Water-based putty has several advantages over oil-based and solvent-based putties. Finally, clear away all lingering dust and debris by means of a shop vac or moistened tack cloth (if you use the latter, wait for the area to dry completely before you proceed). Solvent-based putties generally have strong fumes and need chemicals, such as lacquer thinner or acetone, for clean-up. Its an excellent choice for exterior projects because it remains pliable and can flex when the wood moves due to seasonal changes. There is no cost to you for using these links. Having sanded the area smooth, complete the project by applying your choice of finish. When it comes to fixing stuff in old homes, no one says it quite like Bob Villa-. Typically, water-based wood fillers may also be stained (or painted), but unlike other products in the same category, these are specially formulated for use indoors. Typically, good filler will not shrink or pop out and sands smoothly when set. It usually is free from heavy fumes and is easy to clean up with water. I did want to keep the original character of the home, but some of the wood in the trim, moldings, even the floor had gouges, nicks and scratches that were too big to ignore, and having them replicated and replaced was more than we could afford. Simple in concept and easy to apply, wood filler works wonders to remedy surface imperfections in a vast, varied range of household items. These types of putties bond with the wood and prevent the crack from spreading. Purchases made using these links help support the Saws on Skates website and allows me to share more projects and tips with you. Which is better for unfinished projects?Ill compare and contrast wood putty and wood filler, the advantages of each, and their primary uses. Another product that is similar to putty is wood dough. Ill break down the differences so you can pick the right one for the job. However, you may find that many projects will require the use of both types. Wood putty and wood filler are both used to repair wood but are not the same. Wood filler is generally available in one neutral color, although some brands, like Goodfilla, offer fillers in a variety of wood tones. (Heres the Answer). Different types of putty have their strengths and weaknesses. For load bearing elements, you need to use a stronger substance than traditional wood filler, such as a wood hardener. Other putties require mixing with a hardener. Gypsum-based putty comes in a powdered form, and the user mixes it with water to make a usable product. Many different brands, types, and colours are commercially available. This material is great to fill in damage to hard wood surfaces, which keeps everything from doors to trim to furniture looking like new. When it comes to showers, the frameless shower door is definitely a huge step up. What I am curious about is DIY filler. It contains chemicals that can damage raw wood, so its best suited for finished projects. Even if you aren't handy, you should feel confident repairing minor damage to your wood furniture on your own with wood putty. You may freely link Typically, these putties have a wider variety of colors available to the novice woodworker. Its made from a mixture of plastic and oil-based solvents like boiled linseed oil. Epoxy is used to repair rotted wood and restore its original strength and structure. Doesnt that also make it stainable? By this I mean taking saw dust from your project and combining it with wood glue for filler? For lumber made of plastic, see, DAP Plastic Wood Solvent Wood Filler (RTU)-Old Product, International Federation of Building and Wood Workers, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wood_putty&oldid=926336450, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 15 November 2019, at 17:58. Acrylic putty is a water-based product, and water will clean up a wet product but not dried putty. You can use a thicker wood filler to fill up cracks and holes in your wood products. If the damage calls for a proper repair, wood filler is no substitute. Its typically used in the renovation and restoration of older homes. Binders include lacquer, water-base, and linseed oil. Then youll know which is the best one for your project. Copyright Once you have applied as much filler as necessary, smooth over the filled area with a clean part of the putty knife. The best option is to use a pre-tinted putty that matches the color of your stain. Wood putty has a thick, clay-like texture. Wood putty can be used indoors or outdoors, but its excellent for exterior projects because it remains pliable. "Plastic wood" redirects here. Instead, when wood putty remains pliable when its completely dry. Understanding those differences will save you time, money, and frustration.Which is better for exterior repairs? Id really appreciate it! Overfill slightly to allow for the fact that the filler shrinks as it dries. You want to use a larger putty knife or a trowel to apply the layer of wood filler because you have a larger surface area to work on, and the larger tool lets you apply a thinner layer. Wood filler works better in controlled settings, such as repairs on indoor projects. All rights reserved. Many woodworkers use putty to even out the grain in certain woods that have open pores or large pores. As the name suggests, stainable wood fillers are receptive to staining so that once youve applied the product, you can stain over it to ensure the repaired section matches the rest of the piece that youre fixing. One of the major disadvantages of this is that the product is not as strong and durable as commercial products. Larger pored woods, such as oak, soak up stain like a sponge, and a thin coat of wood filler gives a smooth, almost glass-like surface to paint or apply your stain on. