Before you start your DIY painting project, make sure that the surface is even. You are going to need the best wood filler for painting. Maybe you are going for a rustic look? But somehow there’s still a fine line between shabby workmanship and shabby chic. So, before you whip out your paintbrush and the best paint for wood crafts, it’s time to fill up on wood fillers first.
Best Wood Filler for Painting Cabinets
Whether you are painting cabinets or other types of furniture, it’s important to fill out any sort of grooves on them. If you need to repair the doors, especially the part with hinges, you can do it with the following wood fillers below:
MINWAX
Minwax has been developing wood finishing products as early as 1904. Today, you are able to find their specially-formulated Wood Filler. One of the best things about this type of filler is you can paint over it to match your cabinet. It also works with water- and oil-based stains.
What’s more, it can be used for nails or screw holes. After filling the holes, the wood filler will be able to secure new screws and nails that you will put in. Other features of the Minwax Stainable Wood Filler include shrink- and crack-resistant, fast-drying, and easy sanding.
Thanks to the latex formula of the wood filler, clean-up is a breeze afterward. Just use soap and water on your hands or your project, and you’ll be good to go.
DAP Plastic Wood
Whether you have a cabinet or piece of furniture that needs repair for indoor or outdoor use, the DAP Plastic Wood Filler does the job. With real wood fibers, this filler looks like wood when applied to repair projects. What’s more, it also acts like wood. You’ll not only be able to paint, stain, or varnish over it but also sand, drill, plane, screw, and cut.
Dap’s All-Purpose Filler is easy to use, making it a good option for DIYers. At the same time, this professional-grade filler is designed for heavy-duty purposes, too. In fact, it can be used for anchoring screws and nails without splitting. It also won’t shrink or crack but rather dry hard and fast. Clean-up is quick with just water.
FamoWood
Do you need to do your project quickly? FamoWood’s Wood Filler dries as fast as 15 minutes. This is especially helpful for holes or gouges that are quite deep. You can’t exactly dump the whole lot because it won’t dry properly. The best thing to do is add thin layer by thin layer, letting it dry in between, until the hole is fully covered.
Since FamoWood Wood Filler is solvent-free, you can expect little or low odor when in use. This professional-quality filler is stainable and paintable plus it can be planed, sanded, and drilled.
Best Interior Wood Filler for Painting
When getting wood filler, it’s highly important to figure out what you will need it for first. Not all wood fillers can be used indoors, so you have to check if it is for interior or exterior use. For the best interior wood fillings, check out the options below:
Elmer’s Color Change
You might know Elmer’s for their glue but they actually have a special patented formula for Wood Filler too. One of the best things about Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Filler is it changes color. When you apply it, it goes on as purple but once it dries it will blend with wood.
Not only is it easier to spot what you are doing but with the color-changing feature, you’ll know when it is time to sand, paint, and stain. This wood filler is designed for indoor or interior use only. Once you are done with your repair, you can clean up with water.
Goodfilla
The environment-friendly Filla in-a-bag from Gork’s Goodfilla is a non-toxic powder that acts just like wood when combined with water. It can also be combined with any WB pigment, like stains, clear finishes, paint, and dye.
Filla-in-a-bag is non-toxic, making it ideal for indoor use. Aside from patching jobs, you can also use it for inlay-s and grain-filling. This biodegradable product has zero VOC and will not shrink, fall out, or crack. You can use it to smooth out any grooves on the floor or maybe even out scratches on doors, window sills, tables, and other furniture.
Best Exterior Wood Filler for Painting
The outside of your house is one of the most abused—it gets walked all over, shields the interior of your home from the elements. So, with all that, it’s no surprise that it gets worn out. Your deck might have some deep grooves on it, maybe there’s a crack on the wooden steps, and your door might have some gouges on it.
There’s no need to replace the parts of your house’s exterior if the damages are minimal and will just require cosmetic repairs. It’s a whole other story if the integrity or structure of the house is in question. But for those less serious problems, check out the following wood fillers below:
Elemer’s Probond
Elmer’s Probond Wood Filler is one of the best options for outdoor use. Maybe your patio needs a bit of work and it will take time if you use sandpaper on the wood fillers. It’s a good thing Elmer’s Probond filler boasts professional strength. it can be actually used with high-speed sanders.
Aside from being sandable, this wood filler is also paintable and sustainable. With real wood fibers in the filler’s composition, it’ll be hard to spot the patch jobs on your project. The Probond Professional Strength Wood Filler is also solvent-free and requires just water for cleanups.
Bondo
The fast-curing Bondo Home Solutions Wood Filler can be used for exterior trims, doors and door frames, baseboards, fences, floors, and more. You’ll be able to sand the wood filler in just 15 minutes. In 25 minutes, you can start painting and staining this permanent solution.
The Bondo Home Solutions Wood Filler can offer quick repairs even on rotted or damaged wood. This 2-part solution from 3M delivers non-shrink repairs that are also water-resistant.
Conclusion: Best Wood Filler For Painting and DIYs
When it comes to the best wood filler for painting, it will highly depend on your project. Is it for interior or exterior use? Next, you also have to take note of the color of the wood you are trying to fix. It’s best to get a wood filler as close as possible to the color of your project.
Another factor to help you consider the best filler for you is your own preference. Do you want to use wood fillers that dry quickly? Do you prefer a solution that is ready-to-go or requires a bit of mixing? You’ll also need to consider your budget and your repair timeline.
Did you enjoy our tips on the best wood filler for painting? Then be sure to check out our other articles, such as the best brushes for oil painting and the best primer for painting over stained wood! Thank you for reading!