If you have a wooden piece that needs fixing, you may be wondering what type of wood filler is best for the job. Wood fillers are designed to fill cracks and holes, and nowadays, you can even find wood fillers that allow you to screw or drill into them after filling, so you can customize your piece even further.
If you have heard the buzz about drillable wood fillers, then you are probably wondering how well they work and whether they are worth a try. In this article, we will walk you through a few types of drillable wood fillers and how well they work.
What is drillable wood filler? Wood filler is often used to smooth and fill in the cracks and holes in the wood or smooth and hide the heads of screws and nails in the wood, giving your creation a smooth and seamless appearance. Some types of wood fillers are strong enough to be drilled into as if it’s wood, like epoxy filler.
Anything that’s made of wood, when subjected to humidity, heat, or sunlight, can sometimes crack or split. When the crack is small, you don’t have to replace the entire piece; there are quick fixes that allow you to restore the look of the wood without too much money or effort.
Most wood fillers have two components: binding agents and filling substances. It has the texture of putty, which allows you to easily apply it over cracks and holes. When dry, the wood fillers will harden, and you can sand it to smooth out the surface.
You can find wood fillers in all kinds of varieties, and you can even match the color of the wood filler to your wood for a seamless look.
Types Of Wood Filler You Can Drill Into
If you want to do further work on your piece after repairing it with wood fillers, then you will need to get a wood filler that will dry hard and sturdy and even hold your screws firmly in place as you work.
Keep in mind that no matter how hard the wood filler is, it is still not wood, which means you can drill and screw into the wood filler, but it will not have the structural integrity of the wood. If you are drilling into the wood filler to hold up a shelf, remember to keep a light load because the wood filler won’t be able to support heavier weight by itself.
Let’s take a look at some drillable wood fillers below.
1. Epoxy Wood Fillers
The best wood filler you can use is any type of filler made from epoxy. Epoxy is essentially plastic that is liquid when activated and dries hard, which is why this material is best used for painting over and drilling into.
Epoxy wood fillers use resin and a hardener to activate the solution. Once the epoxy is properly cured (around 48 hours or so), it will create a durable and hard-wearing surface that you can sand and drill into.
These wood fillers are very stable and can resist shrinking and expanding once they’re dried. They also keep the wood from getting damaged once exposed to moisture. They can also be stained or painted once they cure.
When using an epoxy wood filler, make sure to avoid air bubbles. If you have air bubbles trapped inside the epoxy, the wood filler won’t hold screws well.
This problem is easily avoidable. As you pour the epoxy, you can tap the resin to let the air bubbles escape before it cures. If bubbles rise to the surface after pouring, carefully use a torch or lighter near the surface to get rid of them. That way, you won’t have any air bubbles trapped when the solution dries.
2. Exterior Wood Fillers
If you are patching outdoor furniture, then exterior wood fillers are the most appropriate for the job. A good exterior wood filler should resist moisture and expand and contract with the weather. They are durable and can hold various paints and stains. They dry hard and can be drilled to hold nails and screws in place.
3. Multi-Purpose Wood Fillers
Multi-purpose wood fillers are great alternatives to epoxy and exterior wood fillers. These fillers are quick-drying and very easy to use compared to the other types of wood fillers, and they have all of the great features of both epoxy and exterior wood fillers.
You can use multi-purpose wood fillers on both indoor and outdoor wood crafts. They are drillable when dry and will hold nails and screws in place. You can find multi-purpose wood fillers in a wide range of colors, and you can even stain or paint over the filler after it is completely cured.
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