Repairing Guides

how to repair nail holes in wood

by Darrion Watsica Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  1. Purchase a wood putty that matches the finish of your wood. Wood putty comes in a variety of shades to match different types of wood and finishes.
  2. Place painter's tape around the nail hole to protect the surrounding wood. ...
  3. Apply the wood putty to the nail hole with a putty knife. Put a quarter size amount of wood putty onto the tip of a clean putty knife.
  4. Remove the tape and polish the area with a dry rag. Pull the tape away from the wood very gently to avoid damage.

Part of a video titled Filling Holes in Wood - Quick Tip - YouTube
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You want to make sure you get an oil-based putty that most trim carpenters use. Now you can buy thisMoreYou want to make sure you get an oil-based putty that most trim carpenters use. Now you can buy this at your local hardware store or Home Center for about 250 a jar.

Full Answer

How do you fill nail holes in wood?

Things You Will Need

  • Wire brush
  • Damp cloth
  • Siliconized acrylic caulk
  • Utility knife or razor blade
  • Caulking gun
  • Damp paper towel

What is the best way to fill nail holes?

Nail holes in interior walls can generally be filled with shrink-free spackling by overfilling the hole slightly, then sanding smooth once it's dry. Holes in wood trim are best filled with wood filler. Nail holes in exterior surfaces, just as with cracks or gaps, can be dealt with using a good caulking.

What is the best nail hole filler?

What Are The Different Types of Nail Hole Wood Filler?

  1. Cellulose-Based Wood Fillers. Used for both wood filling and staining, cellulose-based fillers are the most common and versatile on the market.
  2. Vinyl-Based Wood Fillers. Easily the least durable of the different types of wood filler, vinyl-based wood fillers are a mix of poly-acetate and calcium carbonate.
  3. Gypsum-Based Wood Fillers. ...

More items...

How to fill nail holes?

Here’s a quick how-to to help you apply Spackle to your walls or nail holes:

  • Sand down the hole. Rough edges make it difficult to apply Spackle evenly.
  • Apply Spackle. Load a small amount of Spackle onto your putty knife and smear it over the nail holes.
  • Smooth the Spackle.
  • Apply a second coat.
  • Wipe down the surface.

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Can you fill nail holes in wood?

0:090:32How to Fill Nail Holes in Finished Wood - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor this you'll need a color matched wax pencil just rub the pencil over the nail hole and rub offMoreFor this you'll need a color matched wax pencil just rub the pencil over the nail hole and rub off the excess with your finger or a cloth.

How do you fill in deep nail holes in wood?

3:109:43How to Apply Wood Filler to Fill Nail Holes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAll the way to the top with wood filler. All i do is just take my putty knife. And i get. You know aMoreAll the way to the top with wood filler. All i do is just take my putty knife. And i get. You know a dollop size amount on there and you can go with the grain you can go against the grain.

What is the easiest way to fix nail holes?

0:020:43Quick Fix: How-To Repair Nail Holes in your Walls - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCaulk. This is white painters caulk that you probably have in your home already. And we're justMoreCaulk. This is white painters caulk that you probably have in your home already. And we're just gonna. Take our finger and spread it over and fill the hole.

What is the best product to fill nail holes in trim?

Our Top PicksProductRating3M High Strength Small Hole Repair, All in One Applicator Tool32,970 ReviewsSee More DetailsElmer's E855 Carpenter's Wood Filler, 3.25-Ounce Tube, White10,688 ReviewsSee More DetailsDAP 12346 Drydex 5.5 Oz Raw building material, 5.5-Ounce, PINK/WHITE1,290 ReviewsSee More DetailsJul 18, 2022

Can I fill nail holes with caulk?

Filling Nail Holes Nail holes in exterior surfaces, just as with cracks or gaps, can be dealt with using a good caulking. Take the time before you apply any paint on your next project to fill all of the gaps, cracks, and nail holes.

What to use to fill holes in wood?

Use vinyl spackling compound or water-based wood filler to fill small holes on interior surfaces. When applying wood filler, over fill the hole slightly to compensate for shrinkage as the filler dries. Once the filler has hardened, sand it smooth and prime and paint or stain, as desired.

Can I use toothpaste to fill nail holes?

Use Toothpaste to Fill Holes. Toothpaste is a great alternative to spackling if you have a hole in your wall smaller than 1/4 inch. Try to find a toothpaste close to the color of the wall, then squeeze the paste into the hole and wipe off the excess with a putty knife or playing card.

How do you fix nail holes without painting?

In short, you can fix nail holes with spackle or putty. These compounds will disappear right into pinholes. What's more, they're easy to use. All you need to do is apply them, then let them dry for about 15 minutes.

Can you use spackle to fill nail holes in wood?

Spackling paste does an excellent job filling nail holes in wood. Simply feed generous amounts of the compound into the nail holes and use a putty knife to spread the paste on the surface to make it flush with the surrounding wood. Once finished, use a damp rag to wipe the excess and let the patches dry.

What do professional painters use to fill nail holes?

0:371:57Tips from a Painter: Filling Nail Holes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMake sure you get a not shrink spackle pads and instead of using a spatula you're gonna be usingMoreMake sure you get a not shrink spackle pads and instead of using a spatula you're gonna be using your finger.

What can I use to cover nail holes?

