your gloves (although we recommend being safe rather than sorry). Start your subscription today and save up to 70%. Best Wood Filler: ELMERS E855 Carpenters Wood Filler, Easy to use, quick and permanent with no sanding required, Non-hardening and bonds to wood to repair scratches, gouges and nail holes, Color-matched to Minwax Wood Finish stains to help disguise repairs, Best Spackle: RED DEVIL ONETIME Lightweight Spackling, Spread and Fill the Holes in Your Workpiece, Apply Your Second Layer and Coat Your Surface. It turns out that the only distinction that holds up the majority of the time is this: Most wood fillers dry hard, while most wood putties are nonhardening. The folks at System Three want you to remember that before you make repairs to rot-damaged wood, its important to stop the rot from continuing. There are two differences between filler and putty that hold true for most of the products on the market. These products not only fill voids, but have a tenacious grip that can add structural integrity back to the woodwork. This filler seems to be a true hybrid product. Not only does it give a workpiece a modern-classic look, but it provides all of the benefits of wood filler with absolutely none of the drawbacks (aside from the price). Their ONETIME lightweight spackling really does illustrate how the red devil team focuses on providing quality products that allow anyone to get their hands dirty with some drywall, masonry, wooden board, and even brickwork with the peace of mind of knowing that product will work and keep working for the lifetime of the workpiece. In addition to filling voids in wood, wood putty also provides color matching properties that can be used to complete wood workpieces that would otherwise be poorly refinished. You can divide a lot of these products into two categoriesfillers and putties. Numerous articles and videos online refer to these products as epoxy-based. But thats not correct. To ensure this, you can simply wipe the surface of the hole (the ae you have just sanded) with a clean cloth. Where is the definitive point of no return? While wood filler and wood putty are great ways to revitalize your workpiece and improve the overall aesthetic of various surfaces, it is not a be-all and end-all solution to everything wood-related. The best part about using wall filler is that it is not only cheap but its really easy to use. As a matter of fact, there are very few concrete facts about staining wood that has been filled, it all comes down to a game of trial and error which we strongly recommend you do with a piece of wood that is not your workpiece. As soon as you open the can, youll notice that they all share a distinct smell. Filler is arguably the best nail hole filler for outdoor use on the market today. Because of my love for wood and woodworking, I started woodhappen.com to teach other enthusiasts about how to finish and seal wood, the best woodworking tools, the different types of wood, and everything else related to wood! One-part putty is ideal for beginners or if you simply need a quick and effective solution to filling a gap. If you find yourself looking for a good alternative to wood filler you should consider some pour-in epoxy resin for those pesky holes. Epoxy can be sanded and shaped to match profiles in millwork, and it can be painted or colored with pigments. If youre a lover of vintage furnishings you will know that there are certain sets of furniture that simply cannot be parted, whether it be because of their inherent value as a set, the aesthetic impact of the combination, or simply because they form more than the sum of their parts. One-part putty doesnt harden, which means its easier for you to correct any mistakes or misapplications, unlike the two-part variant, which you will likely have to drill and/or sand to smooth. There is a reason though, wood staining is an easy and affordable solution not only to making your wood look great, but protecting it from various forms of damage. To understand the value of epoxy, remember that it is the only filler that is also a reliable adhesive. This is a great technique to enhance the wood grain and allows the beauty of the wood, Read More How to Whitewash Wood A Guide on Different White Wash TechniquesContinue, Wooden furniture is an elegant and beautiful addition to any home. Why would you do this? Whether hes used just Elmers or a mix for the first round, the second application of filler is always the lighterweight spackle. Painting Project Guide. A 4-lb. Elmers exterior fillers include their stainable exterior Carpenters Wood Filler and their ProBond line. The manufacturer does not recommend this product for stain-grade work. Although this wood filler does dry quickly (around one minute), we strongly recommend allowing it to cure for the manufacturers recommended time period before sanding or painting over the spot you have filled. Conversely, some fillers are designed for color-matching stain. He recommends isolating the repair with painters tape and using sanding blocks to make sure that youre shaping the repair evenly. These products shrink very little, can be sanded in 30 minutes, and retain some flexibilitya perfect combination to topcoat nail holes. However, it cannot be used outdoors, like most other hole-filling solutions are. