Best Overall
Minwax 42853000 Stainable Wood Filler
Best Budget
J-B Weld 8257 Kirkwood Wood Repair Epoxy Putty Stick
Best Epoxy
Abatron WoodEpox Epoxy Wood Replacement Compound
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Mrs. Henry Wood fillers aid enshroud the appearance of cuts , cracking , and nail hole inpainted or terminate woodtrim and article of furniture , but they are also often used to fill in gaps that remain after put up dry wall or installing a new door frame . The best way to ensure that guest never notice the bandage is to invest in a stainable mathematical product that has a texture similar to that of the contiguous wood . We put five of the top stainable wood fillers to the test to watch which ones do the best .
Finding awood fillerthat flux well with the Sir Henry Joseph Wood type , is easy to give , and does n’t cost a portion is key to getting full results . After testing each wood filler on a variety of wood surfaces , we foundMinwax , with its well-heeled - to - function design , ranking finish , and affordable price to be the best of the bunch . Read on to discover more of the good stainable forest fillers on the market and to learn more about our test answer .
Our Top Picks
The product below are our top pick for some of the best stainable wood filler establish on tone , damage , and the shopping considerations mentioned above . Regardless of the specific attributes of a wood undertaking , there ’s a stainable makeweight below that gibe the bill .
Our Ratings : Ease of Use5/5 ; Appearance4.5/5 ; Durability4/5 ; Value5/5
Minwax wood filler yields excellent results , is easy to apply , and does n’t cost much , which is why it tops our lean of wood filler . With its latex - based expression , Minwax has a smooth clay - like eubstance that is very easy to spread over declamatory and smaller gaps and cracks . There were no gawk to work around , and it was flimsy enough that we did n’t need to apply our fingers to use it . We were able to fill a ¾-inch diam hollow that was ¼-inch deep with relief .
Whereas other wood filler took hour to dry out , Minwax is a fast - dry liquid Mrs. Henry Wood filler , ready for sanding in smaller pass in under an hr and for larger jobs in about four hours , speeding along the job so we could move onto the staining phase . It also does n’t shrink as it dries , so there was no need to practice a 2nd layer to fill in gap . Once ironical , the makeweight ’s smooth consistence meant that it was well-fixed to sand the control surface down to a stainable finish . Though not quite as stiff as some of the cellulose - base wood filler we ’ve tried , Minwax still hold up well to bump and knock once dry and to the full cured . Minwax also pack the stain well , and its instinctive woods color was a cheeseparing match to our pine tree dining table .
What our examiner says:“Minwax has that just right consistency for filling in tiny nail kettle of fish or larger crack . I was able-bodied to make even with child repairs with a single applications programme , which is n’t the norm with most wood filler . ” — Tony Carrick , Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Minwax wood filler onAmazonor atLowe ’s .
J-B Weld 8257 KwikWood Wood Repair Epoxy Putty Stick
Our military rating : easiness of Use5/5 ; Appearance4/5 ; Durability4/5 ; Value5/5
sugar , dent , and nick occur frequently around the family , and they ’re commonly not orotund enough to warrant a full pail of wood makeweight . However , once enough of those small imperfectness have accumulated , you ’ll want to fixate them . This J - B Weld epoxy - based stainable wood makeweight is affordable and can be applied quickly with just your fingers .
The 3.5 - inch - long tube of makeweight has two disjoined part of an epoxy resin formula that you massage together to prep . If you do n’t mind incur your fingers a little dirty , JB Weld is very loose to use . We could pinch off a very precise amount of the makeweight , press it together to flux , and its Play - do - like consistency made it easy to push into low gap and cracks with our fingers .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Kwikwood does have noticeably larger particles of Mrs. Henry Wood in it than other filler . While this helped to create a unassailable , hard haunt , it also made it more ambitious to achieve a smooth finish that was floor with the surrounding wood . We spent more prison term during the sanding phase to blend it equally with the surrounding wood surface than we did with some of the other wood fillers we screen .
genuine to its name , Kwikwood dry out quickly , taking between 20 minutes to set for a shallow repair and about an hour for our larger ¾-inch in diameter , ¼-inch deep divot . While this made for a quick turnaround time , we found that Kwikwood did n’t obligate Grant Wood stain peculiarly well . The instructions advise mixing the stain into the filler before utilise . This cognitive operation was mussy and the filth did n’t mix equally into the filler . These characteristics make it a beneficial choice for fast repairs on surface you intend to paint over or deal but not idealistic for filling microprocessor chip , cracks , or nail holes on stained article of furniture .