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. Water-based putty may freeze or pop out. Wood putty remains flexible, so it expands and contracts along with the wood. Subscribe to our newsletter and learn something new every day. Wood putty does not absorb wood stains. For example, when choosing putty for outdoor furniture in areas that experience temperature extremes, woodworkers often choose solvent-based putty. For larger repairs like this, you may need to use a two-part hardening putty. Plus, wood filler isnt weatherproof. You can also get a basic wood putty, sand it down once it dries, and cover the area with a little bit of wood stain. It may also include calcium carbonate. Allow as much time as needed for the wood filler to dry. Working with wood filler may at first blush strike you as messy and haphazard, but precise results are not only possible, they are in fact rather easy to achieve. Wood fillers can also be mixed with sawdust to better match the color of your project.Related: Clever Uses for Sawdust: 11 Ideas That Will Inspire You. Woodworkers often refer to wood putty as wood filler, wood patch, or plastic wood, and each name is appropriately descriptive. Which type of wood filler should you use? One advantage of gypsum putty is that it stores well. DoItYourself.com, founded in 1995, is the leading independent This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Often a person will use the sawdust from a project so that the putty will be a close match. The putty can be used to fill in minor blemishes like nicks, scratches, gouges, and gaps between joints. Smooth the wood grain before you stain or paint a wood surface for the first time. Wood dough is a patching substance that comes in a variety of colors. The answer depends largely on the job. I'm in need of an exterior wood filler to repair some damage. Wood filler is not recommended for exterior projects because it dries hard. There are different types, including water-based, which can be thinned simply by adding more water, and solvent-based, which has a thicker consistency and is usually used for jobs that require a thicker layer, such as patching holes or cracks. Fillers can be painted or stained. Epoxy bonds to the existing wood and prevents further rot and decay. Wait for it to dry, then test the stain to see how it looks. Wood filler is a paste-like material that bonds with wood fibers to fill holes and cracks in wood. That said, theres no shortage of ways in which to use wood filler to improve the look of both practical and decorative elements that have seen better days. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Hi Guy Thank you for the compliments. This video shows how to use a variety of wood fillers. One of the other types of wood putty is nitrocellulose-based putty, which dries quickly but needs lacquer thinner or acetone for clean-up. Its important to note, however, that wood filler is intended strictly for superficial issues, such as scratches and gouges. The filler is applied, sanded, and then stained along with the wood.Related: Best Sanders for Furniture: Which to Buy and Why. Wood filler has a paste-like consistency similar to mashed potatoes, which makes it easy to spread. To make this wood filler, I collect wood dust from my random orbital sander and mix it with enough dewaxed shellac to make a paste-like consistency.Related: How to Make a DIY Wood Filler. Wood putty, also called plastic wood, is a substance used to fill imperfections, such as nail holes, in wood prior to finishing. Best Sanders for Furniture: Which to Buy and Why, Clever Uses for Sawdust: 11 Ideas That Will Inspire You. When you run your hand over both the undamaged and freshly filled parts of the item you are fixing, you should feel only the slightest difference between the two. suggestions. Which one can be stained? Use sandpaper to smooth out the inside as much as you can, and make sure to remove all the sawdust using a vacuum. A person can blend two or more of the colors together to customize the color to match the wood stain. View our Privacy Policy here. Most putties are available in different colors, like mahogany, walnut, maple, and oak which you can match to the stain color of your project to create a flawless look. Website operating Oil-based putty is a slow-drying putty that stays flexible longer than the other types. The long drying times of wood putty can be a problem because it allows dust and dirt to accumulate while it dries. Wood putty and wood filler are both useful for filling holes, repairing damage, and hiding defects in wood, but they are not interchangeable. Usually, builders use it to fill nail holes in woodwork. It is often composed of wood dust combined with a binder that dries and a diluent (thinner), and, sometimes, pigment. Wood shrinks and swells in response to changes in temperature and humidity. DAP Products owns the registered trademark for Plastic Wood.