For instance, you can examine a walnut, ash or oak material and find large pores within their surfaces. First, wood filler dries hard and can be sanded, while putty remains flexible. Whichever option you choose on your next craft, don’t forget to share your experience with others and let them know how the final result turned out! It also requires a lot of sanding and polishing work to be done before it becomes ready. In fact, it won’t work on any outside projects, as this material isn’t flexible enough to keep up with the harsh environment found outdoor. Although the latter has a faster drying time, it doesn’t … In short, use caulk for corners and edges, use wood filler for flat surfaces, and use spackle for drywall. 4.6 out of 5 stars 891. Suppose you have mistakenly drilled a hole bigger than it needs to be. Wood filler and wood putty can completely hide holes in stained wood if properly applied. While wood putty is made from epoxy. Water-Based Wood & Grain Filler - Red Oak - 8 oz by Goodfilla | Replace Every Filler & Putty | Repairs, Finishes & Patches | Paintable, Stainable, Sandable & Quick Drying 4.5 out of 5 stars 178 $8.99 $ 8 . This product is available in various consistency, which allows us to use it in a lot of different projects. Most wood fillers aren’t as smooth as Bondo and some have bits of wood dust in them which make it hard to get a smooth, even fill that doesn’t look dimpled. fillers are designed to work well on unfinished log. If you see any excess putty that’s left on the surface, wipe it off with a damp cloth and let it dry for a while. But one major difference between wood putty and wood filler is its composition. If the surface that you are working on lacks enough holes in it, then you should try sanding it for a bit before applying this product. Because it resists the element better than wood filler, putty is the go-to product for exterior repairs. Once the product dries out, you will be able to sand and repaint the surface for a better finish. Wood filler has the tendency to shrink or expand according to weather conditions. ToolsSpecialist.com 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. The craft of woodworking requires skills, patience, emotion and creativity. Should you throw the whole project away and start over? When it comes to consistency, wood filler hardens overtime while putty does not. Basically, wood moves. Because it's sandable, wood filler is the only thing you should use for patching interior unfinished wood. If you want to know more about these two items and dive into the world of woodcraft to fix all those tiny imperfections, read along to the rest of this article. The consistency of wood filler hardens, while putty does not. It’s a good question to ask. $5.79 $ 5. However, if you want it to dry quicker, then you have to mix it some other hardening chemicals and make the putty stiffer. This is a short comparison table that specifies the area you can use putty in, and whether you’ll be able to paint over it. Top Quality Wire Wheel For Rust Removal Product List, Top Roofing Underlayment Product in The Market, Top 10 Best Wire Wheel For Rust Removal in 2020, Top 10 Best Roofing Underlayment Reviews In 2020, Different Types Of Roof Underlayment Explained, How To Make Homemade Tire Shine – The Ultimate Guide, Top 11 Best Water Shut off Valves For The Money In 2020. Putty comes in small containers that are enough to last for a couple of projects at a time. Therefore, these are more suitable for any outdoor-filling tasks. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. You need to sand it well to get the best result out of this product. Its unique water based formula allows you to more accurately match existing wood tones to create a repair that is seamless and invisible, or add a touch of color to highlight undertones and natural grain patterns. Filler is not designed to be waterproof, and it will shrink, crack, and dry … Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Once applied, it dries pretty fast. Wood putty works best for a small hole, cracks, and outdoor furniture or wood items. Unlike wood putty, wood fillers aren’t weatherproof, so you cannot use them for outdoor applications. Second, fillers are applied before paint or finish (sometimes over primed wood), and putties are applied after finish, usually stain and/or clear coat. For instance, it comes with a particular shade of color and texture. (The book "Wood" might be a good starting point to explain why.) The screws won’t grip on the surface anymore! No matter how deep the hole is, wood fillers are there to save your day! Wood fillers dries a lot quicker than putty. Putties are an excellent substance to use in both indoor and outdoor projects. Why? Let us now take a look at the main differences between wood filler Vs. wood putty: Wood filler is typically water-based, but wood putty is oil-based You can sand wood filler, and we use it on unfinished wood. Due to the lengthy drying time, wood putty tends to attract dust, darkening its color as it dries. Not only does it hold up its structure well, but also, it's waterproof and resistant to high temperatures. Wood filler absolutely does not last under