There is not house decor that is complete without products made from wood. But then, this material, as beautiful as its end products are, is highly susceptible to damage unlike metal and other related materials. With this reality, you will only be expending your hard-earned resources replacing a damaged door or piece of furniture every now and then.
Rather than replace, most people have turned to repair damaged wood, either through the service of a professional Carpenter or by doing it themselves. Either way, the wood filling has become really viable for making repairs to damaged wood around the home.
For domestic use, you can apply filters to remove scratches, nail holes, dents, and the likes. They are also used for bigger jobs by carpenters, though there are specific products that are recommended for this
Since there are numerous wood filling products out there, it may be somewhat a challenge to select one that will address your wood filling needs. This underscores why we have put together a review 11 best wood fillers, focusing on their pros and cons. The choice is nevertheless yours.
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Top 11 Wood Filler Reviews
#01. NADAMOO Wood Fillers and Furniture Repair Kits
No products found.This product is a set of furniture repair Kits that comes in twelve unique colors of wood fillers and a brush. The colors are Gray, Black, Red Oak, White, Ivory, Wood White, Cedar, Teak, Mahogany, Red Sandalwood, Dalbergia, Black Walnut. Each of the wood fillers is contained in a tube of 1inch in width and 4inches in length, weighing 20g.
The unique selling point, as it seems clear to discern is the opportunity it presents users to get a color that suits their furniture by mixing the available colors. By implication, each of the wood fillers has similar content but for the difference in shade and tint. The product is targeted at those looking to keep their scratch-ridden furniture rather than dispose of it.
The beauty of these wood filling kit is in the assortment of colors. Whatever shade your damaged wood takes can be derived from a combination of two or more of the colours. Nothing beats this uniqueness, you can be rest assured.
Nadamoo kits are also easy to use and clean up. Simply put the filler on the damaged area, spread out by a putty knife and allow to dry. Your wood immediately gives as semblance of the way it was after purchase.
However, the process of mixing the colors can get messy if not carefully done. Also on the flip side, the fillers can only be used for minor scratches on wood surface and nail holes.
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#02 Elmer’s Carpenter’s Colour Change Woodfillers
No products found.Ether’s Product Inc. is already a household name when it comes to domestic and professional solutions for “damaged” wood and finishing. The Elmer’s Carpenter’s color change wood filler, one of the company’s numbers of products was specifically designed for interior usage, especially for light Dyers with E917 as its unique model number.
It weighs 1 pound and has 4.2×4.2x 3 inches dimensions. Other unique features in terms of the product’s applicability are that it is sandable and paintable (not long after application). In other words, after it has been applied, the filler dries white and becomes unsusceptible to cracking and shrinking.
This, of course, is a big deal because would fillers that are not of premium quality may not hold up well. The filler is quite good for rough and damaged wood surfaces and by implication suitable for filling holes.
However, the wood filler cannot be trusted with staining and requires great care, and a bit of expertise to get results for deep carves and rough wood damages.
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#03. Good filler Waterbased Wood and Grain Filler
No products found.Good filler waterbased Wood and Grain Filler is reliable for filling up scratches, dents, gouges, nail holes and other undesirable mar to your household furniture. It comes in a well-packaged plastic bucket container and weighs 7 ounces and has 2.6×2.2×2.2 inches dimensions.
This product simply ticks all the dots that are expected of a wood filler. It does not shrink or crack. It surely will not fall out. You can stain and paint it if you so desire (the finishes filling may not need these effects).
Even more interesting is the fact that the product is water-based, meaning that you can continue to use it even if it dries up. All you have to do is add a few drops of water to get it going.
If you are not great at using a filler to address wood damages or you are a newbie, there is the possibility of you not getting it right. Put differently, you have to ensure that your application is nimble for you to do after-effects on the job such as painting, sanding or staining otherwise you might be disappointed with this product.
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#04. Timbermate Mapple/Beach/Pine Hardwood Wood Filler
No products found.Timbermate Mapple/Beach/Pine Hardwood water-based wood filler was specifically made to cooperate with water when it becomes hardened. It comes in a plastic bucket, weighs 8 ounces and has the dimensions of 2.1×2.1×3.1 inches.
This wood filler is easy to apply on damaged wood and quite sandable, though using steel other than stainless for its application could turn the filler’s pigment to white. For those who are DIY aficionados, this product could be one to consider because it is quite easy to use.
Besides, the filler has the potential to be usable for years as a result of its water-based characteristic. If it dries up in the container, all you need to do us add some drops of water, and voila! Even more remarkable is the fact that if you applied it wrongly and it had started drying up, you only need to use water to smoothen it out.
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#05. Famowood 40022126 Latex Wood Filler
No products found.The FamoWood 40022126 Latex wood filler is one in the series of the products that are specifically designed for wood repairs and finishing. It has product dimensions of 4.1x 4.1x 4.1 inches and weighs 1.6 pounds.
From the name, you are quick to discern that latex is one of the key compositions of this filler, and there is as a consequence, high expectations of it sticking together in the part of the wood to which it is attached. Well, that expectation is largely met, the product dries up and adheres to the wood as quickly as 12-15 minutes. The implication of this is that users may need to be prepared for quick in applying it to the wood dent, hole or scratch.
