Spackle is a lightweight compound primarily used for filling holes and cracks in drywall or plaster. Wood putty, however, is specifically formulated for wood surfaces, offering better adhesion and flexibility to blend seamlessly with the wood grain.
Fix scratches with a fill stick, restore moulding with hot glue, and cover damage with wood filler. Sand and paint for a beautiful finish.
Tip. While caulk is sometimes used to fill nail holes in painted trim, caulk tends to be messier and shrinks more than wood filler. Plus, caulk cannot be sanded smooth like filler can.
Don't caulk. Use spackle or wood filler. Caulk will contract a bit and leave you with dimples. Spackle will contract less, filler even less. Filler is the best, IMHO. There's an easy way to do this: Apply with finger and then immediately wipe down gently with a just barely damp sponge.
Wood Filler: As the name suggests, wood filler is intended for use on wood. It's perfect for woodworking projects, repairing wood trim, and addressing imperfections in wooden surfaces. Spackle: For drywall repairs, you should use spackle.
If the gap at the top is really wide, I use Alex painter's caulk, then press it flat, parallel with the top of the baseboard. Most of the time, my drywall is straight enough, and the trim is flexible enough, that I can nail and glue the gap shut. Gaps at the floor can be covered with toe mold.
You shouldn't use wood filler on wood that is already finished or on wood that is to be used in an exterior setting. Wood filler shrinks and hardens and will fail in the event of expansion and contraction, which is much more likely in exterior uses than interior uses.
Filling Nail Holes
Holes in wood trim are best filled with wood filler. Nail holes in exterior surfaces, just as with cracks or gaps, can be dealt with using a good caulking. Take the time before you apply any paint on your next project to fill all of the gaps, cracks, and nail holes.
When installing new baseboards, there's a small gap between the baseboard and the wall. You should seal this gap with caulk before painting the baseboards to create a clean, professional-looking finish.
It is incredibly important to ensure that you use a primer over the spackle spot area before you paint the wall. When you don't use a primer, it will be much more likely that the spackle spot will stick out. Spackle is a more porous substance than the materials that make up the surrounding wall.
Wood filler is typically made of wood byproducts, such as sawdust or wood dust, suspended in a water- or petroleum-based medium. Wood putty is a pliable mixture of chemicals and colorants to fill imperfections in finished wood surfaces.
Depends on the type of trim used. Wood trim that will be stained (very rare nowadays) you would want to use wood filler and sand it once dry.
Wood filler is not suitable for exterior use. Difficult to adhere to stained or painted finishes.
Wood filler tends to shrink and crack. It doesn't smooth out as well which can be visible when paint is applied. Doesn't dry very hard and can be easily dented and stay malleable with larger repairs.
You can fill gaps up to 1/8". For wider gaps, it may be more aesthetically pleasing to insert a matching wood "sliver" or "dutchman" before applying the filler. This approach provides a more seamless and natural appearance.
Allow your wood filler to dry and cure completely. This can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours, depending on your wood filler.
Caulk the miters (corner joints of baseboards)
You can caulk the outside miters, too, but wood filler works better. With a putty knife, spread the wood filler, allow it to dry, then sand it smooth for a perfect miter.
Caulking is required if there is a gap of at least one-eighth of an inch between the flooring and the baseboard. This helps to protect them from moisture and dust. Caulk should ideally be applied to solid surfaces such as stone, wood, and other similar materials for the best results.
I use caulking to fill those small gaps and cracks that form between trims pieces, and, between the trim and the wall. Position the nozzle near one side of the crack, pull the trigger until the caulking starts to flow out and slowly drag the nozzle along the length of the crack until it's completely covered.
Elmer's Probond Wood Filler
Elmer's ProBond was easy to apply, thanks to its slightly wet consistency. We felt that the finish it left behind was also very strong. Although the filler was slightly grainy, it seemed to fill the pores nicely on the test piece.
Also spackle may be able to fill small holes in wood, but its not specifically designed for this purpose and may not provide the best finish. In a pinch, I've used spackle to fill in holes in wood trim, but you'll always get better results using wood filler.