outside paint. In some cases, it might take up to an entire day! Let’s chat a little bit about wood filler. However, keep in mind this technique works only on oil-based finishes. It has a much longer drying time than wood filler. For example, when the sun is at its peak and it’s too hot and uncomfortable, the fillers shrink in size! It can be polyurethane, epoxy, or fiberglass. Putty contains ingredients that are harmful to raw timber and it also takes a long time to dry. That’s why it’s best to use this product on surfaces before they get stained. Starting to see the problem here? Get a professional finish with patching supplies like putty, wood fillers, wall patches, melamine edging and more for your next project. However, all the hard work that you put in a big project might go in vain, if you make a simple error. The product is durable and keeps your repairing intact for a long time. However, if you are working with unfinished timber and in a hurry to move onto another project right after this one, then filler is a better option for you. Most of the materials consist of oil-based compounds. After applying it on a finished surface, you will notice that the surface becomes a little uneven. As we all know temperature causes the wooden furniture to expand or shrink in size from time to time. While there are many different ways of making this substance, usually most manufacturers use calcium carbonate, colors and oil-based components to make this material. You can easily apply putty on any wooden surface using a putty knife. Besides, the sunlight will make the filler dry and shrink. Once applied, it’s a good idea to use a sealant to keep it from getting brittle or crumbled. Using wood putty when you should be using wood filler (and vice versa) can produce disastrous results. Once you’ve thoroughly mixed the putty (see How To Mix Epoxy), press it into the cracks and crevices along the upper surface and the edge of the base to seal it … If you are staining, varnishing, or adding any finish to wood, you want to make sure to apply wood putty after the fact. "wood putty filler" Everbuild Multi-Purpose Wood Filler, Light Stainable, 250 ml. So, it's best not to use this product on outdoor furniture like a patio bench, chair or table etc. Based on our research on wood filler vs wood putty, it’s safe to say these two items are excellent at what they do and seal any surface with perfection. If you plan to stain the wood, choose a wood filler … Read these reviews and find out ​what we chose for each type of application. There are several other compounds used in making wood putty including boiled linseed oil, color and some calcium carbonate. We can file and sand over it when it has dried. Let’s dive into it. Moreover, unlike wood putty, wood fillers lack adhesive properties. There are a lot of wood patches, puttys, and fillers on the market, many claiming to be great for staining. Have you ever noticed that some wooden surfaces are much more porous than the others? It just doesn’t perform like I need it to. Email This BlogThis! This is why wood filler hardens while wood putty doesn’t. It is possible to adjust the consistency. It’s best to apply this product on stained or finished surfaces, as it contains chemicals that shouldn’t be used on raw timber. Putty is a substance that is typically used on surfaces that have already been stained and varnished. Oil-based putty behaves as an adhesive, so you may not need a wood sealer in many cases. Wood Putty vs Wood Filler Wood putty, also known as wood dough, is a substance made of varied colorings and ingredients like fine dust for repairing wood products. That’s why an eraser is considered as important as the pencil itself to make a perfect drawing! Wood filler dries extremely fast, way too faster than wood putty. After several months or even a year, if you decide to check on this item and see that the material has become dry and brittle, you can easily revive it with just a few drops of acetone into the mixture! Wood putty is a slow-drying, oil-based material that has limited uses while wood filler can be used on many types of surfaces. So wood filler is … There is a small catch though. Engineered Hardwood Flooring, Wood Filler FAQs – Everything You Need To Know About Fillers, Shellac vs Polyurethane – Wood Finish Comparison, Moisture Meter Buying Guide for Woodworkers – Woodworking Basic Tools, 11 Types Of Woodworking Planes – Carpentry & Woodworking Tools Guide, Best Wood to Make a Picnic Table (5 Good Types of Wood), Wood filler is typically water-based, but wood putty is oil-based. Wood filler and Wood Putty are different products used to fill in and correct imperfections made during woodwork, such as unwanted holes, gouges, scratches, chippings, etc. , Difference Between Wood Putty Vs. Wood Filler, Best Wood for Painted Cabinets (+Painting Plywood vs. However, expert woodworkers note that there are important differences between the two products. Depending on what type of fillers you are using, the materials may vary from each other and contain compounds like, epoxy, latex, polyurethane, clay and wood fibers. On the other hand, putty takes its sweet time to dry completely. It