This is irrespective of its thickness which could make it difficult to spread. If you are too slow, you may not end up doing a tidy job on the filling. Therefore, “easy to use” is not an ideal phrase to tag this product as it will not likely apply to everyone that tries to use it. Besides, the product may not last long on the shelf after the first sets of opening the container because of its tendency to dry fast.
On the flip side, that it does not shrink and crack in the wood and can make up for the aforementioned cons. In addition, it is good for outdoor work just as for interior because it is not easily affected by weather, and cooperates with various aspects of finishing.
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#06. DAP 16 oz Latex Plastic Wood Filler
No products found.This wood filler is one of DAP Inc’s Latex fillers targetted at filling dents, scratches, gouges, cracks, nail holes, and other wood damages. It comes in a pail and weighs 1.05 pounds, with dimensions of 4.2 x 4.2 x 2.5 inches. The filler actually achieves the general aim of the manufacturer which is to repair common damages to wood surfaces.
The unique selling point of this brand of DAP wood filler is that it produces a filling that is 3 times stronger than the wood itself. Is this really true?
Well, if you are looking to fill small holes and light damages, the product will definitely give the impression of hardening, and attendant longevity. Of course, it will take a while to know for sure. But when it comes to roughly damaged wood and deep holes, DAP 16 oz Latex Plastic Wood Filler may not be the best bet.
However, for small issues, the filler works well, can be painted, stained and sanded. So, you are looking at getting pretty small wood damages issues done as though you are a pro. The shelf life is, nevertheless, suspect as you may need to ensure you cover the lid tightly so as to prevent it from drying. That is in addition to it having no trusted capacity for exterior wood repairs.
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#07. 3M Bando Wood Filler Quart 31oz
No products found.This filler weighs 2.35 pounds and has the dimensions of 6.4×6.4×4.3 inches. The can-like packaging looks relatively attractive but that really means nothing as much as what its content has to offer, right? Well, 3M Bando Wood Filler Quart 31oz essentially does what it says it will do.
It comes with a hardener that gives users an assurance to go ahead with fixing damaged exterior wood. For those who have never tried to address any type of wood damage using fillers that do not dry fast enough could make them jettison the idea of doing it by themselves.
With this hardener coming with Bando Wood Filler, first-timers would definitely get it done faster than they can imagine. This filler was also intended to address the repairs of seemingly hopeless, damaged, interior wood.
Apart from its drying pretty fast, the filler has two other cons that are worthy of mention. First, it does not shrink easily as two coats are enough to harden any type of wood.
Second, the filler is water-resistant, making it ideal for exterior wood repairs. These two features will possibly ensure that the portion of the wood you’re filling up is given a semblance of when it was first acquired.
There is however a downside to the filler’s fast-drying characteristic. It may not be easy for you to sand the filled gorge, scratch, nail hole, etc of the wood except you deploy an electric sander, especially after you must have applied too much of the filler. The odor is equally discouraging but overall, this filler has the potential of efficiently giving your wood a facelift.
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#08. Hobbico 1000W, Hobbylite White Filler
No products found.Hobbico 1000W, Hobbylite White Filler is one of the top filling and putty wood fillers that are worthy of a try. And for good reasons too! It weighs about 1.6 ounces, has dimensions of 3x3x3 inches and comes in white. It does not require mixing before usage. All you have to do, if you eventually consider making a purchase of this filler, is open the plastic jar in which it is packaged and start filling up the holes and dents.
It possesses all the needed qualities in an ideal wood filler. The filled portion of your wood will dry quickly, does not shrink easily, has no tendency to crack and presents a good surface for sanding, polishing, and painting. However, if you wish to sand the repaired surface, you are advised not to be quick to doing so because of the product’s “dry fast” characteristic.
The major con of Hobbico 1000W, Hobbylite White Filler is that it may not be trusted with exterior wood damage. In the same vein, applying this product to deep wood dents and thick, large holes.
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#09 Elmer’s Carpenter’s E887Q Stainable Wood Filler
No products found.Elmer’s Carpenter’s Stainable Wood Filler is another filler for those who are in need of filling holes and cracks in wood, wooden floors, and damaged furniture. It weighs 4 ounces, has product dimensions of 1.5×2.5×7 inches and is of 3.25 ounce in size.
This wood filler is a squeezable tube filled with a mixture of wood putty and glue. It is made of reconstituted wood fibers for superior resilience and as such gives you the assurance of becoming really strong after it has dried up.
The manufacturers of the filler are proud to sell it as stainable, one of the demerits of most wood fillers. Well, they appear to be right with this unique selling point, as the product actually allows for any kind of stain to give the filled part of the wood semblance of the entire furniture or wood. In addition to these advantages, this wood filler is resistant to shrinking and flaking after drying, has zero toxicity and is easy to clean up.
