Filling nail holes in trim

Teetorbilt · Jan 7, 2006

Just curious in what product everyone else was using. One of my trim guys uses a caulk that doesn't agree with paint, another uses something that shrinks like crazy and the 3rd uses something like acrylic spackle that is sandpaper resistant.

I've just realised that this a bottom line issue for the painters.

With the fuel and ins. issues, I'm streamlining like crazy.

DecksEtc · Jan 7, 2006

I've always used latex caulk but I'm no painting expert. I'm sure they'll be along soon for you Teetor.

ProWallGuy · Jan 7, 2006

Elmers:

specwood · Jan 7, 2006

Dap makes a painters putty that works well. Its like a thicker version of glazing compound. Glazing compound works too.

Minwax makes a white putty which is just like thier colored stuff and we just used that recently and it works pretty well.

All of these are soft and remain so for a while. I would only recommend for small nail holes and very small gaps.

For larger problem areas on painted surfaces we use auto body filler. Put in on heavy, and slice it off with a very sharp chisel before it gets too hard, then sand smooth. Shrinkage won't be a problem.

Caulk on nail holes usually leaves the owner's fingerprint on the wood.:thumbdown

Robie · Jan 7, 2006

I've switched to vinyl spackling for nail holes. Dries fast, very easy to sand.
For non-painted surfaces, filling the holes is the last thing I do, I use the colored wax sticks.

old27 · Jan 7, 2006

One-Time

http://www.reddevil.com/productDetail.cfm?id=0541RT&c=pr&cat=47

JustaFramer · Jan 7, 2006

Crawfords spackling paste. Low shrinkage and is wet sandable.

plazaman · Feb 28, 2007

Rehabs painters caulk, but it shrinks, and more than often its visible.

Others, wood filler, 99% of the time i dont need to sand after i apply wood filler to trim. when i apply it, i use my hand to even it out.

GPI · Feb 28, 2007

We use lightweight shrink free spackeling for painted trim. apply with finger or putty knife, light sand and nail holes are invisible. Stained wood, use oil color putty only after the wood has been sealed or the oils in the putty will stain the wood which there is no return once its in the pores...

1KingOfDrywall · Feb 28, 2007

It depends if the mold is getting stained or painted...

(keep in mind this is coming from a drywaller)....but I use durabond mixed in a pan with a little plus 3.....ONLY IF ITS GETTING PAINTED OF COURSE. I can touch up an entire house quick. I've only been asked to do it a few times but it works great. Say for example you got an old doorway inside the house that has the old markings of the old door hinges. I take some dry 5 minute durabond and work it.....lol
100% perfect in less than 10 minutes.....ready to paint.:no:

Scott Young · Feb 28, 2007

i have used various things, but at the moment i am using 'plastic wood'.

highlife77 · Mar 1, 2007

Patch N Paint for painted trim work, colored wood filler on stainable...after the stain. sometimes I have to mix a couple diff. tubes to get the right color or mix a little stain w/ Natural filler ... I use bondo for big jobs like door jambs or building up a window sills..works great..Elmers has a White wood filler out now...I picked a couple up the other day at walmart on clearance but I haven't used it yet so we'll see...since it was a clearance item, who knows.

Danahy · Mar 2, 2007

Pink Dap spackle

Tom M · Mar 2, 2007

Had a painter use glazing compound and it looks great 2 years later no shrinking. He literally put it on then painted.

TimNJ · Mar 2, 2007

I use MH Spackling Paste by Zinsser. Dries fast and shrink resistant. I only putty the outside nail holes on the doors I hang. Anything inside I leave for the painter.

thom · Mar 3, 2007

I use E-Z sand. doesn't shrink, dries fast, easy to sand. I put it on with a 1" knife and rarely need to sand. For baseboard inside corners I use latex caulk. I try to leave a small gap to squeeze the caulk in. It stays flexible and holds well. Oftentimes requires a second coat.

C.C.R. · Mar 3, 2007

filling nail holes is the painters job

RLGC · Mar 4, 2007

I agree filling holes should be the painters job,however if you care what the finished product looks like don't count on the painter. best bet is to do a neat trim job and use brads where possible. (Smaller holes.) Bondo for the big gaps is preferable. spackle works or anything HD has cheap for the small holes

twlinks · May 13, 2007

Sure, slap it up, bang it full of holes and then HOPE the painter is going to do a good job of filling YOUR holes before he paints. I know that in a lot of areas, the painter is expected to fill the holes...however, my contention would be "Why would you trust someone else to do that?" If he does a crappy job, it's a reflection on your work as well as his.

Just my .02 worth, but I'm not trusting my work to anyone else.

Luke's Dad · May 15, 2007

Here's whay I use!!

Dap "33" glazing compound. Just rub a little in the nail hole and you can paint over it almost right away! Doesn't shrink or crack! :thumbup: :thumbup:

http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=66

Filling nail holes in trim

Teetorbilt

DecksEtc

ProWallGuy

Attachments

specwood

Robie

old27

JustaFramer

plazaman

GPI

1KingOfDrywall

Scott Young

highlife77

Danahy

Tom M

TimNJ

thom

C.C.R.

RLGC

twlinks

Luke's Dad

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