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. They are both rated for interior and exterior use, though DAP suggests the solvent-based product for more significant exterior repairs. What damage does wood stain allow your workpiece to resist? For stain-grade work, Eidsness uses colored wood putties. Can you use spackle on wood? I was born in 1984 and have been into woodworking since 2005 and woodturning since 2011. The kit starts around $85. It may be harder than the surrounding material, and if youre not careful you can do more damage. Bruce Johnson is a woodworker and consultant for Minwax. They both also have very short dry times: about 30 minutes for the water-based product and 15 minutes for the solvent-based product. A 4-oz. No discussion on nail hold filler compounds would be complete without mentioning putty in some way shape or form. Different filler types are designed to work on specific materials and substrates. A 16-oz. So dont just consider the desired working time when choosing a hardener, but also the weather youll be working in. All of this is to say that choosing a hole filler or a putty is less about finding the best product, and more about understanding the subtle differences in each product and how to use them properly. This putty can be sanded and painted like the wood filler we mentioned previously, but also like the wood filler it cannot be used for outdoor or particularly robust applications. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. These fillers are acceptable for repairs of all sizes inside and outside. Knowing what types of hole filler products are on the market is kind of half the battle and can seriously help when it comes to choosing which type of product will work best for your application. In recent years the interest in wood staining seems to have increased dramatically for seemingly no reason at all. Expect to pay about $7 for a 16-oz. On the other hand, like the other products we have covered so far, you will be able to sand, drill and tap into any orifice filled with ONETIME spackle with very little effort needed. Remember that the best nail hole filler will be the one that gets the job done, keeps working, and bonds with the medium of your workpiece well. Connecticut remodeler Chris Green takes a tiered approach to filling holes and making repairs, and has a few go-to products. Remember that although spackle is pretty much the same thing regardless of brand, wood filler and putty are graded for particular purposes like painting and staining. On the most demanding projects, Eidsness will shine raking light on the primed trim to inspect the filled holes and may sand more and apply a final round of filler to fix subtle imperfections. Feeling a bit scared about your first time plugging up some holes? Once the damaged wood is treated, their low-viscosity RotFix is used to seal and harden the wood. We have replaced expensive metal products with longer-lasting renewable plastic ones, we have discovered renewable sources of energy and we have even found ways to improve existing materials and use, Read More Types of Plywood Exploring a Range of Plywood Types and GradesContinue. This is another two-part product. Why? He blends premixed colors until hes created a few shades that match the color variations in the wood hes working with, using different shades depending on the particular spot in the wood. I recently spoke to a number of painters, carpenters, and manufacturers to learn as much as I could about the products available for filling holes and making repairs in wood. He is quick to remind me that unless you first fix the problem that is causing the rot, you are wasting your time. White-washed wood offers a clean yet rustic and textured look to the wood. For deep repairs, Zinsser recommends multiple applications. But that doesnt mean that putties cant be used for painted work, she explains. These one-part nitrocellulose fillers are designed to hide minor surface imperfections in automotive bodywork. tub of the water-based filler, and about $8 for a 16-oz. Unfortunately, wood is subject to degradation over time and as a result, needs to be replaced and/or refurbished from time to time. Both products are acrylic, so they retain some flexibility and expand and contract with wood movement. A hole might be a hole but the surfaces theyre present on can vary considerably in the way they can be filled up. The ability to adapt the viscosity from a maple-syrup consistency to mashed potatoes and everything in between is a huge advantage. The one downside, he tells me, is that it is slow-drying. Some are interior only, while others are okay for exterior use. If you encapsulate wood with epoxy, you could be trapping moisture inside and causing more trouble., When it comes time to fill the holes, professional painter Jason Eidsness relies primarily on two products that he says are readily available and have never let him down: Elmers Carpenters Wood Filler and Crawfords Vinyl Spackling Paste. Spackle for nail holes also grants you the distinct advantage of not having to prime the void youll be using it on, but if youre priming an exterior surface you may want to take the extra step to ensure adequate adhesion to the surface. There are water-based, oil-based, and solvent-based products in each category. Brunick wasnt the only professional I spoke to who likes Bondo for wood repairs. This product is similar to both automotive Bondo and the Minwax filler. This substance binds with the wood particles it comes into contact with and hardens with the surface over time. Filler is typically used in its latex form, but for various applications (often more robust ones) it is also available in an epoxy two-part form and a powder that can be mixed and applied. Putty is one of the most tried and true methods of filling nail and screw holes, whether it be on your walls at home of on a workpiece that youre updating. These two-part products combine a resin and a hardener and cure through a thermal chemical reaction. There are some differences between the two products: Most notably, Bondo is marketed for a speedy repair and can be sanded in 15 minutes and painted in 25. Its a solvent-based filler and Brunick likes that he can change the consistency, and reactivate an old can that is drying out, by adding acetone. Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine. As with putty and filler, you can paint over spackle without the need for preparation beforehand. Thats right, Elmers team has been making glue and glue related products for as long as the world health organization has existed, and this is saying quite a bit considering that you wouldnt be able to read this article on your screen or read anything besides what was happening during the second world war at the time. If theres a product that fits the common definition of wood putty, this is it. How well do wood filler and putty work with wood stain though? By tweaking the mixing ratio of two-part fillers, holes can be filled and ready to finish at whatever pace is necessary, and multiple thin coats can be built up quickly. One quart of Zinsser Ready Patch sells for about $10. In reality, spackle is a really useful wall hole filler that comes completely ready to use with absolutely no preparation needed. What is the Best Brand of Hole Filler for Each Type? A go-to product for many professional painters, this filler is hard-drying, sandable, and paintable for interior use. The extent of the damage can play a big part in deciding whether a workpiece is worth saving or not. Once your first layer of filler has been applied and sanded you should wait for a while before painting over the holes you have filled. In my world, a putty is a nonhardening product, says Megan Youngs, a senior product manager at DAP, agreeing with Johnson. Elmers Color Change stainable interior fillers are purple when applied and dry white (or one of many other available colors) to signal that they are ready to be sanded and finished. You can start with the 105 Epoxy Resin. This being said, when is it better to simply replace a board rather than repair it? And finally, the SculpWood Paste is a top coat used to refine the repair. can costs about $12. If youre concerned about color matching, the Minwax team seems to have over-compensated (thankfully) by offering you over 10 colors to choose from so you can perfectly match it to whatever surface youre trying to repair. It has a peanut-butter-like consistency and is easy to spread according to Green, who appreciates its fast drying time. It can be used for interior and exterior work and can be primed and painted. container of Minwax High Performance Wood Filler with hardener costs about $13. All of the aforementioned is great but spackle is not the ideal choice of hole filler for beginners as it dries pretty quickly and doesnt leave much margin for error, but if you insist on trying to hit the ground running the learning curve shouldnt be that steep. Common applications for filler include outdoor walls that have had exterior lighting removed, outdoor furnishings that have been remodeled, wooden decks that need to be resurfaced, and even outdoor plumbing installations like runoffs and gutters. This wall hole filler can also be used wood, regular wallboard, metal, brick, and even masonry, which make it by far one of the best and most versatile putties for nail holes on the market. I choose between putty and filler based on the size of the hole and if it is sandable work, he says. Perhaps their detractors dont realize that Bondo doesnt just make autobody products. Applying Red Devil spackle requires absolutely no sanding or priming on your part, as the product can be smoothed out to be completely flush with the surface of your workpiece. If a furnishing is designed for structural integrity and a key point has been corroded or damaged, its probably best not to repair it with filler or spackle. ONETIME spackle inherently forms in clumps, so if you were to say, drop some on your floor, carpet, clothing, or hair, it is easily removed simply by picking it up! You should keep in mind that both filler and putty can be harmful before they have had a chance to cure completely, and considering they look a lot like paste, we recommend keeping them out of the reach of small children. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat or excessive moisture can and will break down the bond in wood filler composites. Fortunately, wood filler isnt your only option, and thanks to the team over at Minwax you have access to prime wood putty. Remember to consider the finish you intend on using on your workpiece before purchasing your filler to ensure compatability. Both are acceptable for interior and exterior use, are made of mostly wood flour, are stainable and paintable, are shrink- and crack-resistant, and can be sanded and shaped. In this kit, youll find their Board Defense borate powder, which is a water-soluble insecticide, termiticide, and fungicide used for treating rotting wood. Spackle is water and heat-resistant and can be used as a quick and easy way to fill holes and repair surfaces. If you are working with drywall, you should sand the surface of the hole in an effort to remove any gypsum residue that caked around the head of the nail or screw that was previously there. Next, hell sand the filled holes with an orbital sander, vacuum again, and, if necessary, apply a second round of filler. The less of the Elmers I use, the less it shrinks and the easier it is to sand, says Eidsness, but I want a denser fill than the spackle alone gives me.. When sliding the applicator across the surface of your workpiece, only use a medium amount of pressure. What Are the Different Types of Nail Hole Filler on the Market? Epoxy putty is typically applied after a soaking coat of wood consolidant, which reinforces damaged wood. Either way, putty has your back in filling all of those unsightly holes and scratches on virtually any surface you can think of. Putty is made of a polyurethane base which is applied in a semi-liquid form and can be inserted directly into the hole of your choice. If there is a good reason to use this product, its because it remains flexible, making it a worthy choice for exterior woodwork and window glazing. Well, this depends on a number of factors, but lets have a look at a few of them to give you a better idea. Spackle also dries pretty quickly which, in conjunction with its ready-to-use