Wood fillers make excellent solutions for cracks, holes, and other imperfections on your beloved wooden furniture. They’re also easy to use, allowing anyone to make minor repairs and touch-ups without hassle.
Sanding is a crucial step if you want to ensure a smooth finish. However, for beginners in woodworking, knowing exactly when to start sanding can be confusing. Sand it too soon, and you could end up with an uneven surface and a poor finish.
So, how long should I wait to sand wood filler?
It depends. Drying time often varies between brands, so we’ve rounded up some of the most popular wood filler names on the market and how long you should wait to sand them. We’ll also include some practical woodworking tips to achieve the smoothest finish.
How Long Should You Wait to Sand a Wood Filler?
Sanding properly dried wood fillers has several benefits. It evens the surface by eliminating rough edges and prepares the area for painting, staining, varnishing, and more protective finishing.
Most importantly, it minimizes the risk of the filler breaking down, ensuring a lasting and secure bond to the wood surface. Here’s how long you should wait before you sand a wood filler based on the brand you’re using:
1. Durham’s Wood Filler – 30 Minutes
Durham is a trusted woodworking brand. Renowned for its versatility and quick-dry action, Durham’s rock-hard wood filler is a fantastic option to revive your walls, refurbish your furniture, and cover unsightly dents in your flooring.
A go-to brand for DIY experts, Durham’s wood filler cures to a wood-like hardness and an attractive pine wood color. It doesn’t shrink and can be chiseled, sawed, polished, sawed, varnished, and painted after application.
For the best results, allow Durham’s wood filler to dry for at least 30 minutes for minor scratches, holes, and dents. The size of the defect may influence how long it takes to solidify. For good measure, leave larger fillings overnight to be sanded the next day.
Durham wood filler comes in dry powder form, unlike many brands that offer premixed paste. This allows you to mix only the amount you need and store the remainder, without worrying about it expiring in your cupboard.
2. Minwax Stainable Wood Filler – 2 Hours
Minwax is a water-based stainable wood filler for interior and exterior applications. This wax is made of genuine wood fibers, leaving behind a durable patch that blends well with painted or stained pieces of furniture.
The paste has a relatively dry composition, which results in minimal shrinking, and easy application. Squeeze a generous amount of Minwax stainable wood filler into the hole or crack, and press the paste deeper with a putty knife.
Drying Minwax wood filler generally depends on the depth and size of the opening or fracture. Shallow and minor scratches will typically take two hours to dry completely. Severe defects will need up to 6 hours to solidify, and often multiple fillings to thoroughly cover.
When applying multiple fillings, allow each layer to dry completely before applying the next. This promotes proper adhesion and hardening, preventing common issues like cracking or shrinking.
3. Carpenter’s Color Change Wood Filler – 2 Hours
DIY newbies unsure about the timing of sanding may consider Carpenter’s color change wood filler. Their patented filler formula changes color from purple to a natural color when dry. That means you’ll know precisely when the filler is ready for sanding and staining.
Drying time for minor repairs takes as little as 15 minutes. When used for deeper dents and voids, the paste’s color turns in about 2 to 8 hours. The finished product also dries solidly with minimal shrinking and no cracking.
However, note that Carpenter’s color change wood filler is for indoor use only. It isn’t designed to withstand the outdoor elements, including direct sunlight, rain, or changing temperatures. The paste is also a little thick when applied, though it packed well when dried.
4. KwikWood Wood Repair Epoxy Putty Stick – 1 Hour
KwikWood is one of the fastest-drying wood putty you can get. It’s also easily one of the most effortless to use. The product comes in lightweight grab-and-go packaging that makes light work with any wood-related damages.
Simply take the epoxy stick, cut to your specific repair need, and knead until soft and pliable. The stick comes in two colored layers, so you’ll know when it’s ready for application when they’re mixed together.
Press or mold the epoxy to the chipped area and leave it to dry for an hour before sanding. KwikWood doesn’t shrink and can be used for both indoors and outdoors. It’s also specially designed to bond strongly with the wood grain, creating a professional-looking finish.
5. FamoWood Latex Wood Filler – 15 Minutes
A combination of latex and real wood fiber, FamoWood Latex Wood Filler falls on the premium side of this list. It’s a versatile product and can handle a wide variety of wood damage—be it indoors or outdoors.
The latex in FamoWood makes it incredibly thick, though you can spread it well enough to fill any void with little to no shrinking. You can have a sandable result in as quick as 15 minutes. Although, if you live in a colder region, you may wait longer than that for the filler to dry.
The final result is a reliable, harder-than-wood surface ready for sanding, sawing, staining, and painting. One drawback to FamoWood is its short shelf life. The latex wood filler lasts one year and requires room-temperature storage to prevent freezing.
Practical Woodworking Tips For Sanding Wood Fillers
Tackling home improvement projects can be daunting for a first-timer. To help you get started, here are a few practical sanding tips that may just save your prized furniture:
Sand the Surface Before Applying Fillers
Before grabbing your filler material, prepare the affected area by removing any damaged paint. You can easily do this using a simple scraper, wire brush, or heat gun.
Sanding the surface of the damaged area also helps remove jagged and rough edges, which can affect the filler’s performance. Don’t forget to remove the sawdust left behind by the sandpaper.
Always Test Wood Filler Dryness
Some wood filler brands like Durham conveniently turn into a specific color when dried. However, if you can’t determine whether or not your filler is ready for sanding, there are several ways to know for sure.
Try pushing one finger to the filled surface. It should feel firm and doesn’t leave an indentation. You can also observe how the material looks. Dry fillers will appear solid and uniform.
Always read and follow the manufacturer’s drying instructions. Never go below the recommended drying time. Better yet, consider adding extra time for curing, especially if you live in humid regions of the country.
Follow the Proper Sanding Technique
When sanding a wood filler, you can use either a power or a hand sander. Power sanders provide excellent control and are best used for larger surface areas. They’re also ideal for delicate pieces of furniture.
Whether sanding by hand or with a power tool, always begin with a lower grit sandpaper to remove the roughest excess. Once done, move up to finer 220 or 320-grit sandpaper to achieve the smoothest finish.
To ensure an even result, sand the area with a circular motion, applying equal pressure to prevent unwanted grooves to the surface. Use a damp tack cloth to wipe the filler surface clean before staining or painting the wood.
Pick the Right Wood Filler
It sounds obvious but not all wood fillers are made equal. Some filler brands work best for interior applications, while others can be used in any location.
Wood putty is a superb choice for projects that demand flexibility, specifically for projects that may contract, flex, or crack. On the other hand, epoxy, water, and oil-based fillers are great options if you want to stain or paint the final product.
Final Thoughts
There you go! How long you wait to sand a wood filler generally depends on the type and brand you’re using. Some quick-drying products like Durham’s Wood Filler can be ready for sanding in 30 minutes, while others could take an hour or more.
Fortunately, using wood filler for home improvement projects is usually straightforward and something many homeowners can take on with ease.