starts drying right after 10 minutes of applying and within 24 hours it dries properly. Therefore, wood fillers are not ideal for outdoor projects. However, several universal ingredients are used on almost all types of products. The post Wood Putty vs Wood Filler – When To Use Each appeared first on Woodworking Wiki. It’s advisable to keep the containers in a safe place if you don’t need the content of an entire can at once. Although they are very similar and are both used to fill holes in wooden furniture, there are significant differences between the two. Fortunately, putty comes in different shades and tones to match with any given project that you can think of. However, if the area is quite large and the cracks are deep, then it might take up to eight hours depending on how much of the solution you have applied. If the area is too small or the angle is a little bit difficult to reach, then you can take a small portion on your finger and smear over the surface. Beyond these distinctions, it is not a good idea to generalize the differences between wood fillers and wood putties. On the other hand, if you have an outdoor project in queue and the surface is already stained, then wood putty will work like a charm in your favor! Wood filler is for patching large holes or blemishes, wood putty is used to patch nail or screw holes and caulk is a flexible sealant used to seal gaps in adjoining surfaces. Fillers are mostly used on indoor furniture. 99 Therefore, it is used on a varnished surface most of the time. It's hard to find any other alternatives when it comes to repairing large holes or cracks on any surface. Wood filler is similar to wood putty and serves the same purpose but made with different ingredients like epoxy, clay, lacquer, and polyurethane, which is a water-based product. Note: We reviewed Top 10 Epoxy Product list for Wood That you can check it out. On the other hand, putty takes its sweet time to dry completely. You have to let the surface rest for at least several hours before it becomes ready. Thus, you gain the privilege of using it as long as you want, once you purchase this product. Buy online and pick up at a store near you. That’s where a filler comes into play. Should you use caulk or wood filler or spackle? Another type of wood filler is a drywall compound whose main ingredients are attapulgite and limestone. Although wood putty and wood filler were invented pretty much for the same reason, to fill gaps in wood like cracks, dents, knotholes, and seams, they are not entirely alike. Regardless of what kind of product you use, fillers will help you fill holes inside a wooden furniture, smoothen the surface and repair cracks on the floors. Wood putty, however, is used on finished wood, but you cannot sand or file it as it does not harden. Once applied, wash the leftover oil residue and sand it to make the surface smooth. Yes, caulk works. Elmer's E855 Carpenter's Wood Filler, 3.25-Ounce Tube, White. Since wood fillers are not expandable, they will crack or break whenever the wood contracts or expands. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. While most folks, when talking about household tasks, use the terms “wood filler” and “wood putty” as one and the same. The terms wood filler and wood putty are often used interchangeably, although to expert woodworkers there are key differences between these products. You can sand wood filler, and we use it on unfinished wood. ​Below our section on reviews, we include an entire section on the features to look for. Sure, they might all get the job done for awhile, but each of these patches has a special purpose and a best place to use them. So you can choose the one that suits your work. So, if the log is unfinished while you are applying this product, the chemicals in the solution might end up damaging the surface before it gets stained. You will only be able to repair minor imperfections like scratches, scrapes, holes and cracks in open grain logs. Filler is a substance that is used to repair wooden products. The former is made of plastic chemicals and oil-based compounds. However, if the area is quite large and the cracks are deep, then it might take up to eight hours depending on how much of the solution you have applied. Wood fillers dries a lot quicker than putty. Fillers are used on raw timber. Although they both have some similarities, we have noted down the aspects which differ from each other and present them down below. Wood putty, however, is used on finished wood, but you cannot sand or … A stained surface has certain characteristics. Go to the links provided by the brand’s name in the reviews; there you will find a more detailed background about the products shown here. While the latter consists of wood particles and fibers mixed with a binding agent. Wood putty is here to save the day and will easily conceal any small holes to match the surrounding wood. You can even buy your own color to better match the surface you are working on. Hey! While we are fond of good quality work, most often we need to hurry up to meet our deadlines. Period. Sometimes you may need to mix the product with a little bit of sawdust to bring a more natural-looking