Interior-only fillers can be safely applied indoors to wooden pieces that will stay indoors, such as a coffee table.This serves as an indication of how well the filler will hold up in the stated environment both during application, while wet, and post-application after it has dried. If you do intend to coat the cured filler with stain or paint, be sure to pick a stainable or paintable product, either in white or in a shade that’s lighter than the stain or paint you’ll use.Īpplication environment: Fillers are generally for “interior-only” or “interior/exterior” use. If you don’t plan to ultimately stain or paint the piece, opt for a filler in a shade that either closely matches or contrasts with the original wood color, depending on whether you want to play down or play up the filler color. (Tip: In a pinch, some thicker fillers can be thinned with water to fill pores.)Ĭolor: The most common fillers come in white or wood-inspired shades clear versions for filling pores are also available. It’s important to choose the right consistency for your project, as thicker fillers contain large particles that don’t readily fit into the pores of open-grain woods, and thinner fillers generally lack the body to adequately fill voids. Thicker fillers are primarily for filling voids, while thinner fillers mainly fill pores in open-grain woods. (As the filler inundates the pores, it levels any unevenness to achieve a finish particularly desirable on furniture.) The most versatile fillers can fill either voids or pores.Ĭonsistency: Wood fillers can have thick (putty-like) or thin (pancake batter–like) consistencies. Others are for filling pores in open-grain woods with large pores visible to the naked eye, such as oak or elm, to smooth their naturally coarse texture. Some are suitable for filling voids such as divots, holes, or gouges in all wood species. Task: Wood fillers typically handle one or more specific tasks. Cost-wise, solvent-based fillers are pricier than water-based fillers because they’re more resistant to water, humidity, extreme heat and cold, and rot, making them best suited to exterior wood projects and applications.Ĭhoosing the Best Wood Filler for Your Project Solvent-based wood thinners take about an hour to dry, and cleaning up after use calls for acetone or turpentine. They have a higher VOC content and are correspondingly smellier. Solvent-based fillers tend to consist of vinyl or epoxy.Water-based fillers typically dry in about 15 minutes, and cleanup requires only soap and water. Some water-based wood fillers are more versatile than their solvent-based counterparts because they can be readily diluted with water and used in projects requiring thinner filler. They tend to have a less potent odor, as they emit few, if any, volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Water-based wood fillers are generally a mix containing cellulose, wood fiber, or gypsum.Either can be used to fill wood voids or pores, but they have a number of differences. Wood fillers are either water or solvent based. ALSO CONSIDER: Elmer’s Probond Wood Filler.BEST FOR FURNITURE: Coconix Floor and Furniture Repair Kit.BEST FOR HOLES: Goodfilla Water-Based Wood Filler.BEST FOR SEALING PORES: Aqua Coat Wood Grain Filler.
#BEST WOOD PUTTY FILLER UPGRADE#
UPGRADE PICK: FamoWood 40022126 Latex Wood Filler.BEST FOR BEGINNERS: Elmer’s E913 Carpenter’s Color Change Wood Filler.BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Elmer’s E887Q Stainable Wood Filler.
#BEST WOOD PUTTY FILLER HOW TO#
This guide will explain these practical putties and how to choose the best wood filler for your needs.
With the wide variety of wood fillers available-each having a unique formulation, usage scenario, and application technique-it can be tricky to pinpoint the right one to use. Fortunately, wood fillers-which come in water- and solvent-based formulas-can handle all sorts of repairs, from hiding blemishes in the wood grain of cabinets and filling seams or gaps in door trim to sealing nail holes in a newly built patio table. Cracks, divots, holes, or rot can crop up on wooden surfaces due to ordinary wear and tear, accidents, and during DIY projects.
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