6 Best Wood Fillers On The Market

If you have a DIY project working with wood, or there are some maintenance issues that you need to fix, a must-have for the activity is a wood filler.

It is a substance that is generally applied as a final touch up once the rest of your project is ready for painting.

Wood filler doesn’t usually require sanding once it has been put in place, unlike a similar product, wood putty; which is applied during wood maintenance activities and involves more effort to place.

There are many different brands and varieties, so particularly for first-time buyers, it can be difficult to decide which one to get.

Here are 6 of the best wood fillers to buy.

1. Dr Schutz X-tra Fill Wood Filler

   

The X-tra fill will hide holes and other marks on a hardwood floor, and under normal conditions generally takes just under 2 hours to dry.

For this wood mixture to be effective, it requires sawdust; so, if your project involves sanding or sawing wood, make sure you save the shavings for this.

This wood filler is a water-based mixture, and once made, simply needs to be spread evenly across the grain of the wood using a wood filler spatula.

The biggest issue with this product is that it thickens quickly, however, there is a  YouTube video explaining how to do it can prevent this problem.

2. 3M Bondo Home Solutions Wood Filler

   

Bondo is one of the best wood fillers available because it can rebuild, restore, and replace rotted segments of wood on doors, furniture, fences, etc.

This is a two-part filler and doesn’t shrink. It is an effective material that settles enough in just fifteen minutes to be considered wood and can be sanded, drilled, and sawed in that time.

Another ten minutes after that, and the product will be ready for painting and staining; whatever you want to do with it. The biggest problem with this wood filler is that since it hardens very fast, you only have a few minutes to apply it; but this can be fixed by making a lighter mixture.

3. FamoWood 40022126 Latex Wood Filler

   

Much like the last product, the Famowood wood filler dries fast; being drillable in just fifteen minutes, and completely dry and hard within half an hour. It is very similar to Bondo, as it can also fix up and hide rotted patches of wood in just about any wood surface you can think of.

The biggest difference to make this one of the best wood fillers is that it is non-solvent, which means this product has minimal odor, unlike many other fillers.

There is more of a color range to select the right color to match your wood. Once again, the biggest problem is that is dries fast, so when you’re not using the mixture, be sure to close the can properly so it can’t dry.

4. Minwax 21600000 High-Performance Wood Filler

   

Minwax wood filler is also a good product to use as it is generally used to fill gouges and holes in split, damaged, and rotted wood, and permanently repairs it.

It is a very versatile product as it strongly bonds to many rigid surfaces other than wood, including ceramics, cement, metal, and fiberglass.

The filler can also be used as a wood adhesive to do things such as anchor screws in place, and secure loose joints in furniture. It doesn’t settle as quickly as some of the other products, but the weather and waterproof filler seems to do the job well.

5. Timbermate Maple/Beech/Pine Hardwood Wood Filler

   

Timbermate is the best wood filler to solve the problem of the mixture drying out too fast. It is a water-based filler, so when the tin dries out, the best way to get it back to its original texture is to just add water. Much like the stereotypical Australian, this Australian-made product is very easy-going.

It takes up to half an hour to dry, but if you want it done faster, it can be heated with a heat gun or lamp. The product can also be used as more than just a filler, and can be tinted when wet, or overstained when dry.

There are also a variety of colors to match the timber the filler is being used with. The biggest issue with this product is its smell, but that shouldn’t be as much of a problem whilst wearing a face mask.

6. Elmer’s Products, Inc Elmer’s E842L Carpenter’s Wood Filler

   

Elmer’s wood filler is a simple filler that hides and repairs gouges, holes, dents, and scratches across different wooden constructions. It is an interior mixture that resists both shrinking and cracking, so it won’t have to be reapplied in the future.

Once the product dries, it is easy to sand down to create a smooth finish; and when it is no longer needed, any mess made can be easily cleaned with water.

The main problem with Elmer’s wood filler is that the container is only airtight if shut firmly and none of the mixture has fallen around the rims of it. If the container falls, or gets rattled around in a vehicle, the lid comes loose then, too; so, it is suggested that if purchasing this product, it gets stored in a better airtight container to prevent the filler from drying out.

What to Consider When Buying Wood Fillers

There are different types of wood fillers designed for specific things. As you could probably guess from reading about 6 of the best wood fillers, there are some that work for simple things such as patching up a hole here or there; and then there are brands that have mixtures that even fix rotted wood.

One thing to think about is the type of project you’re working on. If it’s a quick patch up or new DIY project with fresh timber, then you probably won’t need one of the ones that work on rotted wood; but if your project does use older, damaged wood, then those fillers would be best.

Another thing to consider is getting a face mask because of the products used in the wood fillers. In general, all wood fillers are going to smell, and even a water-based one will leave an odor; but that’s not why this is suggested, although it may alleviate some of the smell.

A lot of the fillers contain things such as acrylic, latex, and solvents; and these can be toxic if you inhale too much of it.

If you are unsure about what type of wood filler is best for your project or don’t know what other tools you may need, there are plenty of experts who will be willing to help you both online and in-store – all you need to do is ask!

Overall, when performing DIY projects with wood, or just doing some timber maintenance, it is important to consider using wood fillers for the final touches before painting or staining the construction, as it adds a smoother finish.

The 6 best wood fillers to buy are all sturdy products that can aid a wooden project’s needs.

The only thing left to do is consider which filler is the most suitable so that any construction you are working on becomes a finished masterpiece.