Wood filler is used in almost any woodworking project and when house renovation to fill gaps and cracks before sanding and finishing the wood.
Due to the shortcoming of wood fillers in the global market, most people are switching to DIY wood fillers. You can make wood filler easily with a few simple steps.
But most of the articles on the internet are about making wood filler with sawdust. Have you ever wondered about making wood filler without sawdust?
Yes, indeed! Making wood filler without sawdust is possible. Let’s find out How to make DIY wood filler without sawdust
To make DIY wood filler without sawdust you need wood glue, cornstarch, and petroleum jelly. First mix equal parts of cornstarch and wood glue in a mixing bowl. Then take the mixture out and knead until the mixture gets putty-like consistency. Add petroleum jelly to remove the stickiness. Finally, wrap the DIY wood filler with plastic wrap and let it rest for 24 hours.
But there’s a lot more to know about making DIY wood filler without sawdust.
In this article, we’ll explore the tools and materials you need to make DIY wood filler without sawdust, how to make it using proper techniques and the importance of making wood filler on your own, and many more.
Furthermore, I’ll answer some frequently asked questions as well.
Let’s Dive in!
Tools And Materials To Make DIY Wood Filler Without Sawdust
- Cornstarch
- Wood glue
- Petroleum jelly
- Plastic spoon or craft stick
- Measuring cup
- Mixing bowl
- Plastic container
- Disposable gloves or latex gloves
- Tack cloth
- Plastic wrapper
- Plastic seal bag
- Paper towels
Here we’re going to use cornstarch on behalf of sawdust since cornstarch has lots of physical qualities as sawdust in woodworking projects.
How To Make DIY Wood Filler Without Sawdust
Here’s the procedure for making DIY wood filler without sawdust,
- Measure and Pour cornstarch and Wood Glue
- Mix cornstarch with wood glue
- Knead well
- Add petroleum jelly
- Wrap the mixture with a plastic wrapper
- Leave it in a plastic bag
So, let’s discuss each of the above steps in detail to get a clear idea about making DIY wood filler with ease with no sawdust at all.
1. Measure And Pour Cornstarch and Wood Glue
First, take the measuring cup and pour the required amount of cornstarch you need to make the wood filler.
The amount of cornstarch you need to take to the measuring cup depends on how much wood filler you are going to make.
Here cornstarch is the ingredient that takes the place of the sawdust. Even though sawdust works differently and appears different, when making wood filler, both corn starch and sawdust do the saw.
After taking the required amount of cornstarch, pour it into the clean mixing bowl or any other plastic container which can be used as the mixing medium.
Then pour an equal part of wood glue into the measuring cup and pour it into the mixing bowl.
The cornstarch and wood glue mixing ratio should be 1:1.
Then mix the cornstarch and wood glue well using a plastic spoon.
Tip: Make sure to add cornstarch first to the mixing bowl to avoid getting wood glue stuck in the measuring cup. Otherwise taking cornstarch to the measuring can be difficult since wood glue is already stuck inside.
2. Mix Cornstarch and Wood Glue
Now mix the poured cornstarch and wood glue well using a plastic spoon inside the mixing bowl.
You can add more glue if the mixture is too rough and make thick putty with the texture of cookie dough.
Never add an excessive amount of wood glue since that will make the mixture runny.
Mix the cornstarch and wood glue well until the mixture get putty-like consistency.
After making the mixture, scoop the mixture and let it sit on the surface.
Do the pouring speed and mixing process as quickly as possible since wood glue gets hardens pretty quickly.
When the cornstarch and wood glue are inside the mixing bowl, you should mix them quickly before the wood filler gets hardened.
Take a maximum of 10 minutes to pour cornstarch and wood glue into a mixing bowl and mix them well.
3. Knead The Mixture
Then, take the mixture into your palm and start kneading it until turn it into a dough.
Knead the mixture like clay until it stops sticking to your palm or fingers.
Make sure to do this continuously before the mixture gets hardens.
