Wood filler, also known as wood putty, is used by woodworkers to fill imperfections in wood. It is a glue-based mixture with fillers like sawdust or plaster. Grout can be water-based, solvent-based, or oil-based. Water-based grout is the most environmentally friendly, while oil-based filler stays flexible longer. Nitrocellulose-based putty dries quickly, and gypsum-based grout comes in powder form. Wood pulp is another patching substance. Different types of putty have their strengths and weaknesses, and a person must consider the purpose when choosing. Some people make their own wood putty by mixing wood glue and sawdust, but it is not as strong as commercial products.
Woodworkers often refer to wood filler as wood putty, wood patch, or plastic wood, and each name is suitably descriptive. Woodworkers use filler to fill in imperfections in wood. It is a glue based mixed with fillers, such as sawdust or plaster. When a manufacturer refers to grout as water-based, solvent-based, or oil-based, they mean the glue base is one of these types.
Traditionally, wood filler was oil or solvent based. Solvent-based grouts generally have strong fumes and need chemicals, such as lacquer thinner or acetone, to clean up. Typically, these fillers have a wider variety of colors available to the novice woodworker.
Water-based grout has several advantages over oil-based and solvent-based grouts. It is usually free from heavy fumes and is easy to clean with water. Water will remove any wet product, but once the grout has hardened, water will not remove it. Water-based grout is the most environmentally friendly.
Oil-based filler is a slow-drying filler that stays flexible longer than other types. Usually, builders use it to fill nail holes in woodworking. A person can blend two or more colors together to customize the color to match the wood stain. A carpenter can clean oil-based grout with oil-based solvents, such as turpentine.
One of the other types of wood putty is nitrocellulose-based putty, which dries quickly but needs lacquer thinner or acetone to clean up. Gypsum-based grout comes in the form of a powder, and the user mixes it with water to create a usable product. One advantage of gypsum putty is that it stores well. Acrylic putty is a water based product and water will clean a wet product but not dried putty.
Another product similar to putty is wood pulp. Wood pulp is a patching substance that comes in a variety of colors. Some carpenters and manufacturers classify it as a separate product because some of the filler remains soft. Wood filler usually hardens as it hardens and the carpenters sand it down afterward. Other manufacturers do not have a separate classification and label all products as wood filler.
Typically, a good filler won’t shrink or leak and smooths out easily when it sets. Many woodworkers use filler to even out the grain in some woods that have open pores or large pores. Some examples are walnut, hickory and oak wood. Wood filler allows a carpenter to overcome the various problems these woods present to the craftsman. When choosing grout, a person must consider the purpose.
Different types of putty have their strengths and weaknesses. For example, when choosing filler for outdoor furniture in areas prone to extreme temperatures, woodworkers often choose solvent-based filler. Water-based grout can freeze or leak.
Some people make their own wood putty by mixing wood glue and sawdust. Often a person will use sawdust on a project so that the grout is a close match. One major drawback to this is that the product is not as strong and durable as commercial products.
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