You can fill nail holes the proper, long-lasting way by using spackling paste on both plaster walls and drywall, or wood putty on finished wood. For a quick fix, you can use everyday items like toothpaste, craft glue, or bar soap.

How do you hide nail heads in wood?

1:224:30Hiding Nails - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd just scoop out a little section. And if at all possible leave that chip attached to the wood.MoreAnd just scoop out a little section. And if at all possible leave that chip attached to the wood. Just scoop it out. Then you can come back in and actually place the nail underneath that's yep.

How do you cover nail heads in wood?

0:454:30Hiding Nails - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can come in with your gouge. And just scoop out a little section. And if at all possible leaveMoreYou can come in with your gouge. And just scoop out a little section. And if at all possible leave that chip attached to the wood.

How do you cover exposed nails?

Seal the exposed nails with roofing cement. If you see exposed nails on your roof, coat all around each nail with a thick layer of roofing cement or roofing caulk.

What's the difference between wood filler and wood putty?

The key difference between wood filler and wood putty is that wood filler hardens once dried (so it can be sanded smooth) and wood putty does not. Wood Filler can be used on interior and exterior applications (at least the products I mentioned above), whereas wood putty can be used on interior projects only.

How do I cover my nail heads before painting?

Caulk the nail heads with acrylic caulk. Apply a rust-inhibitive or stain-blocking primer to the nail heads and surrounding area. Apply multiple primer coats to the nail heads. Re-paint the surface.

How to make a nail hole with aspirin?

Mix toothpaste and aspirin as an alternative to spackling paste. Use a mortar and pestle or a bowl and sturdy spoon to crush a tablet of aspirin. Squeeze out about .25 inches (0.64 cm) of toothpaste onto the aspirin powder and mix them together into a paste. Apply this thick mixture to small nail holes with a craft stick or other small, flat tool.

How to get rid of excess putty on a wall?

Remove putty from the putty knife with a damp cloth. Drag the clean tool over the nail holes vertically and horizontally to remove excess putty. Repeat this step until the surface of the wall looks even. Let the putty dry for up to 1 hour. You can also use a second putty knife, ruler, or kitchen knife for this step. 3.

How to fill nail holes with spackling paste?

1. Apply spackling paste to the holes with a putty knife. Purchase a tub or tube of spackling paste from your local hardware store. Smooth the area with a putty knife before applying a quarter-sized amount of spackling to it. Slowly drag the putty knife over the surface of each nail hole to fill it.

What is the best material to fill nail holes in plaster walls?

Spackling paste is the best material to use to fill nail holes in either plaster walls or drywall in a long-lasting way. It is also called joint compound or patching compound. 2. Remove any excess paste with a clean putty knife. Remove putty from the putty knife with a damp cloth.

How to fill a hole in a wood nail?

Apply the wood putty to the nail hole with a putty knife. Put a quarter size amount of wood putty onto the tip of a clean putty knife. Gently scrape the knife across the painter's tape over the nail hole. Apply putty until the hole is filled.

How to fill nail holes with glue?

Squeeze craft glue into nail holes to fill them quickly. Purchase a bottle of white craft glue online or from a craft store. Position the nozzle in front of each nail hole and carefully squeeze in glue until the hole is full. Wait for the glue to dry, then scrape away any excess glue around the outside of the hole.

How to fill nail holes without tools?

Rub a bar of soap over the holes to fill them without tools. Rub a dry bar of soap over your nail holes, back and forth. Stop once the holes look filled in. Run a dry cloth or rag over the surface of the holes to wipe excess soap pieces away. Avoid using a wet or damp rag, which can melt or dissolve the soap.

Before you set out to fill nail holes in a hardwood floor, make sure you're using the right product

Q: I’ve removed some carpet and want to refinish the hardwood floors below. What should I use to fill the holes left by the carpet tack strip and the staples that held the carpet padding?

Wood Filler for Bare Wood

Knead a small amount of stainable latex wood filler (like this one from Minwax, available on Amazon) before pressing some of the product into each nail hole in turn, using a putty knife or a three-inch trowel.

Wood Putty for Finished Floors

Whereas it doesn’t so much matter which type of wood filler you end up using, when you’re working with wood putty ( view example on Amazon) it’s crucial to select the most appropriate product. Here, the goal is to identify a shade of putty that matches as closely as possible the color of your flooring.

How to fill a hole in a jar of nail polish?

Spread the filler into the nail holes with a plastic putty knife. Scoop a bit of filler out of the jar with the knife and rub it into the nail hole. Press the knife down flat so the hole is completely filled. Repeat this for each nail hole you have to fill. Use a plastic putty knife so you don’t scratch the floor.

How long does it take for wood filler to dry?

Wait 15-30 minutes for the filler to dry. This is usually all it takes for wood filler to dry. Leave it alone and make sure no one steps on the filler while it’s drying. Read the directions on the product you use for the correct drying time, and follow those directions if they’re different.

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Can you leave putty alone?

Leave the putty alone while it's dry ing to make sure it cures completely. If you're planning on painting over or finishing that spot, do it after the putty is completely dry. The drying time might be different for different brands of wood putty, so always check the packaging to confirm the right time. ...

Does filler color matter when painting?

They’re usually divided by wood type, so look for the type meant for the wood on your floor. If you’re planning on painting the wood, then the filler color doesn't matter because you'll paint right over it. If the wood has any stain or finish on it, then don’t use this method. It only works for bare, unfinished wood.

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