finish to your furniture. Whatever kind of wood you're patching and wherever it is, there's a filler for the job, and you can avoid problems by choosing the right one. So, you don’t need to use any adhesive sealer on the surface after using this product. What makes your ordinary project turn into a truly outstanding piece of art is the ability to correct your mistakes. The main purpose of using this product is to hide all those imperfections in a way that it doesn’t mar the visual appearance of a surface. Other options New and used from $5.22. Typically, all fillers contain solvent, bulking agent and a binding agent which helps hold all ingredients together. And it’s quite important that you use the same exact shade while repairing any whole to keep it from becoming an eyesore! Wood fillers typically consist of pulverized wood byproducts suspended in some kind of binder that dries rock hard, while wood putties are somewhat flexible materials that remain slightly pliable even after they dry. To use it for repairing large cracks, use sandpaper to smooth out the surface beforehand. When it comes to choosing a particular type, you must remember what kind of surface you are working on. Make sure to pay attention to these, as you evaluate a good wood fill option fo… On the other hand, manufacturers usually decide on which ingredients to use in a particular brand of putty. An unfinished surface, on the other hand, already contains holes in it and you can sand it later if required. fillers are most commonly used on furniture. And for a bigger project, you may select the solvent-based ones that come with a thicker consistency and are usually more heavy-duty. For large holes, cracks, and indoor items, you need wood filler. Filler is not designed to be waterproof, it will shrink and crack and dry up when exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. They also do a pretty good job of repairing and hiding imperfections. It’s a water-based solution that is easy to clean up and typically used on raw timber for sealing any types of cracks or pores on them. However, fillers aren’t flexible enough to adapt to this change in the environment and tend to break easily. Till now, we have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of both of these products. Wood putty and wood filler are two types of fillers that are often used interchangeably with one another. To prevent this, you first need to dam the cracks with epoxy putty; you can use any of the paste-like epoxy fillers that appear on the market. Now that we have laid out all the pros and cons in front of you, it’s your turn to decide which one is better suited for you. A 2-in-1 product is always everyone’s favorite because it saves you the cost of purchasing a different product and helps finish your work quickly! Otherwise, applying wood putty before the finish could damage the wood … It helps seal the outer surface of any pre-finished furniture and protects it from moisture and other environmental issues. I did it and after 10 years or so it started falling out.. oops. It repairs holes and cracks as well as work as a sealing agent at the same time! There’s a reason why this product is such a great choice for unfinished timber. Well, putty isn’t an ordinary product that can only perform one task. Solid Wood), Bamboo Flooring Vs. Now what? fillers are one of the most widely used products all over the world. 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,574. And it will be dry completely in about 24 hours which makes it a great choice when working on a short deadline. A custom 3-in-1 wood filler, grain filler and sealer coat. Wood putty is a cost-effective solution to deal with defects and gaps in wood. Wood filler dries faster that wood putty and most types will start drying in as little as 10 minutes after application. Typically, it takes around 10 to 15 minutes to dry an unfinished surface. Wood Filler. I entirely stopped using wood filler a few years ago. There are different types of wood fillers such as latex, Polyurethane, Epoxy, etc. The three are very different products and need to be applied differently in order to get the correct finish. The dough-like texture allows it to stay wet for a long time. It is also referred to as "Plastic Wood". Wood Putty vs Wood Filler: Is There A Difference? Wood putty is ideal for outdoor furniture as it doesn’t shrink and expand due to changing weather conditions. Wood filler is typically made from sawdust and fibers blended together in a special wood binder, while wood putty is made from epoxy. After applying the product, let it dry and then paint over the surface for a smoother result. We’ve evaluated a lot of the options and found the best wood filler for staining out there. Although the drying time also depends on how much of the product you have used in a particular area, typically it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to dry the surface completely. Notably, when compared to wood filler, wood putty is considered to have quite a slow dry time. Best not to use any adhesive sealer on the features to look for it smooth without damaging log! 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