Which method (wax crayon or filler) is the best for filling/patching real maple?

Question

I have recently built some wood furniture and columns out of real maple and MDF with maple veneer. I’m about to finish the wood, and need some advice regarding filling gaps, joints and finish nail holes in the maple. One person has told me to use a wax crayon after staining the wood, and another person has told me to use stainable wood filler before staining. I’ve used filler before on another project, and had negative results when staining. Because of the cost of this project, I plan on thoroughly testing anything before making a decision. Can anyone give me advice on which method (wax crayon or filler) is the best?

Answer 1

You are going to have to play with it to find what you like. Since you are not painting I don't think you will find a filler that you will be happy with. Unless you can find a filler that is the color you are staining. Remember you can't pick a color until you have stained an actual piece of wood from the project. If you used steel brads or steel wool in any of your process I would stay away from water based anything as you can get rust stains surfacing. The wax crayon trick I have never tried but make sure you completed all staining and sealing before using the wax. Remember wax melts in heat so that should determine the placement of this piece.

Good luck

Answer 2

Have you thought about taking some of the sawdust from your project and adding some wood/elmer's glue to it and using that as the filler? It would match perfectly and when stained will stain the same as the other wood.

Answer 3

Minwax makes fill pencils-which have the consistency of a crayon-they sell them in many shades-couple bucks -you'll never see the holes

Answer 4

use a water-based filler, with water-based stain.

Answer 5

just use something simple like toothpaste or caulk and paint over it.