How To Use Wood Filler

Are you doing your basic carpentry at home yet you mishandled the situation? Like you have put on the effort of hammering the nail on to the wood yet you changed your mind to stack it on to the other end?
Yeah, same mistake that I did.
I was fixing my wood frames and decided to finally hang it on to the wall, yet I accidentally hammered the nail not symmetrical on the center surface of the frame.
I was a bit frustrated because I don’t want my frames to have a lot of holes, it would look like a piece of joke. I had given my time and effort in doing my wood frames then suddenly in just a snap it would turn out like this?
I don’t want to waste the time and effort that I exerted on it. I was thinking how would I fix the holes without compromising the original surface of my project.
After all the hesitations, I was introduced to wood filler. This is a product that is used to create smooth surface repairs to holes in wood. This is all we need to fix the issue. So grab on the necessary tools and materials and let us start the drill.
What You Will Need To Follow This Tutorial
- The wood with holes
- Stainable Wood Filler
- Damp Cloth or scraper
- Filler Knife
- Sand Paper
- Wood Stain or paint
For the wood stain, this can be optional, you may leave your wood with its original color or better to use it to make the wood color even. You may also use a wood filler that matches your wood color.
Step By Step Instructions On How To Use Wood Filler
In this tutorial, we are going to divide the steps into three parts. We should prepare the surface, then fill in the hole and finally finish or coat the area.
Prepare the surface
Step 1: Purchase the wood stain that matches the color of your wood
I would highly suggest to buy and use the stainable wood fillers to ensure that your wood matches the entire surface. However, you can also make your own wood stain fillers by mixing the sawdust and carpenter’s glue that form a paste-like mixture.
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Credit Image: ebay.com
Step 2: Clean the area
Dust off any splinters on the area, use a scraper to flake them off before proceeding to the next step to have a clean and smooth surface.

Credit Image: thespruce.com
Step 3: Sand down the area
The rough and dusty surface may obstruct upon applying the wood filler. So better prep than you regret. Secure the edges and area as well as the hole or scratch.

Credit Image: woodmagazine.com
Step 4: Remove all the dust from sanding
Using the damp cloth or scraper, wipe all the areas with the dust from sanding out. The filler won’t stick if there is sawdust all over the surface.

Credit Image: woodmagazine.com
Filling in the Hole
Step 1: Put the filler into the hole
Put in the filler into the whole, using the filler knife slowly apply it to the damaged area. Make sure that the filler is filled into it.

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Credit Image: Instructibles.com
Step 2: Overload the wood filler into the hole
Since the wood filler will most likely to compress than the amount that you have applied, overload the hole with it to avoid uneven surface.

Credit Image: woodguide.org
Step 3: Smoothen the area with filler knife
Smoothen the area using the filler knife, to make the surface more even after the application of the wood filler.

Credit Image: thespruce.com
Step 4: Let the filler dry
Let the filler dry and make sure that the hole is entirely filled in. You will know when it’s dry if it is already dry. Follow the drying instructions on the container.

Credit Image: ftblog.com
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Coat the area
Step 1: Sand down the surface to make sure that the area is even
You may use sandpaper to smoothen the area. Let the surface gets even and dusts off the sand dust.

Credit Image: designsponge.com
Step 2: Double check if the hole is filled in
Use your bare fingers to test if the hole is filled in, we don’t want our sure to have lumps and bumps. If the hole is not yet filled. Repeat the same process of filling in the wood filler.

Credit Image: blog.cshardware.com
Step 3: Apply the coat or paint on to the surface
Before applying the coat, test first the formula, there might be an oxidation after applying it, if the formula is good, then proceed to apply the coat on to the surface. We want our piece to match the entire surface.

Credit Image: diynetwork.com
And there we have it, we now have the solution to our problem of filling in the hole without wasting our effort. This is a very easy and great idea from our dilemma!
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