[1]. Woodworkers use putty to fill imperfections in wood. Because it requires sanding, wood filler is best suited for repairs on raw wood and unfinished projects. Next, sand any rough edges in or immediately adjacent to the damaged area you wish to repair. Putties are usually sanded after they dry before applying the finish. Epoxy wood filler is either a liquid or paste-like filler. In either case, you need to spread it evenly and make sure it's dry before applying the stain. Start at the edge of the damaged area, pressing the wood filler into the depression. Instead, it could crack or break. Sunlight can cause it to shrink and fall out. Minwax High-Performance Wood Filler is a well-known two-part filler. @ocelot60- That is a very good point. Woodworkers often use water-based fillers to make repairs on interior furniture projects. No, wood putty cannot be stained because its not porous like wood filler, so the stain will not penetrate it. We welcome your comments and Solvent-based fillers like polyurethane and epoxy are more durable and can be used outdoors. Its resistant to the effects of the sun and rain.Related: Mistakes with Wood Can Cause Your DIY Furniture to Crack. Plus, wood putty acts as a sealer and is weatherproof. Once the inside is smoothed, simply use a putty knife to press the wood filler in and smooth the top out. Use Olive oil to remove wood filler blotches DF wood? A woodworker may clean up oil-based putty with oil solvents, such as turpentine. Some examples are walnut, hickory, and oak wood. Wood putty, sometimes called plastic wood is a clay-like substance used to repair holes and gaps in wood. Wood filler is usually water-based. It usually dries in less than an hour, and it hardens as it dries. That said, there are some things that are more difficult to do from start to finish, and require a truly skilled craftsman. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Wood movement due to seasonal changes could cause the hardened filler to crack. Water-based putty is the most environmentally friendly. Wood putty usually comes in a stick which is good for use on small holes. If you plan to stain your project, DIY wood filler is an excellent choice. Wood filler is a substance that can be used for a multitude of different purposes to repair your wood products. The two most common types of filler are water-based and solvent-based. Wood filler is frequently used to conceal flaws in raw or unfinished interior projects, like do-it-yourself furniture before applying paint or stain. What Will Happen If I Put Acetone on Plastic. Some woodworkers and manufacturers classify it as a separate product because some putty remains soft. Filler will hide nail holes, small scratches, nicks, and gouges. Epoxy fillers, on the other hand, are durable enough to withstand outdoor use. It is a glue-based mixed with filler, such as sawdust or gypsum. Wood filler dries quickly, usually in an hour or two, and hardens as it dries. I possess neither the tools nor the skills to replicate the woodwork that is in my turn of the century house. The interior surface of the crack or hole needs to be prepared before you can push the wood filler in. Content from Saws on Skates may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author. For the best possible match, its recommended that you dab some wood filler onto a piece of scrap wood. Use wood filler to repair scratches, chips, gouges and other surface imperfections in the furniture and trim work around your home, effectively and efficiently. Water-based fillers are best suited for indoor uses. Latex or water-based fillers work best for interior repairs. When a manufacturer refers to putty as water-based, solvent-based, or oil-based, it means that the glue base is one of these types. Good column! When choosing putty, a person needs to consider the purpose. The two materials are similar in some ways but distinctly different in others. Some popular brands include Minwax Stainable Wood Filler and DAP Plastic Wood. Its fantastic for touch-ups like hiding nail holes that you missed during your prep work or even where wood filler has fallen out. This tutorial contains affiliate links to supplies and tools. Open grain woods, such as oak, have large pores. Wood Putty vs Wood Filler: Which to Use & Why, Mistakes with Wood Can Cause Your DIY Furniture to Crack. Learn how your comment data is processed. Youll use sanding dust to make the filler, which will be a good match since the dust is also from the same species of wood as your project. Scarred flooring, rotted window frames, chipped furniturecommon problems like these can be time-consuming and expensive to repair. Once dry, sand the filled area so that its height is flush with the surrounding wood. However, not all stainable wood fillers are good at absorbing stain. Visit my site policies for more information. If you enjoyed this tutorial, would you please take a moment and pin it to Pinterest? Youll match the color of the putty to the stain on your project when making a repair. 2022 Saws on Skates is a registered trademark. Saws on Skates is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. @rundocuri- Wood putty is also very easy to use. Depending on the depth of the application, that could take anywhere from 15 minutes to eight hours. home improvement and repair website. Once it has dried, you can sand the surface down to smooth it out before you apply the layer of paint or stain. One of the most common uses for wood putty is to hide imperfections after the finish has been applied to furniture, molding, and even flooring. Other manufacturers do not have a separate classification and label all products as wood putty. The main problem in using putty is matching the colour of the putty to that of the wood. Wood putty, on the other hand, dries slowly and does not harden. This article about joinery, woodworking joints, carpentry or woodworking is a stub. Polycrylic vs Polyurethane: Are They The Same? Wood putty is also used for major repairs like cracks in deck boards. Pore fillers used for large flat surfaces such as floors or table tops generally contain silica instead of or in addition to wood dust. For me, that is woodworking. Wood filler is not a good choice for outdoor projects because it dries hard, so it wont expand and contract along with the movement of the wood. Wood putty is oil-based. Wood putty allows a woodworker to overcome the various problems that these woods present to the craftsman. Traditionally, wood putty has been oil-based