Wood Putty 101

With many types of wood putty on the market we prepared this quick guide to help cover the basics. Wood putty is often used to fill small nicks, gouges, and cracks. It can be quite effective for filling small defects in a wood's surface.

Wood putty is simply a binder such as a wood finish or glue mixed with solid material such as sawdust, calcium carbonate, gypsum, or wood flour (fine sawdust). The binder simply holds the filler together. The three types of wood putty are:

Nitrocellulose-based - This type of wood putty cures very fast and can be cleaned up or thinned with acetone or lacquer thinner. Brands include: Famowood, DAP brand "Wood Dough", Miracle WOOD, and others.

Acrylic-based - This wood putty cleans up with water until it cures. Acetone, toluene, or xylene can be used for cleanup after the putty has dried. Brands include: Elmer's Carpenters wood filler, Fill N' Finish, ZAR wood path, and 3M brand Just like Wood, and others.

Gypsum-based - This putty is sold as a powder that you mix with water. It cleans up with water until its dry and then cannot be re-dissolved after it has dried. Brands include: Durham's Water Putty and other brands.