August 2, 2023
In the woodworking world, replete with various grades of woodworking materials, one of the handiest materials you can ever use is plywood. You can use it to build almost anything. For example, you can use it for house construction and furniture-making applications. Besides, it is highly workable, versatile, and stable as a woodworking material. Yet, despite its remarkable versatility and stability, it will still get damaged over time, especially if exposed to harsh elements.
Furthermore, if you check the edges of the plywood, they are not completely sealed, making them vulnerable to moisture and other harsh elements. Thus, if its edges get damaged, you need to repair the damaged edges using wood fillers. Wood fillers are easy to apply, and the results are always satisfying.
The Best Wood Fillers for Plywood Edges
Wood fillers come in a wide variety of brands, and if it is your first time buying wood fillers, you might get confused about which brand to choose. Of course, some brands are better than others. So, to help you zero in on the best brand, you can check below the most recommended wood filler brands by the experts:
1) Minwax 42853000
Nothing beats Minwax in matters of filling wood. In fact, many experts consider it the best wood filler you can ever buy. It is water-based and made of natural wood fiber components. It leaves behind a stable and durable patch once it dries. You can use it both outside or inside your home. Besides, it readily takes stain or paint.
You will find this wood filler easy to apply and a pleasure to use. When dried, it doesn’t show any remarkable shrinkage, showing grain consistency at the highest level. You can use it to fill small and large holes as if it is putty. It might be grain-consistent, yet, it is easy to apply and spread using your putty knife. Besides, sanding it afterward is easy.
What We Like:
- You can spread it with ease.
- It exhibits less shrinkage.
- It is perfect for filling large holes
- It exudes no odor at all.
What We Don’t Like:
- It might fail to seal completely very small pores because of its remarkable grain consistency.
2) FamoWood 40022126
Another highly recommended wood filler brand is the FamoWood 40022126. This wood filler is water-based, perfect for applications outside or inside your home. Filing nail holes become easy with this wood filler. Besides, it gets characterized by high strength that would not shrink or crack over time after it dries.
You can sand this filler to a remarkable smoothness. Besides, you can plane and drill over it with ease. Moreover, you can easily stain it to renew the appearance of the damaged surface. It doesn’t choose any stain but is receptive to whatever stain brand. Thus, it is an outstanding choice for repairing any damaged plywood edge. Plus, it doesn’t exude any foul odor or contains toxic ingredients.
What We Like:
- Characterized by high strength
- Easy to paint and stain
- It doesn’t exude a foul odor
What We Don’t Like:
- Requires a higher level of skill to apply perfectly.
3) Elmer’s Probond Interior Wood Filler
If you want something that could give you a professional result, you should check this wood filler. This wood filler gets manufactured using advanced ceramic microsphere tech. This technology lets the wood filler dry and sports a remarkable toughness, making it more durable than many wood fillers. With this technology, this wood filler is perfect for exterior usage, though it will do well for interior applications.
You can apply Elmer’s Probond without elaborate preparation. It features a slightly wet consistency that makes it easy to spread and use. Besides, the result is a solid finish despite its being grainy. The finish may shrink a bit, considering its high moisture formula.
What We Like:
- Easy to apply because of its wet consistency.
- Despite being grainy, it can seal pores with ease.
- Strong and durable
What We Don’t Like:
- It may shrink a bit.
4) Woodwise Powered Wood Filler White Oak
Woodwise Wood Filler is remarkable for being reliable and stable. As such, it might be one of the top choices of experts. You can use it to repair damaged wood like plywood edges. Besides, you can use it to repair holes, cracks, and even scratches. It exhibits high performance and shows exceptional blending with wood. It also doesn’t carry harmful ingredients that may compromise your health.
This wood filler is easy to use and apply. You only need to mix it with water, and off you can apply it. Moreover, this wood filler works well with hardwood and plywood. It may cost higher than other brands, but its remarkable performance makes it an ideal choice.
What We Like:
- Easy to prepare and apply.
- Offers excellent performance
- Perfect for repairing plywood edges
What We Don’t Like:
- More expensive than many wood filler brands.
5) Elmer’s E913
If you’re a newbie in wood fillers, consider using Elmer’s E913. This wood filler is perfect for beginners because it doesn’t necessitate elaborate mixing. It is easy to use and provides remarkable results after sanding and staining. You can use it for minor repairs of damaged wood and deeper voids or damages.
Elmer’s E913 dries easily and doesn’t exhibit significant shrinkage. Once sanded, it shows a remarkable finish that you would surely love. During application, however, it offers a bit of thickness, but it does pack well onto the damaged wood and, when sanded, appears almost unnoticeable. It also contains no toxic ingredients, making it very safe to use.