Nevertheless, while Elmer’s Carpenter’s Stainable Wood Filler does the job of basic, domestic wood filling excellently, you may have to consider other brands for big jobs because of the bulk price. Besides, the container, once open could force a user to use the filler at one go, or at best twice, because it is vulnerable to drying out fast.
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#10. Minwax 21600000 High-Performance Wood Filler
No products found.Minwax has a very rich history of manufacturing top quality wood finishing products, especially for DIYers in its recent past. It has produced different wood fillers that have earned raving reviews over the years.
Minwax High-Performance Wood Filler is not just one of the whole lot. It is something worth giving a consideration if you are looking for a wood filler that can bond all types of wood, particularly for domestic use. It weighs 1.4 pounds and has 4.5×4.5×3.5 inches dimensions.
This “high performance” selling phrase on the package is no exaggeration. It is a strong filler that is applicable for both indoor and outdoor woodworks, owing to the fact that it has the capacity to resist water.
What’s more, it becomes sandable in 30-40 minutes and does not crack or shrink. It is remarkably stainable if that is a reason you need to get a new brand of wood filler.
Whatever work you have to do with this product on your damaged wood, ensure that it is done fast because it dries too quickly. If you allow it to dry fast, there is the possibility of you not getting the right shape.
For instance, if your goal is to fill up and reshape the damaged edge of a piece of furniture, you have to expertly do this within 10 to 15 minutes. The inability to work fast enough and within these few minutes could lead to you not getting the right shape for the furniture.
That you cannot go on to use the product straight away without mixing it is another “but” of product. Since it is not easy to mix, you may take longer than necessary to complete your project.
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#11. Elmer’s ProBond P9892 Wood Filler
No products found.Elmer’s ProBond Wood Filler is one of the products of Elmer’s who are a global household name for the manufacturing of adhesives, many of which have garnered high ratings. By virtue of the manufacturer’s reputation, the expectation of this particular wood filler is kind of high.
As one would expect from any of Elmer’s wood finishing adhesives and fillers, the ProBond Wood filler will perform way beyond the average expectations of a wood filler. The product weighs 2.2 pounds and has 5.8×5.8×3.5 dimensions.
The wood filler’s hardness is perhaps its best feature, making it ideal for carpentry jobs as well as exterior domestic woodworks. One of the components used in producing this filler is wood fiber and that basically explains where it gets its hardness and strength.
As a consequence, it dries relatively hard and such, guarantees your longevity. In other words, if you decide to go for it, then you are certain that any filling you use it for will not crack or fall out. This piece of information is even more useful for those that wish to carve out shapes along the lines of the filled damaged wood.
Well on the flip side, the lid of the package doesn’t close nicely. As a result, it is expected that the air will easily dry the unused fillers up and upset an unsuspecting user who might wish to reuse the product some other time. This, of course, will make its shelf life pretty short. Objectively, this seems to be the only con of the product.
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Benefits of Using Wood Fillers
The main benefit of using wood fillers is that they save you money that could have gone into buying a total new wooden product. They also help carpenters accomplish small jobs without having to do or spend much.
Apart from that, it is a good way to become a DIYer and an efficient one at that. Not all repairs should be taken to a carpenter, ideally. So, wood fillers give you that golden opportunity to circumvent second or third parties.
How to Use Wood Fillers
So, how do you use a wood filler? The steps are quite easy to follow.
First, you need to flake off wood splinters and paint chips if you notice any. Then, you should sand down the area you want to repair and remove the sawdust debris with a piece of cloth. Third, apply the filler and smooth with a putty knife.
After that wait for it to dry. You may choose to paint or stain the area to blend with the pigment of the rest of the wood.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wood Fillers.
As a consequence, people tend to ask nagging questions about wood fillers. These are five frequently asked questions concerning wood fillers.
Why do wood fillers shrink?
The product information on most wood fillers will tell you that they do not shrink. Truths are told, wood fillers are likely to shrink depending on the temperature. As such, it is best to consider using wood fillers for interior wood rather than that which can be impacted by weather.
Are wood filler products stainable?
Yes, but not all. In fact, some wood fillers will claim to be stainable but after buying and using then, you will find out they are not.
Can I sand the repair I have done with wood fillers?
The purpose of sanding wood is to remove mill marks, that are inflicted by woodworking machines, and to remove dents and gouges. Not all wood fillers, even after drying will allow for sanding. You may have to rely on household names that manufacture wood fillers if you really care to sand repaired wood.
Can I use a wood filler for exterior wood jobs?
There are quite a few wood fillers that are purposely produced for exterior wood jobs. But then, you may have to try and miss a few times before laying your hands on one that actually achieves this goal.
Are dried up wood fillers a waste?
Well, it depends on the type of wood filler. When some of them dry up, they become history. However, some can be restored to functionality by adding hot water and microwaving them. A number of wood fillers can, however, be restored for more use with ordinary water.
Final Verdict
We have provided an expose on the wood filler, but knowing its value for domestic use, we have also meticulously selected and reviewed 11 wood fillers from which you can make a choice if you need one.
There are nonetheless two conclusions for you to consider. Not all information on wood fillers should be believed. Also, wood fillers work best for interior wood.
Last update on 2023-09-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
