Have you ever admired a beautifully restored wooden piece, only to notice a tiny, distracting gouge or crack? It’s frustrating when a small flaw mars a big project! Wood putty seems like the simple answer, but stepping into the hardware store aisle can feel like entering a maze. Should you choose a ready-to-use tub or a mix-it-yourself powder? Does color matching really work?
Choosing the wrong wood putty can lead to peeling, shrinking, or a patch that clearly stands out—wasting your time and money. You need a solution that blends seamlessly and lasts for years. This guide cuts through the confusion. We will break down the different types of wood putty, explain when and where to use each one, and share pro tips for achieving invisible repairs.
Keep reading to become a wood putty expert! By the end of this post, you will confidently select the perfect filler for any wooden repair job, ensuring your next restoration project looks flawless from every angle.
Top Wood Putty Recommendations
- Gorilla tough: Gorilla Wood Filler is the go-to product for strong water resistant repairs on cracks, gouges and holes
- Natural finish: Our unique wood putty formula is easy to spread, allowing for a smooth natural finish
- Use indoors or outdoors: This wood filler putty is water resistant and does not shrink or crack, making it perfect for indoor or outdoor* projects and repairs
- Customizable: We want your wood repair to be the way you like it, so we made this wood filler paintable, stainable, and sandable
- Not just for looks: Gorilla wood putty filler also anchors nails and screws, making it a useful addition to your carpentry tools
- Gorilla tough: Gorilla Wood Filler is the go-to product for strong water resistant repairs on cracks, gouges and holes
- Natural finish: Our unique wood putty formula is easy to spread, allowing for a smooth natural finish
- Use indoors or outdoors: This wood filler putty is water resistant and does not shrink or crack, making it perfect for indoor or outdoor* projects and repairs
- Customizable: We want your wood repair to be the way you like it, so we made this wood filler paintable, stainable, and sandable
- Not just for looks: Gorilla wood putty filler also anchors nails and screws, making it a useful addition to your carpentry tools
- Multi-Purpose 2-Part Epoxy Putty: This professional-grade, 2-part epoxy putty acts as an all-in-one repair kit for plumbing leaks, pool cracks, holes, and uneven surfaces across a wide range of materials. Whether you're working with metal, plastic, wood, tile, ceramic, stone, glass, or acrylic—this high-adhesion filler bonds strongly and delivers durable, long-lasting repairs.
- High-Strength & Sculpt-Friendly Formula: Crafted from premium epoxy resin, hardener, and reinforced fillers, this white epoxy putty offers exceptional strength and outstanding adhesion. It remains easy to shape and mold by hand, yet cures to a hard, shrink-resistant finish that won’t crack—making it perfect for both functional repairs and creative sculpting.
- Easy to Use: Mix, Mold, and Fix in Minutes: Simply cut equal parts of the A and B components, knead together until uniformly off-white, and apply within 30 minutes. The putty sets firmly in place and fully cures within 24 hours. Note: For best results, apply to dry surfaces.
- Durable & Resilient in Tough Conditions: Engineered to resist water, oil, acids, impact, and corrosion, this epoxy putty performs reliably in temperatures from -58°F to 266°F. It’s non-toxic, odor-free, and safe for indoor use—ideal for repairing pipes, bathtubs, faucets, furniture, sculptures, concrete, and more.
- Self-Curing Epoxy Putty: After Cure, It’s Ready for Finishing. Once fully hardened (after 24 hours), this epoxy clay can be sanded, drilled, tapped, or painted to achieve a seamless finish. For later use, store unused portions in a sealed plastic bag—the putty remains workable and effective for future repairs.
