Can we use Caulking instead of wood putty to fill in holes in wood?

Question

We took all the paneling around the windows and doors cause we are redoing the drywall and flooring, but a lot of the wood has nail holes in it.

We want to fill in those holes and paint the wood.

Is it okay to use regular caulk instead of wood putty? (Wood putty is just so much more expensive!!)

Answer 1

If??? they are small holes, yes, if there big; try using the drywall putty you haveleft. its easier to sand, and will save you money

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Wood Putty Vs Wood Filler

Answer 4

Paintable Wood Filler

Answer 5

A good quality acrylic vinyl tube caulk for any joints and painter's putty ( for painted trim nail holes) wood putty of appropriate color for stained trim. Available at paint departments everywhere.

Answer 6

Yes. If they're small holes you can use caulk. Avoid the silicone (bath tub-type) caulk because the paint tends to bead up. Use a Latex caulk instead.

Actually, for about $2.00 you can buy a can of what's called Painters' Putty which is designed to do exactly what you are doing. A small amount on your finger tip and gluch it over the hole...and you're done.

Answer 7

You can caulk, but the caulk will shrink in a few days, and you will be able to see every nail hole you caulked,( and the caulk will not fall out),,,,you don't have to use wood putty,,,go to the paint store and get painters putty, you might be able to buy it at Wal Mart or other places like this.

Answer 8

Remember caulking expands and contract at a different rate than wood. This will cause any paint to break away and peel. Pay-me Now or Pay-me Later. I'm lazy so I recommend spending the money.

Answer 9

There is a product for every function...and for filling holes in drywall, there is spackle. For wood, there is wood putty. This is for a reason...it's not just a squeme to try to scam you out of money. Try sanding that caulking after it dries, that is to say, if it doesn't sag by the time is dry. It's gooey and it flakes off like glue. Very noticeable when painted over. Save yourself the aggravation, and so the right thing. Spend that extra dollar and do the job right.

Answer 10

If you have so much volume to fill then use auto body fill, otherwise you are talking about pennies and should just use the wood putty

Answer 11

Please take no offense at this but CAN WE is so often asked here. My answer is always. "CERTAINLY!" with an addendum...will you be satisfied?

I want desperately to disagree with you regarding COST. Unless you're speaking of door/ window/ and cove base molding being so damaged that it might take gallons of FILL; the difference in price and quantity used in caulk and wood filler will hardly be noticed. Perhaps more valid might be QUALITY of any finish? If in fact any molding is so degraded; REPLACE it.

Just one old mans experienced opinions. In fact just yesterday I inquired about wood Filler in TUBES like caulk is sold in. NOPE it doesn't exist at this time. in any case you'll still have effort after the fact.

[e-mail]

Steven Wolf