or solvent-based. Anyone who owns his or her home should keep a container of wood putty on hand. I tested seven stainable wood fillers in this side-by-side comparison to see which ones perform the best.Related: Does Stainable Wood Filler Work? Wood putty contains chemicals that can damage raw wood, so its best suited for repairing imperfections that occur after your project has been stained and a finish like polyurethane has been applied.Related: Polycrylic vs Polyurethane: Are They The Same? Some wood fillers are intended to be finished with a coat of paint, while others are labeled as stainable. So I decided to try one of the under appreciated tools in the tool box- wood filler. Depending on the test results, you may then choose to thin out the stain, use a different color, or (if you got a close enough match) proceed to apply the stain to the item that youve now successfully fixedcheaply, easily, and possibly in less than an hour. This quick video shows how easy it is to use wood putty. Wood grain filler is made specifically for filling the pores of open-grained woods to produce a smooth finish. Wood filler is best for repairs on unfinished wood before youve applied a stain or finish. Thank you for stopping by. Another benefit of wood putty is that it is versatile for almost any wood surface, because it is available in a variety of consistencies and colors. Water will remove any wet product, but once the putty has set, water will not remove it. For one, that means removing any loose chunks of wood or flaking paint. So if youve been working on a baseboard painted white, concealing the fix is simply a matter of painting over the filled area in the same shade. Wood putty is a versatile product that can be used in both indoor and outdoor projects. Putty can be used for repairs on indoor and outdoor projects. When it comes to fixing stuff, I like to try to do it myself before calling anyone. Read the full disclosure here. Spoiler alert: glue mixed with sawdust was one of my least favorite options. Its made from a mixture of wood fibers or sawdust and a binding agent. Wood dough usually hardens as it cures, and woodworkers sand it afterward. If youve never worked with this stuff before, get excited: It might soon be your favorite item in the toolbox. Stained pieces are trickier to deal with. Once it has dried, sand the top until it is even with the wood surface. Stainable wood fillers are porous, which means wood stains can penetrate the filler, and the repair will blend in with the surrounding wood. We use wood filler all the time in the cabinet business, and for the homeowner willing to give it a try, it will soon become an old favorite. Or they can be dealt with quickly and affordably by homeowners who know how to use wood filler. Instead, putty is available in a variety of colors. All rights reserved. While it may come down to personal preference as to which compound you want your wood filler to be made with, the consistency needs to fit the job. It doesnt harden as it dries. Some woodworkers make their own putty using fine sanding dust (not sawdust, which is too coarse) with wood glue or a wood finish such as shellac. For surfaces of furniture, rather than load bearing elements, such as the legs of chairs, you will want to use a combination of thick and thin wood filler, depending on the size of the spots you need to fix. By understanding how each of them works, when you should use them, and what their limitations are, your next DIY project will go smoothly without any surprises along the way! Wood putty and wood filler sound like the same thing, but there are key differences between these two products. Regardless of which type you use, there are a number of different things you can repair using wood filler. Knowing the differences between putty and filler will help you do the job right the first time. For floors, you will generally need to use a thinner wood filler, unless there are cracks you need to fill. Common applications are molding, paneling, and cabinetry. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. This can be handy for a number of different wood products that are susceptible to cracking, such as wood flooring, furniture, and many other things. When youre ready to tackle a home improvement project, its important to know the difference between wood putty and wood filler. Now, apply the wood filler using a putty knife. I tested seven stainable wood fillers, including sawdust mixed with glue, and shared the results in this article. It also works well for filling large damage like cracks. Again, make sure the wood filler has completely dried before sanding or applying paint or stain. 1995-2022 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. In most cases, the goal will be to make the repair virtually unnoticeable. Start by preparing the surface to which you are going to apply wood filler. All information is provided "AS IS." Instead, it remains soft and pliable. Some people make their own wood putty by mixing wood glue and sawdust. Heavy-duty solvent-based wood fillers are meant primarily for outdoor use and perform well on exterior siding and trim. Just like that, any piece of wood furniture, door, or trim will look like new. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Pores can also be filled using multiple coats of the final finish rather than a pore filler. You can also paint or stain over the putty once it has been sanded smooth, but make sure it is completely dry before applying anything. Wood filler is applied so that it is slightly raised and then sanded to create a smooth surface. Because of this thick consistency, its difficult to apply without using a putty knife. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be