- DAP plastic wood filler looks and acts like real wood; ideal for corners and vertical surfaces on interior or exterior wood
- Easy-to-use, latex-based formula can be planed, cut, drilled, screwed, nailed, sanded, stained and painted, unlike many wood putty fillers
- Natural wood filler is shrink, crack and crumble resistant with strong nail and screw anchoring for easy wood repairs
- Thick, knife grade formula can be molded and sculpted allowing it to fill any shape imperfection
- Low odor wood filler dries in 3 to 6 hours for repairs up to 1/8" in depth and 36 hours for deeper fills 1/4" and over
- 【Repair kit included】Our wood putty filler repair kit includes 1 wood putty (280g), 2 scrapers, 2 sandpapers.
- 【Easy To Use】BONCART Wood Putty can quickly repair various wood damages, including hardwood furniture, fixing nail holes, potholes, dents, cracks, and any other damages. With a fine texture, this wood putty is easy to apply and sand, providing long-lasting protection for your wooden furniture.
- 【High Quality & Safe Materials】This wood filler is very safe, we use non-toxic natural high quality material components made, it does not contain formaldehyde, no harm to your health, you can rest assured to buy.
- 【Wide Application】BONCART wood putty filler is ideal for wood furniture breakage repair, very suitable for cabinets, tables, wood floors, doors and any other wood furniture and wood crafts surface scratches, can be repaired quickly, saving you time.
- 【Quick Repair Wood Putty】Our wood filler putty is not only designed for professionals, but DIY enthusiasts can also use it easily. If you have any questions about our wood putty, please feel free to contact us, we will provide you with a satisfactory solution!
- WOOD PUTTY – Minwax Wood Putty is a non-hardening, pre-mixed putty color-matched to Minwax Wood Finish stains and intended to repair minor scratches, gouges, and nail holes.
- REPAIR CRACKS – The durable wood putty is ideal for filling nail holes and covering other minor imperfections in bare, painted, stained, and finished wood.
- GOLDEN OAK PUTTY – The oak wood putty is pre-mixed to color-match Minwax Wood Finish Wood Stain colors Fruitwood, Golden Oak, Puritan Pine, and Weathered Oak.
- EASY TO APPLY – Easily apply the non-hardening nail hole filler for wood with a putty knife. No sanding necessary!
- A BRAND YOU CAN TRUST – Minwax is America’s leading brand of wood finishing and wood care projects. Since 1904, we have been inspiring consumers to Keep on Finishing. We offer consumers a complete line of products to meet every wood finishing need.
- J-B WELD KWIKWOOD: A hand mixable two part epoxy putty stick that is formulated to repair and rebuild wood. J-B Weld KwikWood is designed for all wood household DIY repairs!
- CURE AND SET TIME: After kneading the two part formula together by hand, KwikWood takes 15-25 minutes to set and cures in 1 hour. J-B Weld KwikWood set and cure color is a light tan.
- PRODUCT FEATURES AND STRENGTH: J-B Weld KwikWood has lap shear strength of 900 PSI. KwikWood will not shrink or rot and can be stained, molded, tapped, drilled, sanded and shaped.
- APPLICATIONS: Window/Door Hinge Repairs, Dry Rot Repairs, Gouges and cracks in furniture, knot hole repairs, gap fillers and more!
- DO IT YOURSELF: Big or small, you can DIY it with J-B Weld. Our heavy duty epoxy and adhesives repair & restore it right the first time. J-B Weld delivers superior performance, quality, and results for the World’s Strongest Bond.
- Stainable wood filler looks and acts like real wood; ideal for corners and vertical surfaces on interior or exterior wood
- Easy-to-use, latex-based formula can be planed, cut, drilled, screwed, nailed, sanded, stained and painted, unlike many wood putty fillers
- DryDex Dry Time Indicator goes on pink and dries natural providing confirmation the product is dry for easy wood repairs
- Thick, knife grade formula can be molded and sculpted allowing it to fill any shape imperfection
- Low odor wood filler dries in 3 to 6 hours for repairs up to 1/8" in depth and 36 hours for deeper fills 1/4" and over
The Essential Wood Putty Buying Guide
Wood putty is a fantastic tool for fixing dents, holes, and cracks in wood. It helps make old wood look new again. Choosing the right one can make your repair job easy and long-lasting. This guide will help you pick the best wood putty for your project.