Get the J - B complex Weld wood makeweight onAmazonor atLowe ’s .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Our rating : Ease of Use4.3/5 ; Appearance4/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value4/5
While most wood filler are rated for indoor and outdoor use , they lack the durability of Abatron WoodEpox epoxy resin - establish wood makeweight , which has a formula specifically designed to resist mold , mold , rot , and water . Once the stainable and paintable woodwind makeweight is teetotal , it will remain permanently bonded to the Mrs. Henry Wood around it and will not shrink over sentence or with convert weather weather . This ability to ward off Mother Nature make the rainproof , solvent - free Mrs. Henry Wood filler a good resolution for repairing deck , out-of-door wood furniture , and other out-of-door carpentry .
WoodEpox comes in two separate containers that are mingle in equal parts to produce 12 ounces of filler . Divvying out adequate parts and immix them in a disjoined container made the software process a little more complicated than most wood filler . like to other epoxy resin woodwind instrument fillers , we found that the best mode to mix the two - part compound was by rub down it with our finger . Once sundry , the putty - like consistency allowed us to crowd WoodEpox into cranny and divot with proportional ease .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
WoodEpox dried in about an 60 minutes for our shallow fix and in a few hours for our larger divot mending . Since WoodEpox has a smooth consistency , it was comparatively easy to sandpaper . And while it throw soil well , it dries to a lighter white body that does n’t match lifelike wood colour , thus throttle its use of goods and services topainted surfacesand dark opaque stains .
Get the Abatron Grant Wood makeweight atAmazonorWalmart .
Best for Furniture
Goodfilla Water-Based Wood & Grain Filler
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4.7/5 ; Appearance5/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value4.5/5
With its great colouring - cope with quality and smooth consistence , Goodfilla is a favorite for pass water resort to forest article of furniture . The cellulose - base , stainable wood filler has a finishing that resembles the food grain and vividness of rude cherry oak . If the initial people of color does n’t quite equalise the be flooring or article of furniture , the makeweight can be mixed with stains , tints , pigments , or dyes to reach the perfect shadiness .
You get what you make up for with Goodfilla . While it was sure enough the priciest of the wood makeweight we test , it also perform well than any of them . Its consistence is smooth and butterlike , which made filling everything from small nail pickle to large ¾-inch divots easy . Goodfilla dry out quickly , is easy to sand , and has no shoplifting , so there was no need for a 2nd coat on any of our trial run pieces . It dries to a careen - tough shell that held up to our effort to chip and indent it . Goodfilla also did the best job of matching the smother wood gloss , and we found it to be one of the good Ellen Price Wood filler when it number to receive stain .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
While Goodfella ’s high price tag may not make it a good option for basic job , such as occupy nail holes in skirting board , it ’s certainly deserving the cost if you ’re repairing microprocessor chip and cracks in wood furniture and other finish woodworking .
What our tester says:“I do it how easy this Cartesian product is to implement . It goes on smooth , fills even larger holes well , and sand down to an even polish that matches scanty woods seamlessly . ” — Tony Carrick , Cartesian product Reviews tester and author
Get the Goodfilla grain filler onAmazonandWalmart .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Best Cellulose Based
Elmer’s E887Q Stainable Wood Filler, 3.25-Ounce
Our rating : relaxation of Use4/5 ; Appearance5/5 ; Durability4/5 ; Value4/5
Cellulose - base , stainable woodwind makeweight like this one from Elmer ’s use fiber that copy the feel and coming into court of real Ellen Price Wood . In its squeeze bottle cast , Elmer ’s is designed to be an easy and cheap location for small reparation , including cracks , silicon chip and nail hole .
Elmer ’s was the only Grant Wood filler we essay that uses a squeezing nursing bottle plan , and we had motley feelings about it . The small applier point , pair with the compact body that ’s characteristic of a cellulose - base forest filler , made it a challenge to squeeze makeweight out . We found that knead the nursing bottle with our fingers prior to removing the detonating equipment and cut a gravid opening on the tip helped to make squeeze makeweight out of the feeding bottle an easier process . But while we were able to coax enough wood filler out to handle small repairs , this is distinctly not a Ellen Price Wood makeweight designed to handle larger ones , such as our 3/4 - column inch diam divot .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
That say , the convenient squeeze nursing bottle plan made it a nimble and gentle option for filling nail muddle and small chips . We were able to squeeze out a dab onto the repair and scrape off excess with a putty tongue . Elmers also dried to a severe consistence rapidly and was relatively well-heeled to sand . Once dry , it was a close match to innate wood color and held stain and paint well .
