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Q. We’re installing oak trim in a room we’ve converted into a home office. What kind of putty should we use to fill the nail holes?
A. It depends on how and where you do the staining and finishing. I strongly suggest you prestain your trim then give it the first coat of polyurethane or clear finish before installing it; you’ll save time and mess. If you go this route, use one of the colored oil-based putties in the little jars. They come in a wide range of colors; you can even knead different shades together to get just the right color where the grain is darker or lighter. But it’s critical that you stain and seal your wood before using oil-based putty. Don’t use it on bare wood because the oils in it soak into the wood surrounding the nail holes, and stain and finish will absorb differently and look blotchy. It’s equally important to apply a coat of polyurethane over the putty after it’s applied; the stuff remains soft and the clear finish will help protect it. Also because of its softness, don’t use it on floors or to fill large holes or gaps.
Sandable putty hardens after it’s applied and needs to be sanded smooth for best results. It’s the best choice for filling large holes in wood. But I’ve had horrible luck using it for filling nail holes in unstained wood. It can unevenly absorb the stain applied over them. And, since sandable putty doesn’t flex with the wood as it expands and contracts, it can crack and fall out.
If you’ve prestained and prefinished your trim, use the oil-based putty on the right. If you’re sanding and finishing your wood after it’s up (boy, is THAT a lot of extra work!), you can use the stuff on the left, but the results will be less predictable.
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