How to fill holes in wood ? Step by step guide

Waxes, fillers, resins, shellacs, sealants... there are many solutions for filling holes in wood. But how to use them? And what are the properties of these different wood repair products? Here is our simple user guide for professionals to find the right products for their wood renovations. 

 

Uses for wood in construction and how it works 

Wood is a living and natural material with many species which are broadly classified into two main families: softwoods and hardwoods. From the stump to the foliage, all parts of a tree are used for different purposes: firewood, packaging manufacture, furniture, construction... 
  
In construction, wood is used mainly in carpentry and construction, both indoors and outdoors. When the time comes to renovate it, there are many variables you may be confronted with. It may still be in an unfinished state, or has been finished by planing or sanding, then often treated and coated with paint, varnish, stain, wax or one of many other coatings. 
 
Depending on the wood’s exposure to humidity or shocks, filling work will often be needed at some stage to prolong its life. 

 

Wood filling materials 

The best solution for filling a hole in wood depends on the intended purpose of the piece: 

In cabinetmaking 

For repairing wooden furniture, shellacs and waxes are often recommended. 

• Shellacs are small sticks made from a mixture of gum and wax. They must be heated to soften them so that they can seal the holes. For a uniform fill, you should choose a colour designed for the species of wood to be filled. 
• Waxes are tinted wax sticks to be softened with the fingers before filling.

In both cases, the excess material can be removed with a chisel and a soft cloth. 

In carpentry 

For filling holes on carpentry, you have several solutions: 

• Wood fillers, either water-based or solvent-based: they’re easy to work with and sandable, they are offered in powder form or ready-to-use and are generally available in several shades.
• Polyester or epoxy resins: need to be mixed with a hardener before application.
• Ready-to-use acrylic, silicone, polymer or polyurethane sealants, most often used in jointing. 

Toupret’s Wood Surfaces filler range:  

TOUPRET offers two products for filling wood, indoors and outdoors: Wood Repair Filler: this powder filler makes it possible to repair broken angles and fill holes in all types of wood. Wood Repair Filler can be planed, sculpted, drilled and covered with all types of paints, varnishes and stains, just 3 hours after its application. And it has no fill depth limit, so it’s versatile for all kinds of challenging jobs and can be covered with all types of varnishes, paints and stains. It also has a low odour, so it can be comfortably used on interiors without disruption. 
 
Wood Filler: this ready-to-use filler can be stained or painted with any type of conventional paint, varnish or stain after 24 hours. It can also be drilled and is very easy to sand. Suitable for both internal and external use.  
 
Remember that outdoors or in damp rooms, our wood fillers must be protected with a covering of paint, varnish or stain. 
 
For your wood renovation work, you can find our full range of wood treatment products in our online product guide, including a wood hardener and glazing putty. 
  
To find out more about how to apply our special wood products, consult our product FAQ section and our other expert advice articles on wood renovation.