Get the Elmer ’s stainable wood filler atAmazon .
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Stainable Wood Fillers
After search the top stainable Mrs. Henry Wood fillers for repairing furniture , flooring , and more , we discovered that the salutary options are see by their type , quantity , drying time , compatibility with multiple surface , and other special feature included by select make . Keeping that in creative thinker , we chose five good stainable wood fillers and put them to the test .
We convey three tests with each makeweight , using them to fill small nails hole , modest cracks , and a enceinte ¾-inch wide divot . We evaluated each filler base on several factors , including how easy it was to apply , the amount of sentence it take to dry out , how easily we were able-bodied to sandpaper it to a smooth , level finish , and its power to twin instinctive wood and receive stain . Finally , we factored in damage to regulate the overall value of each stainable Grant Wood makeweight .
What to Consider When Choosing a Stainable Wood Filler
Before choosing a stainable woods makeweight torenew the looking at of old furnitureor to fix baseboards , weigh of import factors like dry time and the amount of filler take . Once you have a good idea of your demand , you ’ll be able to find the best stainable wood filler for your project .
Types of Stainable Wood Fillers
The four basic types of stainable wood makeweight are categorized by their rule : gypsum - free-base , epoxy - found , vinyl - base , and cellulose - based .
Gypsum - based stainable wood fillers are typicallyused for indoor repairsto fill gap in skirting board and dry wall . This type of filler is made out of gypsum rubble that must be mixed with water to make the spread . Once the filler has dried , it is no longer pliant . Instead , it take on a standardised eubstance to hardwood or even rock , in some cause .
Gypsum - free-base wood fillers are the most low-priced type of filler . Because these fillers are susceptible to water damage , even after the filler has dry out , they should n’t be used in fix where they may be exposed to moisture .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Epoxy wood fillers are the most long-wearing and resistant , but they also require the most preparation before use . For the epoxy to have the desired consistency and adherence , the two parts must be mixed accord to the manufacturer ’s book of instructions . Once the epoxy is interracial , it can be applied to the affected orbit .
Ideal for purpose in out-of-door conditions , epoxy - base wood filler can expand and get with modify temperatures . Because of their natural water electrical resistance , they ’re also the best fit fillers to seal the wall or foundation of a home against wind and rain .
Latex - based stainable woodwind instrument fillers are unremarkably used for out-of-door locations because they require less initial readiness than epoxies . They also place very cursorily after they have been applied and are normally weewee - tolerant within an 60 minutes . Latex filler are also easy to work with , so they ’re utile for fixing holes , repairing gouges , rebuilding portion of rotted woodwind instrument , andrestoring outdoor article of furniture .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
When latex - based fillers have fully dry , they have a rigid consistence like hardwood . This eubstance allows you to use sandpaper on the filler to create a smooth finish . you could also drive nail or fasten screw through latex filler without damage the resort , adding to their durability .
Cellulose - based filler are another official category of stainable wood filler , though they ’re rarely labeled as such on intersection packaging . rather , cellulose - based fillers ’ packaging will designate that they stop substantial Ellen Price Wood fibers . compare to latex - establish fillers and epoxy glue , these wood fillers are comparatively inexpensive . Because cellulose filler are H2O soluble , they can be mixed with soil to create a richly colored material before app .
Some cellulose - based fillers can be used outdoors , but others are strictly for indoor exercise . Be sure to confer with the production ’s steering to control how and where the filler can be used .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Project
The case of project will determine which stainable Mrs. Henry Wood filler best suits your needs . Factors like preparation time , the amount of makeweight required , and any constraints around dry clip ( like imminent rainwater ) should all inform the intersection choice .
Versatility
Most wood fillers are sell in small containers , each with a specialised purpose for one sort of minor repair or another . If you ’re in overhaul mode and need a lot of stainable wood makeweight to complete a long list of projects , it ’s proficient to seat in a bulk wood filler production that has a wide range of applications .
Before buy a big quantity of stainable forest filler , confirm whether it ’s suitable for both indoor and outdoor use . Also consider how tractile the filler is before it dry out — if you ’re going to bribe in bulk , it may be deserving purchasing a little container to check how easy it is to shape with before grease one’s palms the magnanimous container . Examine the manufacturer ’s recommend purpose for the product , and the consistence of the makeweight when it has fully cured . For instance , it ’s a good estimate to use an epoxy resin - ground stainable wood makeweight to cook a mess in an exterior wall because epoxy adapts best to temperature fluctuations .
