Quick tip for using wood filler

Wood filler is an easy and permanent way to cover up screws in wood. There are a few tips and tricks that should know that will help in a professionally finished project.

 

First and foremost, when using wood filler take into consideration that Alcolin offer a range of wood fillers in different tints. from white to black, and a variety of wood tints in between, choose a wood filler that matches the finished colour of your project. Find the full range of products at your local Builders store.

To better understand why it is important to choose a wood filler that matches the finished colour of your project, I drilled a couple of countersunk holes in a piece of pine.

If you look closely you will see that one hole is in the darker (harder grain) section and the other hole in a softer (lighter) part of the pine. When drilling holes to assemble projects try to do this is softer (lighter) sections of pine.

Purely for example purposes, I will be staining this piece of wood with Woodoc Gel Stain in imbuia. Using Alcolin wood filler in imbuia the holes were covered with a thin layer of filler. It isn't necessary to apply a thick layer of filler - just enough to cover up the hole. The more filler you apply, the longer it takes to dry and the more sanding you will have to do. 

Allow the wood filler to dry and then sand smooth. You can see both filled holes clearly.

After the first application of Woodoc Gel Stain [below] the softer (lighter) wood absorbs more of the stain and starts to disguise the filled hole. 

After a second application, the filled hole in the softer (lighter) wood has become far less visible. By drilling pilot holes into softer wood you can effectively fill and disguise filled screw holes.