Key Features to Look For
When you shop, check these important features first. They tell you how well the putty will work.
1. Drying Time
Some putties dry very fast. Others take much longer. Fast-drying putty lets you sand and paint sooner. Slower drying putty gives you more time to shape it perfectly before it hardens.
2. Shrinkage and Cracking
Good putty does not shrink much as it dries. If it shrinks a lot, it creates a dip in your repair. The best putties also resist cracking after they dry hard. Look for labels that promise minimal shrinkage.
3. Sandability
You must be able to sand the putty smooth to match the wood. Very hard putties are tough to sand. Putty that is too soft crumbles when you sand it. The ideal putty sands down smoothly, like soft wood.
4. Interior vs. Exterior Use
Check where you can use the putty. Exterior putties need to handle rain, sun, and temperature changes. Interior putties do not need this tough resistance. Always buy the right type for the location.
Important Materials Matter
Wood putty is usually made from a few main ingredients. These ingredients decide how strong and flexible the final repair is.
- Wood Fibers or Flour: These bulk up the putty and help it blend with real wood. More wood fibers often mean better color matching.
- Binders (Glue): Binders hold everything together. Strong binders make the putty durable.
- Solvents or Water: These make the putty soft enough to spread. Water-based putties clean up easily with soap and water. Oil-based putties often last longer outdoors.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
What makes one can of putty better than another? Small differences in the formula make a big impact on quality.
Quality Boosters:
High-quality putties often contain strong synthetic resins. These resins improve water resistance. Putties that are pre-tinted to match common wood colors are also higher quality because they save you mixing time.
Quality Reducers:
Cheap fillers can hurt the putty. Putties that use too much inert filler (stuff that doesn’t help bonding) tend to crumble. Also, putties that have been left open too long dry out in the can, making them hard to use and reducing their quality.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use the putty defines your experience. Think about the job you need to do.
Easy Spreading:
For small nail holes, you need a very smooth, easy-to-spread putty. You can push this into the hole without much effort. A good user experience means the putty holds its shape when you press it in.
Heavy Repairs:
For large gouges, you need a thicker, more structural putty. This putty should hold its shape well, even when applied in thick layers. You should be able to build up the repair slowly.
Finishing:
The best putties take stains and paint well. If you plan to stain the wood, make sure the putty is stainable. Most putties are paintable, but always check the label if you want a perfect finish.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Wood Putty
Q: What is the main difference between wood filler and wood putty?
A: Wood filler is usually for smaller holes and is often water-based and dries fast. Wood putty is generally oil-based, stays softer longer, and is better for outdoor or large repairs.
Q: Can I use wood putty outside?
A: Yes, but only if the product specifically says it is for exterior use. Exterior putty resists weather better.
Q: How long does wood putty take to dry?
A: Drying time varies greatly. Some dry in 30 minutes, while others need 24 hours before you can sand them.
Q: Do I need to prime wood putty before painting it?
A: It is usually recommended. Priming helps the paint stick evenly and prevents the putty from soaking up too much paint.
Q: Can I mix different colors of wood putty together?
A: Yes, you can mix colors to get a better match for your wood. This takes practice, but it works well for custom shades.
Q: What happens if I apply wood putty too thickly?
A: If applied too thick, it might crack as it dries, or the middle might take days to harden completely.
Q: Is wood putty safe to use around children or pets?
A: Oil-based putties have strong smells (solvents) and need good ventilation. Water-based putties are usually safer once they are dry.
Q: How do I clean up putty tools?
A: For water-based putty, use warm, soapy water. For oil-based putty, you must use mineral spirits or paint thinner.
Q: What is the best way to get a perfect color match?
A: Buy a putty that is designed to be stainable. Test a small amount in an unseen area first, as stain absorption varies.
Q: Can wood putty fix rotten wood?
A: No. Putty fills holes in sound wood. You must remove all soft, rotten wood before applying putty to the solid wood underneath.