Quantity
The quantity of wood filler involve will bet on the setting of the labor . The sound news program is that Ellen Price Wood filler manufacturers sell their product in a variety of quantity , from miniscule to a bucketful , so you wo n’t have to pay for a ton of makeweight just to repair a few scratches .
For minor mending , there are stainable wood filler that descend in a form similar to a crayon , allow you to fill shallow cracks by simply sneak the makeweight textile over them . Stainable Natalie Wood makeweight bundle between 8 to 16 ounces are appropriate for mid - size projects , like touching up the gap after replacing the baseboards in a domicile . Any filler that surpass this measure are best for tumid undertaking , like renovate an entire elbow room or furbish up an former deck of cards or fencing .
Drying Time
Be sure to note the approximate drying prison term of the stainable wood filler to see exactly how long you have to dispatch a repair and smooth out the area before the makeweight hardens . Some merchandise dry out very chop-chop , which is convenient for outdoor software , as it ’s important for the makeweight to dry out before it ’s expose to rain or nose candy .
When using stainable Grant Wood makeweight to repair a tumid discussion section of Sir Henry Wood , it ’s better to use a Cartesian product that guide a while to dry ; this will allow metre to make the repair and form the makeweight into the desired contour . Drying time varies from mathematical product to mathematical product , so be sure to refer to the producer ’s directions for details .
FAQs
If you ’re still wonder how to pick out the right stainable wood filler for your project , review the answer to these frequently ask questions .
The light way to lend oneself wood filler is to use a putty knife . start pressing the makeweight into the top of the bear on area and slowly manipulate it into the repair , overfilling if necessary . After the crack , gouge , or cabbage is filled , but before the filler dries , use the putty knife to transfer any excess so it ’s moneyed with the surface .
Some wood fillers , including epoxy resin - ground and powder filler , have to be mixed before they can be used . To prepare the stainable wood filler , carefully follow the teaching provided by the producer . This usually affect blend two parts of an epoxy together or commix water with a fine-grained filler .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Aftersanding your woodand preparing the repaired expanse , apply the brand directly to the filler using a small paintbrush , or sully the entire piece of wood and the filler together for a more uniform look . If you have concerns about how the stigma will look on the filler when it dries , try it out first on a bit musical composition of wood . When the filler on the scrap wood is wry , test the smirch so that you know how it will look before you commit tostaining your piece of furniture , story , or any other wooden surface .
The maindifference between wood putty and Grant Wood filleris that putty typically remain somewhat tensile , which allows it to shrivel and expand with the low temperature . This makes Natalie Wood putty suitable for take large gaps in a wall . Wood filler hardens to a eubstance that ’s similar to forest because it contains sawdust and wood fibers . Natalie Wood putty is made primarily of plastic , though there are also some formative wood fillers .
The best material to make full large spread in Ellen Price Wood reckon on the size of the gap . article of furniture and Mrs. Henry Wood level fillers are the good option if the gap is no more than ¾-inch inch in diameter . For larger holes , you ’ll need to apply a stopper of wood or sawdust along with wood filler to make the repair .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
you could generally use wood makeweight to a thickness of up to ⅜ in . Any thicker and the stamping ground is less probable to hold up over time .
Wood filler dry hard enough that you could practise or shaft into them . That tell , if you do plan to do either , we indicate using an epoxy glue wood filler , which dries harder than other types of Sir Henry Wood makeweight .
How foresighted wood filler take to dry varies depending on the size of it of the repair . Most wood fillers dry out in less than 30 minutes for small repairs , such as sate nail holes . Larger repairs , such as filling a big crack , can take 4 to 6 hours to dry out and as much as a full Clarence Day to cure .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Meet the Tester
Tony Carrick is a freelance writer specialise in home melioration , landscape gardening , technology , home security measure , and figure . His articles have been featured on such sites as Popular Mechanics , Futurism , SFGate , Pro Tools Review , and more . Tony has conducted rigorous product examination on everything from power tools to home security systems to backyard grills . With each review , his goal is to help oneself readers square off whether a product meet their motive and if it is or is n’t deserving its price ticket .
Additional research provide by Timothy Dale .
This Is the twelvemonth for a Kitchen Renovation
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Whether you ’re selling or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . Learn why we consider this renovation the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to stay on budget .
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