What is the best wood filler to use on holes for wood that is to be stained?

Question

Some holes are small (1/4 inch), a few cracks, and one large hole (1/4 inch deep, maybe 3 inches long, 1 inch wide). I need a good wood filler that will stain nicely. Type and brand, if possible. THANKS!!

Answer 1

There are wood fillers that are designed to accept stain. Most home centers sell it. You'll have to apply several coats to fill the deeper holes before sanding flush. Sorry, don't know the name though.

Answer 2

minwax stainable wood filler.  I bought it at Wal Mart! Works great!!!

Answer 3

ZAR wood patch.  It comes in either neutral, red oak, or golden oak.  Just remember that whatever product that you use to not go full strength stain, or use a light stain first and reapply to get to desired color.  If you don't do this staining this way, your patch will go dark real fast and will stick out like a sore thumb.  This Zar is a latex product, do not use a solvent based product because it will shrink.

Answer 4

I'm not sure if I have enough info to answer this but I'm on a roll so I'll try. First, for small holes,(nail holes) fill them AFTER you stain and urethane! Most filler leave a residue on the wood that the stain won't penetrate. You won't even know it until you put on the stain, then it's too late. Find a matching filler and put it on as a last step. For larger holes, try DAP Plastic Wood. It's easy t work with and dries hard, sandable, and stains pretty good but it comes in several colors so pick the one closes to match and you should be ok. Put it on before you stain and saind it well.

Answer 5

You can get close w/ a stainablwe wood putty, however they almost always show up lighter than the surrounding area.

I use it rarely & only to fill small nailhead holes.

For larger patches might consider trying to "fake' the grain of the wood w/ artists colors.

The latex/ acrylic pastes like Zar  take stain fairly well & come in light & dark shades

Best regards