Two-part epoxy is one of the top choices for patching large holes. Moldings, sills, doorjambs, baseboard or wood trim with damage or large holes can be repaired with epoxy. The two parts are mixed like dough and can be shaped before or after it dries. Polyester filler is used to repair holes in car bodies.
Unless it's a special filler for a big hole, ready-mixed fillers range in the depths they can fill with the max often being about 20mm.
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.
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.
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.
For larger and deeper holes, apply thin layers to build up thick sections. Allow wood filler to dry before applying next layer. 8. Allow to dry thoroughly before sanding: approximately 2 to 6 hours for shallow fills up to 1/8” and 36 hours for deeper fills 1/4” and over.
Mixing Sawdust and Glue
To create this filler, collect sawdust from sanding the floor or from a similar species of wood. Mix the sawdust with wood glue until it forms a thick paste, then press the mixture into the gaps. Allow it to dry thoroughly before sanding the area smooth and applying a finish.
Ronseal Big Hole Ready Mixed Wall Filler Grey 1.2Ltr (95289) Fills holes up to 50mm deep. High performance filler that gives a perfectly smooth finish. Suitable for drilling, screwing or nailing.
The maximum recommended thickness for body filler is . 25”. If you feel the need to go thicker than . 25”, you should really look into using a glass-reinforced filler before the application of body filler.
Caulk, sealants, expanding foam, backer rod, grout, and mortar are among the most commonly used substances for this purpose, offering versatility and durability in different contexts. When selecting the appropriate material for filling a particular gap, several factors must be taken into account.
Dental bonding, or cosmetic bonding, is the easiest, quickest, and most economical way to fix a gap between teeth.
Wood filler is not suitable for exterior use. Difficult to adhere to stained or painted finishes.
Wood putty is a compound designed for repairing holes in wood. It's available both pre-made and as a powder that you mix with water. Its color closely resembles wood, making it ideal for blending in holes when the wood grain remains visible, like on wooden furniture.
Minwax® Wood Putty®
A non-hardening, pre-mixed putty color-matched to Minwax® Wood Finish™ stains and intended to repair minor scratches, gouges and nail holes. Various colors available.
Cuprinol Ultra Tough Wood Filler hardens by chemical reaction. It is fast setting, non-shrinking, weather resistant with good adhesion to sound wood. It can be sanded, filled, drilled, screwed and nailed when dry.
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.
If working with rotted or soft wood, remove loose material and apply Minwax® High Performance Wood Hardener to strengthen wood fibers and to form a solid base for filling.