formula, makes it by far the most ideal tool for all of those time-sensitive projects that love to rear their heads every now and then. Yet Ive been warned to proceed with caution. Well, if youre a person, you know that our hands are pretty soft because they have evolved to grip things comfortably. South Dakota woodworker and remodeler Ben Brunick has done extensive repair to damaged window sashes and other exterior trim with epoxy. The putty does not harden and cant be sanded, so it is not recommended for painted work. Once you have allowed the second coat of filling to dry for the manufacturers recommended time period its time for you to decorate your workpiece with the coating of your choice. Although, most manufacturers will claim that wood filler can last up to 20 years if it is stored in ideal conditions and maintained on a regular basis. This is where the wood putty from the Minwax team comes in, it comes neatly packaged in a container instead of the tube which makes it easy to manage and control the portions you apply at any given time. Keep in mind that the cure time of epoxy increases in colder temperatures and decreases in heat. Finally, what is the workpieces function? How replaceable a workpiece is plays a big role in whether to repair or replace it. While wood filler is reasonably durable, especially the variety that is graded for use with outdoor furnishings. Why Wait? If a poor-quality finish is applied to your workpiece or if no finish is applied at all, the color matching effects of the wood filler will also wear over time. You also have to account for the color change of the wood over time, he says. Its this binding process that affects the woods color and ability to resist damage. Green Building Advisor editor Brian Pontolilo describes the differences between fillers, putties, epoxies, and spackle, as well as when each is most appropriately used. Everything you need to know to get the perfect finish, from choosing the right paint to applying the final coat. A 1-quart can of Bondo Wood Filler with hardener costs about $14. Maybe a farm setting in an old barn or the furniture in a vintage kitchen. Because there is no water or solvent to evaporate, epoxy does not shrink. Instead, to slow the setup time, you can spread your mixed epoxy out on a flat surface like a paint-roller pan; to speed things up, add heat with a blow dryer. People tend to get filler and putty mixed up a lot of the time, mainly because of their similarities in application and properties. If surface damage exceeds around 80% then it would cost more to repair it than it would to simply buy or make a new item. This then is a quick, easy, and effective solution to gouges on your wooden flooring, scuff marks on the legs of your furniture, or a way to touch up older furniture thats seen some mileage. A 4-lb. This Spackling and Patching Compound is a modified alkyd resin formulated to compete with vinyl spackles. For a speedier process on holes and repairs that need to disappear but dont require such a strong grip, Green likes Minwax High Performance Wood Filler. This type of wood filler will protect the workpiece from things like abrasion, corrosion, impact, and exposure to excessive amounts of UV light, which is great, but wood filler wont last forever. In the most basic terms, epoxy is plastic. This is pretty normal but the degree to which effect takes place can vary considerably from product to product, and if the filler shrinks it can easily become loose and unable to fill the hole effectively. Also, instead of packing the void to be filled, they suggest applying the filler in 18-in. In short, fillers and stains dont go together well, and if youre wondering why, its because most wood stains contain some amount of volatile organic chemicals which react poorly with the base substances of wood filler and/or putty. There are wooden items you use extensively every day, however, and these are often prone, Read More How to Remove Heat Stains from Wood Eradicating Heat Marks on WoodContinue, As technology has improved, we have found innovative ways to replace materials that were simply too expensive to manufacture or unsustainable in the long run. How long does wood filler last? Why is this important when working with wood filling substances as a beginner? Hole filler is one of the best ways to ensure that all of the holes in your walls or other surfaces are filled and made as flush as humanly possible. The one-part variant is arguably easier to use for those new to hole filling, as the two-part formula consists of an epoxy and a hardener which you need to mix before using the resulting substance to plug a surface imperfection. Filler differs from putty in being graded and designed for outdoor use. The repair will be sandable, machinable, and structural . Repairs often just hide aesthetic blemishes on the surface of a workpiece. If you are looking for a tenacious bond and structural characteristics to repair damaged wood, particularly outside, use a product that is 100% epoxy solids. Wooden furniture is attractive and durable and can remain so if unused. Its not just the application of their wood filler that the Ellmers team has paid attention to though, the filler itself dries extremely quickly and can be both sanded and painted once fully cured. There are typically two reasons that you would use wood filler, putty, or spackle. However, it can be quickly marred and damaged by things like hot items being placed onto it. It dries white and is not suitable for staining. Sometimes spackle is used synonymously with drywall compound, an association that reflects the intended use of Spackle Paste, a trademarked product from Muralo. Is it Better to Repair Wood with Putty or Replace it? Well, as we mentioned previously wood filler tends to dry up a lot quicker compared to other wood fillers like wood putty. container is about $7. Its a super adhesive and gap filler all in one.