I’m a DIYer and I have a confession to make: I’ve never used wood filler. It’s just never seemed like the right tool for the job, and I’ve always been able to find another way to deal with gaps or dings in wood.
But now that we’re weeks into our honeymoon renovation project, and there are still nicks and holes in our newly painted walls (damn you, under-cabinet lighting), it’s time for me to step up my game. And that means learning how to fill gaps in wood without bringing out the big guns—like spackling (aka wood filler).
How big of a gap can wood filler fill?
The size of the gap filler you need depends on the type. A wide gap can be filled with one or two large pieces of wood filler, or with individual pieces of filler that are smaller than a nail head.
For example, if you have an 8-inch long 2-inch deep hole in your wall, try using a large piece of putty instead of several small ones.
Wide gaps are often caused by water damage, so they’ll need more reinforcement than regular gaps that occur from normal wear and tear (such as when removing wallpaper).
The best way to do this is by applying some liquid Nails Hide Glue – it works just like super glue but won’t dry out over time and leave an ugly residue behind when you’re trying to fill in those cracks!
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What to use to fill in gaps in wood?
- Use a wood filler (glue, putty) to fill in gaps and cracks. Wood fillers come in different colors so you can match your existing wood perfectly or contrast with it for an accent. They are easy to use — just open the tube and apply the filler with a putty knife or plastic trowel. Once it dries, sand down any excess filler and seal with paint or varnish for long-lasting protection against water damage.
How do you fill a 1/4 inch gap in wood?
In this case, the best solution is to use a wood filler or putty. Both of these products are made from sawdust and glue that’s been mixed with water, and they’re available in a variety of colors.
Wood glue can also be used for gaps as small as 1/2 inch—you just need to apply it carefully so it doesn’t drip out of the gap.
How do you fill gaps in wood without wood filler?
- Chisel and hammer: Position the chisel at a 45-degree angle to the surface of your wood. Strike it with your hammer, driving it into the gap. Do this around each side of the gap until you’ve removed as much as possible.
- Putty knife: Apply some pressure to one side of your putty knife and push down onto your surface to create a groove along one edge of it (in other words, make sure that there is no way for any excess glue to leak out). Fill this groove with wood filler and smooth out any rough edges by scraping them against another piece of scrap wood or sandpaper (depending on if you’re using stain or not), then repeat for all sides of your gap until all holes are filled up completely.
- Router: If neither chiseling nor filling works well enough on their own, consider using a router instead! A router will remove more material than either method alone—but be careful not to go too deep because doing so may weaken surrounding areas significantly over time due to excessive wear caused by friction between materials during contact (which could lead us back again).
Is it better to use wood filler or caulk?
If you have gaps of 1/8 inch or less, caulk is the better option. Caulk is easy to use and is more durable than wood filler.
It also dries faster, which means that you can clean up after yourself sooner. If your gap is larger than an inch, wood filler may be a better choice because it’s stronger than caulk and can fill in larger gaps more easily.
Should I use wood putty or wood filler?
If you have a small gap to fill, I recommend using wood putty. Wood fillers are better used for larger gaps.
Putties and fillers work in a similar way: they’re both used to fill holes, cracks, and gouges in your wood projects.
They come in the form of a powder that you mix with water before applying it directly to the surface of your project. The difference lies in their consistency and how much time they take to dry.
Putties tend to be thicker than fillers; this makes them easier on your hands but more difficult when trying to spread over large areas of wood (which is why we recommend using fillers).
How do you fill a large gap?
To fill a large gap, you’ll want to use a putty knife or putty spatula to apply the filler. Apply it in small pats and let it dry for about 20 minutes before sanding away the excess.
Sand down any excess wood filler by hand with 120 grit sandpaper or use an orbital sander to get rid of all that pesky filler!
Can wood glue fill gaps?
- Wood glue is a good option if you want to fill small gaps in wood. It can be used to fill cracks as well, but it’s not as effective at filling larger gaps.
- Wood glue is water resistant and flexible, making it one of the most versatile materials for filling gaps in wood.
- The flexibility of wood glue makes it easy to use; simply brush or paint it into the gap, then sand off any excess using fine-grit sandpaper. You can also stain your project after gluing up if you wish.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has helped you learn more about the process of filling gaps in wood. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below!
