Wood fillers are designed to do just that: fill gaps, cracks, and holes in wood. But sometimes you don’t want the filler to be quite so… filler-y.
In fact, you might prefer it if your wood filler blended in with the rest of the wood rather than standing out as an obvious patch.
This is where your local hardware store comes in handy — they may have some easy solutions for darkening wood filler.
How do you add color to wood filler?
To darken wood filler, you have a few options:
- Use a tintable wood filler. This is the easiest option, but it will be more work than necessary for most people. If you can find one that matches your color and achieves the look that you want, go for it!
- Use a stainable wood filler. This may require mixing two or more colors together to get the desired result, so keep that in mind when choosing which type of stainable wood filler would work best for you (if any).
- Use a colored wood filler. You’ll need to match this with an appropriate tintable or stainable version of your choice as well as with whatever finish product will be applied afterward (e.g., polyurethane).
Table of Contents
How do you make dark wood filler?
- Use a dark wood filler (darker than the wood you’re covering).
- Use a dark stain (darker than the wood you’re covering).
- Use a dark paint or stain that is not too glossy (darker than the wood you’re covering; use matte or flat finishes if possible).
Can I put a stain over wood filler?
While wood filler is a great way to fill holes in your wood, it can be difficult to match the color of the filler with the surrounding wood. Fortunately, there are two ways you can darken your wood filler:
- Using a darker stain
- Use a stain that is compatible with both the filler and your existing wooden furniture
How do you make wood filler look like a stain?
If you want to make wood filler look like a stain, use the following:
- A darker color of wood filler. This is the most obvious solution, but it’s also the easiest one. If you need to darken a piece of furniture, try using a darker shade of wood filler over top of your existing project. Be sure that they match in a tone so that they don’t clash when they’re put together!
- Stain and paint. If you’re working on an outdoor piece or something similar that can withstand exposure to water, consider applying both a stain and paint over top of your already existing work area. The two will help each other set more quickly (and more evenly) than if either was used alone because their pigments are complementary rather than identical in hue; this means that when mixed together they’ll create a new hue altogether which won’t look exactly like either one by itself but still provides an authentic-looking finish nonetheless!
- Paint + Wood Filler + Stain = Perfection? Although not necessary for all projects (especially those where only minimal touch-ups need doing), if time permits then why not try mixing these three together into one cohesive compound? It’ll add depth without sacrificing durability!
How do you hide wood filler?
- Use a darker color filler. If you don’t want to sand the wood filler down and start over, your best bet might be to use a darker color filler. This can be done by simply adding more of the same type of wood putty or by mixing in some pigment (this will help make sure that it matches the surrounding area).
- Use a dark stain. Wood stains are great because they give you options when it comes to how dark or light you want your project to look overall, and they’re easy to apply as well! You’ll need some rubbing alcohol and Q-tips for this method, which should take no longer than 15 minutes depending on how large an area needs filling.
- Paint over with dark paint or stain: The final option is simply painting over with dark paint or stain if you prefer not to have any gaps showing through after finishing off your project with something lighter like white paint! Just remember not to forget about those corners/edges so nothing gets missed during application process – especially since this method tends to take longer than others due to good drying time needed before an application can begin again later on down line once dry enough conditions exist.”
How do you make wood filler look like wood?
You can do this by using a wood filler that is tinted to the color of your wood. If you don’t have a color match, or if you are trying to match an existing piece of furniture, then there are many ways to get the job done.
One surefire way is to use acrylic paint and apply it with a small brush or foam roller. The key here is not to let any excess dry on the surface because it will be very hard (if not impossible) to sand off later on!
It also helps if you wipe off any residue as soon as possible before it dries completely so there will be less work in removing it later on.
Another option is staining your wood filler with stain before applying it over top of the existing finish in order for both coats of stain to match each other perfectly – although this method may end up darker than what you want your final result to look like once dried.
Can wood filler be tinted?
Yes, wood filler can be tinted. To do so, mix the desired color into a small amount of wood filler. Once you have reached the desired color, add a small amount of paint thinner (or water) to thin it out and make it easier to spread across your project.
Can you mix sawdust with wood filler?
Yes. You can use sawdust to make wood filler look like a stain, or you can use it to make the color of your wood filler more uniform.
Sawdust is also useful for hiding the texture of your patch coats, which are applied when you’re working on an area that has visible ridges.
Conclusion
Here’s how to darken wood filler:
Apply a coat of paint or stain in the color you want. Let it dry. Sand the surface of the wood filler with fine-grit sandpaper until the surface feels smooth and even.
Apply a second coat of paint or stain (as many as needed) and let it dry completely before using again.