Wood fillers are a must when revamping wooden furniture. But sometimes dealing with it can get a bit tricky. Like- wood filler not staining.
Wondering why is the stainable wood filler not staining?
Wood filler and wood have different absorption power. Wood is more porous which is why it stains more. However, wood filler is not porous. This is why wood filler doesn’t stain. Even if it works, it isn’t fast enough to keep up with the wood’s staining.
But even if the wood filler doesn’t stain, there is a way to match it with the wood. How? We’ll tell you all about that in our article down below.
Continue reading if you want the wood filler to match the stain of the wood.
SKIP AHEAD
Why Wood Filler Is Not Staining?
The absorption power of wood filler and wood differs. Because wood is porous, it stains more easily. Wood filler, on the other hand, is not porous. That’s why it won’t stain.
Even if it does, the staining rate of the wood does not match.
So you need to rely on other means to stain wood filler. We noted down a few of these methods in the section below.
3 Different Methods to Stain Wood Filler
If you know how to stain wood, you know that it isn’t always a smooth ride. Especially if there is wood filler in the picture. Wood filler does not stain evenly with your wood.
But there are alternatives that you can carry out to get that result. We’ll tell you about these methods, down below.
Method 1: Colored Markers
Another way to conceal wood filler is by using color markers or sharpies. You can also use furniture touch-up markers. All three of them work the same way. This method is more convenient if the spot is not too big.
Pick around 3 permanent markers with similar shades. That way you can blend in hues to get the right color. Take your markers and shade them over the spot. Then immediately wipe it off. This leaves behind a light hue and blends in with the stain color.
Keep doing so until you get the shade that you want. Here are some markers that you can try-
Use them the right way as mentioned above to get the perfect results.
Method 2: Acrylic Or Oil Paint
Use oil paint or acrylic paint to cover the wood filler. The paint is a lot thicker than stains. So it will completely cover the spot. Make sure, however, that the color of the paint you use matches the color of the wood.
Raw sienna, burnt sienna, and burnt umber are some of the possible colors to consider. You can typically match just about any hue by blending two or all three of these colors. It does, however, need some trial and error.
It’s better to go with a hue that’s a shade or two darker than the piece you’re mending. The less visible the color is to the human eye, the darker it is.
With a little brush, apply a light coat of paint to the targeted area. Then feather the paint and spread it into the surrounding area with a fan brush. Keep wiping the brush clean while feathering with the grain.
If you don’t like how it turned out, wipe it off right away, change the hue, and try again. It’s unlikely that you’ll get it properly the first time. If the grain is particularly noticeable, you can use a fine point brush and one of the dark colors to duplicate it over the patch.
Allow it to cure for around 2-3 days before applying your finish. Choosing the right acrylic is important. That’s why we’ve jotted down the best ones for you-
Method 3: Mix Tint Or Wood Dust
Another method you can try is by mixing tinted colors with wood filler. You can use japan colors or mixol colors for the job. By mixing the tint, you can match the color of the filler with the wood.
This way when you apply it over the wood, it’ll blend it easier. You can top it off with wood stain to make it even.
You can also use a mixture of raw wood dust and old brown glue as a wood filler. This technique might get a bit messy. By using wood dust, you’re making it as natural as possible.
Since old brown glue stains well, you can top it off with an even-stained layer. It will take around 24-48 hours for it to dry down.
Looking for old brown glue? Good news you don’t have to look anymore. Here are a few of out top choices-
You can easily stain wood filler with the help of these approaches. But you may not be able to get your desired results on the first try. But don’t be disheartened. Just wipe it off and do it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Do you use a wood filler before or after staining?
Answer: Some woodworkers prefer pre-coloring wood filler before using it. Wood stain is mixed with the filler. To make it blend better with the wood surface.
Question: What’s the difference between wood putty and wood filler?
Answer: Wood filler is water-based. But wood putty is usually oil-based. Wood filler is often used for unfinished wood and can be sanded. Wood putty, on the other hand, cannot be sanded. And is best applied to finished wood.
Question: How hard is wood filler?
Answer: Wood by-products are commonly used in the formulation of wood fillers. Like- sawdust or wood dust suspended in water or petroleum-based media. These items dry down extremely hard. But, while they adhere to the wood quite well, they are not actual structural materials. So, the strength of wood joints will not be improved.
EndNote
And that’s it! Now you know the answer to why the stainable wood filler not staining. And what you should do to fix the problem.
We hope you found this article to be informative. We made every effort to provide you with multiple options. So you can pick a method you are most comfortable with.
Thank you for sticking with us till the end.
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