I’ve always been a big fan of wood filler. It’s just so versatile, and it can do almost anything! But there are times when the wood filler you have on hand seems a little bit too hard to use.
Maybe it’s a little too old, or maybe you’re working with harder woods than your favorite DIY projects require—whatever the reason, there are certain situations where it would be nice for your wood filler to be soft enough that it doesn’t crack or crumble as easily.
There’s good news: As long as the open can isn’t completely dry inside (not likely), I’ll show you how to make your batch of harden-up putty soft again so that you can get back to crafting beautiful things!
Can you soften hardwood filler?
Wood filler is a type of putty that is used to fill holes and cracks in wood. It’s made of wood fibers and glue, which makes it very hard when it dries.
However, you can soften hardened wood filler by adding water or paint thinner to the dried material until it becomes soft again. You must work quickly because the softened filler dries out quickly once exposed to air again.
To soften hardened wood filler, add water or paint thinner until the putty becomes soft enough to work with easily — but be careful not to make the mixture too wet!
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Can you add water to wood filler to soften it up?
You can add water to wood filler to make it softer. How much water you want to add depends on the type of wood filler.
If you are using a paste-like filler, you can add a lot more water than if you are using a hard chunkier filler.
For instance, in my test I used two types of wood fillers—the first one was one that I normally use and it has sort of the consistency of peanut butter. The second one was a drier version with a consistency similar to clay or plaster (it was this kind that got soaked up by my fingers when I dipped them in). For example:
- For 1 cup of dry peanut butter-like filler, about ½-1 cup of water was needed before it became pliable enough for me to put into place with no issues.* For 1 cup of dry clay-like filler, about 6 tablespoons were needed before it became pliable enough for me to put into place with no issues.* It took about 10 minutes for these fillers (each) before they were ready for use; however, some people say theirs takes longer than others so be sure not to set your timer too soon!
Can you thin down wood filler?
There are many ways to thin down wood filler, but you’ll want to start by sanding it. You can use a regular piece of sandpaper or a Dremel tool if you have one handy.
If you don’t already have a sander, they’re fairly inexpensive and very useful. You can find them at most hardware stores or home improvement stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot.
How do you save dry wood filler?
Here are some tips on how to save the dry wood filler you’ve been using for years:
- Keep it out of direct sunlight and heat. The sun’s rays will dry out the filler, which can make it hard and brittle.
- Keep it away from moisture. Water will seep into the wood filler and turn it mushy again!
- Don’t store your dried wood filler near chemicals since they can react with each other and ruin both substances forever (and you’ll be left with a gooey mess).
Can you rehydrate wood putty?
If your wood putty has dried out, you can rehydrate it by adding water to it. A sponge is great for this purpose. It’s also possible to use a damp cloth or a wet paper towel.
You could even soak up the excess water with another dry paper towel or cloth.
How do you make dry putty soft again?
If you’ve used a lot of dry putties and need to soften it, add a small amount of water. The water will not only make the dry filler easier to work with but also help remove any excess dust left behind when sanding.
If too much water is added and the dry putty gets too soft, add more dry filler until your desired consistency is achieved.
How do you dissolve wood filler?
You can soften hardwood filler using a heat gun, blow dryer, or even boiling water.
Heat guns are the best option for softening hardened wood filler because they use less energy than an oven and don’t take as long to heat up.
Simply aim the heat gun at the hardened filler until it starts to soften. You may need to apply more pressure as your work progresses—more on this below!
Blow dryers work well too if you’re in a hurry and don’t have access to a heat gun (or if you just prefer them).
Use a low setting so that you don’t burn yourself while trying not to damage your project or burn down your house.
Just like with a heat gun, apply light pressure as needed until all of the filler has softened enough so that it can be scraped off easily with a putty knife or wire brush.
How long does wood filler last after opening?
You may be wondering how long wood filler will last once you’ve opened it. Well, this depends on how you store it.
If you keep it in a cool, dry place, such as your garage or basement (but not exposed to direct sunlight), the wood filler should last for years.
The best thing to do is to keep the canister of wood filler upright so that air flows through the open lid and back into the container when you use some of it.
That way, there won’t be any moisture build-up inside that could cause mold or mildew growth in your unused supply.
Conclusion
We hope this article has been able to answer some of your questions about wood fillers and how to use them.
The most important thing to remember is that there are many different types of wood filler available on the market today, so make sure you choose one that meets your needs before purchasing it!
