What’s The Difference Between Wood Putty and Wood Filler?
Published October 17, 2023
If you’re a woodworking enthusiast, like me, or just looking to fix wood surfaces, understanding the difference between wood putty vs wood filler is essential.
Wood putty is a soft and moldable material for minor repairs like filling nail holes. It’s for cosmetic purposes and can be painted or stained over. Wood filler is thicker and used for more extensive repairs, such as filling bigger gaps and fixing damaged areas. Once dried, the wood filler can be sanded, shaped, and drilled into. Use wood putty for minor surface issues and wood filler for more extensive or structural repairs.
These two are integral products in solving cosmetic blemishes and imperfections on wood. But they are not the same; their uses and applications differ. This article will cover the differences between wood fillers and wood putty and when to use one.
Wood Putty vs Wood Filler
Wood Putty
Wood putty is often referred to as “plastic wood” and is applied on wood surfaces that have been stained or varnished. The first main difference between wood putty and wood fillers comes in the material it is made with.
Wood putties use synthetic materials like epoxy or polyurethane. This makes them pliable even after drying and generally unsuitable for raw wood. This flexibility helps fill small holes, cracks, and divots in the wood’s surface. Because wood putties are used on finished surfaces, they come in different tints to match such.
The following are some of the benefits of using wood putty for your project:
- Application – Wood putty is flexible. It gives you the luxury of patching up tiny cracks and significant imperfections. Use a putty knife to cover more expansive areas. Once satisfied with your work, you can wipe off the extra wood putty and wait for it to set. After drying, you’ll want to sand the surface to achieve a smooth finish.
- Color Combinations – As mentioned, wood putty comes in different tints. They can match or contrast the wood surface you are working with. Of course, you’ll generally want to keep the shade in line with the wood. This is to avoid drawing too much attention to the imperfection.
- Long-lasting – When stored in a cool and dry place, the wood putty should last up to 20 years. Even if you only use a small part of it for your project, you can stow the rest for another project. Additionally, when you apply wood putty onto wooden furniture or fixtures, you can expect it to be durable enough that you won’t have to replace it.
Wood Fillers
Now, let’s move on to wood fillers. Wood fillers are typically a combination of wood byproducts. They are made of sawdust suspended in a water- or petroleum-based binder that dries rock solid. This is another difference between wood fillers and wood putties. Wood fillers dry into a hard finish, whereas wood putties are more flexible.
While most wood fillers turn out hard, this doesn’t add to the structural integrity of the wood it is applied on. Another key difference is that wood fillers come untinted and stained along with the rest of the wood after drying and sanding.
Water-based vs. Petroleum-based Wood Fillers
The two primary classifications of wood fillers are water-based and petroleum-based. Water-based wood fillers tend to be more crumbly in texture. But you can change the consistency by adding water as desired. You can identify water-based fillers as water is indicated in the description as a solvent for cleaning up tools used.
Petroleum-based wood fillers come in a much smoother texture and consistency. These fillers will also need chemical solvents to clean up. Petroleum-based wood fillers are functional in sealing the outermost surface. It protects the wood against moisture and humidity, which could cause rotting.
These are some of the benefits of using wood fillers:
- Quick-drying – Unlike wood putty, which remains wet and flexible even after a few hours, wood fillers dry much quicker into a hardened finish. Wood fillers are perfect as a quick fix, as some available in the market can dry in as little as 10 minutes.
- Ideal for Porous wood – Wood filler’s consistency makes it terrible for application on finished wood. But, it will take raw, porous wood extremely well, readily filling holes and cracks.
When To Use Wood Putty or Filler
Both products can be significantly beneficial in repairing wood products when used appropriately. Because of its chemical makeup, wood putty is not entirely suitable for raw wood, causing more harm than good on most occasions. It could damage the surface of your wooden piece before you can sand and stain it.
Wood tends to shrink and expand depending on environmental factors. Wood fillers dry up rock-hard, lacking the flexibility to adapt to wood warping. So they can easily break. Applying wood fillers on indoor wood furniture would be best to avoid further damage.
Still confused? Here is another article that can be helpful: Wood Putty vs. Wood Filler: Which Should You Use?
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About The Author
Experience, exploration, and knowledge are the hallmarks of writer Rei Bayucca. Her dedication to crafting articles that both inspire and educate will leave you thinking long after you’ve finished reading.
