The Difference Between Wood Putty and Wood Filler (and When to Use Them)

One of the benefits of using wood to make furniture, structures, and other objects is its ability to be held together using materials such as screws, nails, and glue, as well as methods such as dovetail joining. And because wood is a natural material, when you work with lumber (as opposed to particle board), everything you make will be unique because of the grain and knots.

Wood can also be forgiving in some circumstances, such as when you need to fill in a crack, a nail hole, or a larger missing piece. And here wood putty and wood filler come to the rescue. Here is the difference between wood putty and wood filler and when to use them.

The difference between wood putty and wood putty

Wood putty and wood filler may seem the same, but the materials should not be used interchangeably. Here’s what you need to know about each:

Wood putty

  • Must be applied with a spatula
  • Remains flexible even during use
  • Can’t grind
  • Difficult to color
  • Comes in a variety of colors to match stained or lacquered wood.
  • Can be used indoors or outdoors

wood filler

  • It is usually a mixture of wood fibers (such as sawdust) and a hardening resin (water or oil based) that is absorbed and bonds to the wood fibers.
  • Hardens as it heals
  • Can be sanded
  • Can be painted and matched with wood
  • Usually used for interior woodwork.

When to Use Wood Putty or Wood Putty

Due to their properties and composition outlined above, putty and wood filler are best suited for specific (and different) applications. Here is when to use wood putty versus wood putty:

When to use wood putty

  • On wood products that expand and contract depending on humidity (for example, in a bathroom or basement).
  • On wood that has already been varnished or stained
  • For filling dents , cracks, scratches and small holes in finished furniture, flooring and interior woodwork.
  • For filling potholes and cracks in outdoor timber products
  • To repair cracks in decking boards

When to Use Wood Filler

  • For fixing interior wood products before painting and finishing
  • For filling dents, scratches, holes and gouges in unfinished furniture and wood floors.
  • For shaping damaged edges of worktops, worktops and shelving

In most cases, the decision on which material to use is fairly simple, depending on where the wood is located and whether or not it has been treated.

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