I’m just starting to trim my new house with poplar that will be painted. What type of putty for the nail holes and caulk should I use that won’t shrink or crack?
A painter friend said to use something similar to durabond 20 on the nail holes, leaving it proud of the hole and sanding it down flush
Thanks
Rupert
Replies
I always use DAP painter's putty on nail holes. Properly applied it makes the nail holes disappear, although if you use a very high gloss paint (like oil) every little imperfection will show.
Re the caulk, prime the wood first. This helps keep the woodwork from absorbing the moisture from the caulk and causing it to crack. Still, some cracking in almost inevitable, but it can be minimized. Use a good quality caulk - 35 or 50 year - silionconzed latex is a good balance between workability and longevity. Buy a few tubes and try it first, some 50 year caulks are hard to work with especially when it is cold.
Interior or exterior / small cracks, or big gaps (like windows to brick) Rupert ?
As a starter, I've been using LePage Exterior Wood Filler for nail holes, but recently switched to Elmer's Wood Filler for interior. They come in colours so they don't telegraph through the paint (I usually use white and then prime). For small gaps (like baseboards to walls) I'm now using Alex Plus by DAP in the brilliant white colour - really like it. (Alex Plus is a latex/silicone formula, like Matt talked about). Big exterior gaps get Mono Ultra - don't remember what's in it, but it comes in colours, is paintable, and withstands significant movement.
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
Interior............Small gaps and finish nail holes. Unprimed poplar. I'll probably put a coat of primer on, and then caulk where it is needed.
Thanks
Rupert
Then my choice would be wood filler (Elmer's or equivalent) for the nails, before priming, and Alex Plus for the gaps.
NB, many painters I know just use the Alex for both..
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
my painter swears by DAP window glazing...
primes first ... then DAP's ... then paints.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
OK, this may be a real stupid question, but, what are putty and caulk?J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
smartazz..
Zar makes a product, forget what it's called, comes in a tube like toothpaste, real good stuff for paint grade, I've used it quite a bit on pop and pine, sands smooth and dries quick.
Zar wood patch.
Comes in a varity of wood colors. Will do stain.
Latex base. Good for interior and exterior use.
Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....
It is latex, thats the stuff but the stain thing is debatable. It says it is, but it doens't take it to well.
Classic putty was made with ground up sea shells, a little ash, and some boiled linseed oil. In my youth, I can recall watching the men in my grand-father's yard making it up from scratch: I used to get sent to the open market to get shells from the fish mongers' barrows.
My father used to buy whiting (calcium carbonate, probably mostly from sea shells) to mix with the linseed oil.
I think caulk is anything that makes a water-tight seal along a crack. Key word there is "water-tight"..
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
On nail holes I use Crawford's Water Putty (Also called Crawford's Painters' Putty). Apply after primer, let dry, buff with cloth, paint.
Crawfords can be hard to find, check pro painters' supply stores.
Luck, jw
what the heck
was I thinking?
I'm a fan of polurethane caulks.........PL brand is a good one and readily available here. Great stuff that stays where you put it (tenacious grip), remains flexible and is paintable. Geocell is good, too. (Not every 50 year caulk is worth what's implied if it doesn't stay where you want it and falls on the ground in 2-3 years)
For cold weather application, I have a plywood box with hinged lid, 1/2 insulation on inside walls. Place tubes inside with a hairdryer on a thermostat set to about 100 -110F. (Of course, don't point the dryer at the thermostat or dierctly at the tubes) At these temps, it flows like butter. Place one in the gun and immediately cover by pulling a pair of old socks over the tube. When/if a tube chills and gets hard to squeeze, swap out for a different tube.
I'm not gonna say I ever used quick dry spackle...I'd never say that..the interior/exterior kind.....or, two part Minwax filler.
also...add epoxy hardener to toothpaste for non shrinking caulk <kidding>
Be zipped lips
andy
My life is my practice!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Edited 11/20/2003 3:44:17 PM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)
Found phenoseal through a builder buddy. latex caulk that stays flexible and is paintable. Also comes in clear. Works like a glue, too. He knows his stuff- turned me on to grk screws too (torx head). Lots of applications in our 180 yr old house
s'matter ....you dont like my toothpaste with PL Premium mix??????
Be me.........nahhhhhh
aMy life is my practice!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
There seems to be some agreement on the caulk, but I think it's interesting that every single person who responded liked a different putty. And I thought Phil's story about the old days putty with linseed and ground shells was very interesting too.