Wednesday, August 17, 2011

My Favorite Wood Filler

My favorite wood filler is not a wood filler at all, but an auto body filler called Bondo.  It's a two part putty that, when mixed with a hardener, allows it to set and harden.


Scoop some out onto a cardboard surface that was intended for trash so that it can be thrown away after.  (I have a putty knife I use exclusively for bondo because they don't ever get completely clean).


Then add a little of the hardener and mix.


Once the hardener is added, you need to work quickly because the putty sets very rapidly.  The more hardener you add the faster it sets.


Bondo is perfect for building up edges or corners of furniture and filling large dents as it dries harder than regular wood filler.  It is also my go-to when filling hardware holes.


Lay it on with your putty knife and try to smooth it as much as possible before it sets.  Sometimes, like in the picture below, your bondo will harden before you're done smoothing it out.  If this happens, don't worry; it will still sand out or you can float out the edges with glazing putty (explained below).


Sand it down with a 120 grit sandpaper and reapply if needed.  (Note - Do NOT apply Bondo too heavily, as it can be tough to sand down.)


When I really need a smooth, glass-like finish, I used another Bondo product called glazing putty.  You don't have to mix it, it goes on smooth, sands very, very easily and the finish is AMAZING.  





19 comments:

  1. You just made our day. Bondo was my husband's family's business for decades (it's now owned by 3M). Excellent uses of the product.

    Don't forget to use it in a very well ventilated area!

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  2. How do you know these thing?!?! No wonder my furniture never looks good I've never even tried to fill in holes.

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  3. ah sorry that as Kim.

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  4. ah! thanks for posting this, I'm just now diving into fillers on my projects and will try this one today actually.

    www.runninginheelswithtwins.blogspot.com
    www.clementineandolive.blogspot.com

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  5. i love that stuff! a carpenter on a HGTV shoot turned me on to it last year.

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  6. This is awful to say but I love the smell of bondo, it reminds me of childhood and my dad fixing up old cars in the driveway!

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  7. You are awesome! Need I say more?

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  8. I have to agree with Carolyn. I like the smell of Bondo. As my wife said, my family owned the company until the mid 1990's. I always told people that to me it smelled like money. My dad loved that. It is a great product with unlimited uses. I even did school projects with it. Works great because you don't have to wait a long time before you can sand it and paint over it.

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  9. I have to agree with Carolyn. I like the smell of Bondo. As my wife said, my family owned the company until the mid 1990's. I always told people that to me it smelled like money. My dad loved that. It is a great product with unlimited uses. I even did school projects with it. Works great because you don't have to wait a long time before you can sand it and paint over it.

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  10. Thanks for the tip! I've always found wood putty difficult to use, so I'm looking forward to trying this out.

    Betsey at b.bar
    www.bybbar.blogspot.com

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  11. WOW never would have thought of Bondo, thanks for sharing so much info, some day I will use this!!! :-)

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  12. I had no idea that this could be used for wood filler! A great tip, Natty!

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  13. This couldn't have come at a more perfect time as I am try to figure out how to tackle a piece of furniture that I just bought but has several chips out of the veneer. Thank you. I will be going out now to find some Bondo.

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  14. What a great post! I had heard about this years and years ago - waaay before HGTV and blogging, ha! Forgot all about it because I don't paint wood too often - or at least try not to, lol.

    I'll definitely be picking up some Bondo though. And the glaze! Thanks!

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  15. Thanks for the great tip! I just pinned it for reference. I found you through The Shabby Nest party.

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  16. Thanks for the tip! I'm getting ready to work on some bookcases that need some holes filled.

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  18. Do you need to primer over it first before painting? Where do we find Bondo? Great tip ~ thanks!

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  19. Would Bondo still work if you're planning to stain the item of furniture?

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