What We Like:
- Easy to apply and use
- It doesn’t require elaborate mixing of ingredients
- It doesn’t shrink much
What We Don’t Like:
- A bit thick for imbuing tiny pores.
- It alters its color when it dries.
6) Goodfilla’s Wood Filler
Wood will soon exhibit scrapes and nicks; if you don’t do anything, these minor damages may balloon into something significant. Thus, you might need a wood filler like Goodfilla’s Wood Filler. This wood filler can repair holes left by lag bolts, screws, and nails. It can repair those huge gaping holes, given the clay-like consistency you would love to use. It also doesn’t shrink after drying and is easy to stain or paint.
Goodfilla’s Wood Filler would likely not spread out of the tub. Thus, it isn’t ideal for filling tiny pores and holes. Nevertheless, you can remedy this problem by diluting it with warm water to improve its consistency. Once more spreadable, you can easily apply it to cover the tiny pores and holes. Furthermore, this wood filler is odorless. Plus, it doesn’t exhibit significant shrinkage over time and is perfect for outdoor and indoor applications.
What We Like:
- Perfect for large hole filling
- It doesn’t exhibit shrinkage.
- It is odorless.
- Easy to dilute.
What We Don’t Like:
- Difficult to spread at the onset.
Essential Factors to Consider When Choosing Wood Filler
If you’re a beginner in woodworking, you might get lost amid the myriad of wood filler brands in the market today. To help you select the ideal wood filler for plywood, you must consider the following essential factors:
Does it Stain or Paint Well?
It is not enough to repair damage to plywood edges. The repairing process should also lead to a result that is good to look at. Hence, when choosing a wood filler, you should go for something that receives paint or stain well. Besides, it should allow you to get the exact color of the material you are repairing. Thus, the wood filler should receive and not alter the color after drying.
Solvent-based wood fillers are pretty easy to paint or stain. You can do well with solvent wood fillers even if you are a newbie in wood fillers. However, when choosing a wood filler, go for those wood fillers that allow a smooth finish afterward. This way, you will find it easy to mimic the original color of the plywood you are repairing.
Consistency
Another factor you need to consider is the consistency of the formulation. Wood fillers come in different textures. Some are putty-like, while some are like pancake-batter. You can use thicker fillers to repair large voids and holes and thinner fillers to cover tiny pores. You must select a suitable wood filler for the type of repair you would like to engage in. The good thing about some thicker wood fillers is that you can thin them by diluting them with hot water. This way, you can use them to fill tiny pores and holes.
Color
Another critical factor to consider is the color of the wood filler. Wood fillers come in varied colors. Some are clear, while some come in various shades. Thus, when choosing a wood filler, go for the one whose color greatly resembles the color of the plywood you are repairing. This way, the result will be consistent with your material’s original color or shade, and the fixed spot will not look different from the adjacent parts of your project.
Usage and Applications
Wood fillers come in a wide variety of brands. Some require more elaborate preparation or mixing, while others are ready to apply out of the tub. So, if you’re a beginner, go for those wood filler brands that are easy to prepare and use. But if you’re a professional, you can expertly tinker with the formulation and come up with the best dilution. Remember that some wood fillers are not meant for beginner’s use. So, make sure that the one you choose fits your level of skills.
Interior or Exterior Applications
Most wood fillers you can buy are for interior applications. Yet, you will also find those which are for exterior use. Thus, before you zero in on a particular wood filler, figure out if you need something for an external application.
Interior-only fillers are perfect for applications inside your home or any enclosed area that is not subject to the vicissitudes of the weather and outdoor factors. Using them outdoors would likely not do well when exposed to moisture and changing weather.
On the other hand, you must choose wood fillers designed for outdoor use if the material you will repair is situated outdoors. Go for those formulated to withstand extreme weather without hardening so much while you apply them. It should not shrink too much when it dries likewise.
Go for water-based interior-exterior wood fillers if your project is outside your house because these fillers are more durable and versatile for outdoor applications. Of course, solvent-based wood fillers are also suitable for outdoor. Yet, it will help if you go for weather-resistant solvent-based wood fillers when engaged in heavy-duty repair of your outdoor projects.
Our Final Thoughts
Experts will not have any problem repairing damaged plywood edges. But if you’re a newbie in using wood filler, you will act on tenterhooks, doubting whether the wood filler you use will effectively patch plywood damage.
But if you are cognizant of the best wood fillers in the market, you can quickly narrow your options to the best ones. Thus, you will choose and use the ideal wood filler to repair damaged plywood edges.
Jason is a 40-year-old woodworker, carpenter and author who have been involved in the woodworking and woodcraft industry with 17 years of experience. He is expertise in technical aspects, woodcraft and furniture building projects.