Filler for small holes

shiraz99 · 6 September 2022 at 10:47AM

I've got some wood panelling on a staircase that I intend to paint but one of the knots in the wood has a small hole (fingernail size) that I would like to fill but unsure which is the best type of filler to use in this situation. I was originally going to go with some, general purpose Polyfilla that I have but have noticed there's a bit of a void behind the hole so not sure now.

Any ideas?

Image: https://us-noi.v-cdn.net/6031891/uploads/editor/m2/23u2u3n2jsy0.jpg

Murmansk · 6 September 2022 at 11:02AM

I'd be inclined to use something like this

https://www.toolstation.com/everbuild-high-performance-wood-filler-500g/p21587

You wouldn't need much from a big tin but it's good because it sets really quickly and very hard, plus it can be stained. You'd need to fill the void first with something like tissue or bubble wrap pushed in to make a nice solid base for a layer of filler. Most fillers aren't as hard when they dry as this stuff.

grumbler · 6 September 2022 at 12:01PM

IMO two-part filler in a big tin is a little bit overkill in this case. I'd try water-based multipurpose woodfiller available in the same TS in smaller amounts.

shiraz99 · 6 September 2022 at 2:11PM

grumbler said:

IMO two-part filler in a big tin is a little bit overkill in this case. I'd try water-based multipurpose woodfiller available in the same TS in smaller amounts.

That was my though too. As it's in small area that's difficult to get a filling knife in I was looking for a tube of stuff I could just squeeze in and smooth off.