Wood filler is a mixture of sawdust and glue that’s used to patch holes and cracks in wood. Wood putty, on the other hand, is white or grey in color, but often has similar properties to wood filler.
In this guide we’ll take a look at some of the most common questions about these two products: does wood filler shrink? does wood filler expand? which is better wood putty or wood filler? does wood filler get hard?
Does wood filler expand?
The answer to this question is a bit tricky. As with all materials, wood filler will expand or contract depending on its environment.
Wood filler shrinks as it dries. When you apply the wood filler to an area and let it dry, the material will shrink down and become denser.
This causes the gaps between your boards to become smaller than before you applied the wood filler.
Wood filler expands when exposed to moisture (humidity). When humidity levels increase in your home or workshop, wood fillers can expand up to 3 times their original size!
Table of Contents
Which is better wood putty or wood filler?
Does wood putty shrink? The answer is yes. Wood putty is a soft material that’s easy to sand. It’s also less expensive than wood filler, which makes it a more economical option for those working on small projects like furniture repair.
However, there are some downsides: wood putty may not be strong enough to hold up against the elements or stress over time and many people find that they have to apply more layers of application than they would with other materials — although this can be easily remedied by purchasing premixed kits from your local hardware store!
Although both products essentially work in the same way (they fill holes in your furniture), there are some key differences between them worth considering before picking one over another for your next project:
Does wood filler get hard?
When you apply the filler, it will get hard in about 24 hours. In order to keep the wood filler moist until it has dried, you should spray it with water from a spray bottle every few hours for at least 24 hours.
If you do not do this, your project may crack or break off as the wood dries out.
Is wood filler stronger than wood?
If you’re using wood filler in a project that requires greater strength than the wood itself, it’s important to choose the right type of filler.
For example, if you are working with a piece of furniture and want to make sure your filler won’t be damaged by daily use, you can use epoxy-based fillers like Bondo.
These types of fillers are designed to withstand high pressure while providing a hard surface that won’t scratch easily.
If your goal is simply to keep paint from peeling off from an old piece of furniture or floorboards, however, another option may be better: polyurethane-based wood fillers like Minwax Wood Hardener Sealer with Polyurethane Glaze or Minwax Clear Fast Drying Polyurethane for Floors & Furniture (Amazon).
These types of fillers are great at protecting surfaces against water damage and wear but aren’t as strong as other varieties when it comes down to daily usage—and they’ll cost more too! It all depends on what kind of project you’re working on and how much abuse it will take from everyday wear and tear.
How long does wood filler take to harden?
It depends on the type of wood filler you are using. Some take several hours to harden, some take 24 hours and others can take a few days or even a week.
You should not use any kind of filler that takes longer than eight hours as it may be too dry and will not adhere properly to your wood surface.
Is wood filler strong enough to screw into?
When it comes to wood filler, the answer is a resounding yes. You can use wood filler as an adhesive when screwing into the wood.
Wood filler will work no matter what type of screw you’re using. If you want to be sure that your screw will stay in place, however, there are a few steps you should take first.
First and foremost, use a Phillips head screwdriver instead of a flathead screwdriver or something else. The reason behind this is that Phillips head screws have ridges that fit into corresponding grooves on the top part of their heads (which means they don’t stick out).
This prevents them from getting stuck when trying to shift them around during installation, which makes them easier for people with arthritis problems who may struggle with gripping things like standard flathead screws do!
Now let’s talk about those pilot holes… A pilot hole is simply an opening made by drilling into the surface beforehand so that when your chisel or drill bit breaks through one side there isn’t any chance of splintering off chunks along with it due to stress fractures caused by having too much cutting force applied rapidly over the too short distance between where they hit first versus where they actually went through altogether.”
What can I use instead of wood filler?
If you’re looking for an alternative to wood filler, consider using caulking. It’s a great option if you don’t have the money or time to wait for wood filler to dry.
Caulk is available at most hardware stores and is easy to apply. Unlike wood filler, it also works well when filling gaps between molding pieces that aren’t flush with each other.
Puttingtputty is another common alternative that can be used in place of wood filler. Putty has become very popular in recent years because it dries much faster than fillers made from chalk or clay.
This makes it easier to work with on a project where there are many small holes or defects in the surface of your piece of furniture or other item being repaired by fixing them with this material instead of waiting days before they’re ready again!
Epoxy Glue also works well as an alternative solution if your project requires quick drying time but doesn’t need as much strength (like when doing repairs on vinyl surfaces).
Can I use caulk instead of wood filler?
Caulk, or silicone-based sealant, is not a substitute for wood filler. Caulk is used to sealing joints and cracks in walls and ceilings, not to fill them.
It’s not strong enough to hold screws, nor does it provide structural support like wood filler will. You can’t use caulk as a gap filler either; it won’t hide knots or small gaps between boards—those require the strength of wood glue mixed with sawdust or sand particles before being shaped into place with your fingers (or a putty knife).
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can say that wood filler has a lot of uses and it can be used in many ways. It is a great alternative to wood putty and it is stronger than just regular glue.
