Filling screw heads

Dave Plowman (News)

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Jul 4, 2013, 8:07:41 PM7/4/13

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What's the best thing for filling in screw heads or nail holes in wood
these days, before painting?

Most fillers like Pollyfilla don't give a particularly smooth finish and
often show through the paint. And can cause the screw to rust. Decorators
caulk shrinks. Car body filler is too much effort. So is there anything
better now available? Something like decorators caulk that doesn't shrink
would be purrfect.

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Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
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Ericp

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Jul 4, 2013, 8:13:53 PM7/4/13

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On Fri, 05 Jul 2013 01:07:41 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
<da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

>What's the best thing for filling in screw heads or nail holes in wood
>these days, before painting?
>
>Most fillers like Pollyfilla don't give a particularly smooth finish and
>often show through the paint. And can cause the screw to rust. Decorators
>caulk shrinks. Car body filler is too much effort. So is there anything
>better now available? Something like decorators caulk that doesn't shrink
>would be purrfect.

The blue metal putty

Frank Erskine

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Jul 4, 2013, 8:22:04 PM7/4/13

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On Fri, 05 Jul 2013 01:07:41 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
<da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

>What's the best thing for filling in screw heads or nail holes in wood
>these days, before painting?

If you can sink the heads sufficiently you can use wood plugs,
cross-cut from similar wood.

--
Frank Erskine

harryagain

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Jul 5, 2013, 2:58:34 AM7/5/13

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"Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote in message
news:5366370...@davenoise.co.uk...

You have to rub filler down to get a smooth finish.
Nail heads should be punched in.
Screws need a decent countersink.
It's also better if you use galvanaised nails and screws in these places.

The Medway Handyman

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Jul 5, 2013, 3:12:17 AM7/5/13

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On 05/07/2013 01:07, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> What's the best thing for filling in screw heads or nail holes in wood
> these days, before painting?
>
> Most fillers like Pollyfilla don't give a particularly smooth finish and
> often show through the paint. And can cause the screw to rust. Decorators
> caulk shrinks. Car body filler is too much effort. So is there anything
> better now available? Something like decorators caulk that doesn't shrink
> would be purrfect.
>

I've been using this for a while & am very pleased with it
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Fixings_Index/Ready_Mixed_Filler/index.html

Excellent smooth finish, doesn't crack, quick drying.

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

polygonum

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Jul 5, 2013, 3:20:52 AM7/5/13

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Only downside it that it is relatively soft even when fully set. But
everything else is excellent.

--
Rod

stuart noble

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Jul 5, 2013, 3:48:54 AM7/5/13

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Ready mixed fillers are much of a muchness IME, fast setting and easy
sanding. Not exactly smooth though. Polyfilla is better in that respect

polygonum

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Jul 5, 2013, 3:51:10 AM7/5/13

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I think this stuff is phenomenally smooth. Certainly after light
sanding, I often cannot detect where it is by eye.

--
Rod

sm_jamieson

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Jul 5, 2013, 4:03:59 AM7/5/13

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On Friday, July 5, 2013 1:07:41 AM UTC+1, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> What's the best thing for filling in screw heads or nail holes in wood
>
> these days, before painting?
>
>
>
> Most fillers like Pollyfilla don't give a particularly smooth finish and
>
> often show through the paint. And can cause the screw to rust. Decorators
>
> caulk shrinks. Car body filler is too much effort. So is there anything
>
> better now available? Something like decorators caulk that doesn't shrink
>
> would be purrfect.
>
>

I find when filling holes in wood with filler, whether you smooth it off or sand it, and whether it tends to shrink or not, you get a telltale ring around the interface between the wood and the filler. This is possibly caused by the wood swelling when the filler gets it wet, then shrinking back.
Thus every so often along my picture rail, showing through the paint is a "ring".
I would love to find a filler that does not do that.
Maybe an exterior wood filler that is like epoxy would do.
Simon.

Dave Plowman (News)

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Jul 5, 2013, 4:49:13 AM7/5/13

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In article <c706f949-c53a-48b0...@googlegroups.com>,

sm_jamieson <sm_ja...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I find when filling holes in wood with filler, whether you smooth it off
> or sand it, and whether it tends to shrink or not, you get a telltale
> ring around the interface between the wood and the filler. This is
> possibly caused by the wood swelling when the filler gets it wet, then
> shrinking back. Thus every so often along my picture rail, showing
> through the paint is a "ring". I would love to find a filler that does
> not do that.

Exactly the reason I asked the question.

> Maybe an exterior wood filler that is like epoxy would do.

I'm not sure I could be bothered with two part stuff - and the waste
involved. I'm really looking for something in a tube, etc, ready for use.

--
*I don't have a license to kill, but I do have a learner's permit.

Dave Plowman (News)

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Jul 5, 2013, 4:50:49 AM7/5/13

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In article <iluBt.1039$2D...@fx17.am4>,

The Medway Handyman <davi...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> I've been using this for a while & am very pleased with it
> http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Fixings_Index/Ready_Mixed_Filler/index.html

> Excellent smooth finish, doesn't crack, quick drying.

Thanks, Dave, I'll give it a try.

--
*Generally speaking, you aren't learning much if your lips are moving.*

charles

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Jul 5, 2013, 6:09:56 AM7/5/13

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In article <ETuBt.55$ND6...@fx14.am4>, stuart noble

There are various varieties of Polyfilla. 'Fine surface' is the best one
for finishing off filled holes.

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