4. Add Petroleum Jelly
Now add two tablespoons of petroleum jelly to your dough-like mixture and mix with it well to reduce the stickiness of the mixture.
Petroleum jelly makes the mixture smoother and reduces stickiness.
Take the mixture onto your palm and knead using the fingers of both hands to remove any roughness inside. Stretch it, push, and pull using your fingers until it looks like a taffy.
It should be smooth and not sticky anymore.
Tip: Never add an excess amount of petroleum jelly since it will slow down the curing time.
5. Wrap The Mixture In a Plastic Wrapper
Now take the plastic warp that you use to warp foods and other stuff. Wrap around the mixture completely and press it to make the inside airtight.
6. Leave It In Plastic Bag
Insert the plastic-wrapped mixture into a plastic bag. Then air seal by squeezing the air in the bag and leave for 24 hours until it gets fully cured.
Then, clean all the tools you used using paper towels and close the lids of wood glue properly to stop them from hardening.
After 24 hours, take the mixture from the plastic bag, unwrap and warm it a little before using it as a wood filler. Simple as that!
That’s how you should make a DIY wood filler easily without sawdust.
Why You Make Your Own Wood Filler?
Yes, I know why you put this much effort when you can easily buy wood filler from the nearest local store.
But have you ever thought about customizing the color of wood filler according to the color of your furniture to hide cracks and gaps?
Most of the wood glue in the market has a brown tint which is so hard to change. But by using white or transparent wood glue you’ll be able to change the color of the wood filler accordingly.
Plus, you know the quality of wood filler since you can use the best products you have and make it as smooth as you want.
You can change the compositions of wood glue, cornstarch, and wood glue and make slight changes to make the wood filler even better.
DIY wood fillers are great to cover small gaps and cracks in wood easily especially if you’re on a budget.
Making DIY wood filler without sawdust is useful especially if you are concerned a lot about your health.
Sawdust causes lots of breathing and allergy issues. Plus, it can cause skin and eye irritations.
Tips To Make Wood Filler Without Sawdust
- Use a clean area to make wood filler since if dust gets trapped inside the wood filler, the quality of the product will reduce, and you won’t get the best performance from it.
- Use new cornstarch since old ones may contain germs and bacteria which reduce the effectiveness of the wood filler
- Add cornstarch first to the mixing bowl to avoid getting wood glue stuck in the measuring cup
- Do the pouring and mixing steps quickly before the wood glue hardens
- Add only two tablespoons of petroleum jelly since too much will increase the curing time.
- Wear gloves during the process to avoid your fingers from getting messy
That’s it, folks!
Let’s answer some frequently asked questions raised when making DIY wood filler without sawdust.
How Can I Make Homemade Wood Filler?
You can make homemade wood filler using the following ingredients,
- Wood glue
- Power sander
- Tack cloth
- Fine grit sandpaper
- Disposable gloves
- Mask
- Putty knife
- Spoon
Here’s how to make homemade wood filler,
- Clean the scrap wood that use to get sawdust
- Sand the scrap wood and take the sawdust to a cardboard or paper cup
- Mix sawdust with wood glue
- Apply immediately before it gets hardens
What Can I Use As A Substitute For Wood Filler?
- Wood glue
- Paint with a similar color to wood
- Wood glue
- Shellac
- Chaulk
How To Fill Holes In Wood Without Wood Filler?
You can fill holes in wood without wood filler by using mixing sawdust with white wood glue or sawdust and making a thick paste to fill holes and gaps in the wood.
Then sand down the excess filler that pops after once it dries using fine grit sandpaper.
What Are The Ingredients In Wood Filler?
- Sawdust
- A binding agent like sawdust, shellac, or epoxy
That’s it. Some manufacturers add different chemicals and hardeners to wood fillers to make it more smooth and change their color. That depends on your personal preference.
Did I cover all you wanted to know about: DIY Wood Filler Without Sawdust
In this article, we have discussed the ultimate guide to making DIY wood filler without sawdust. Which seems impossible, but with cornstarch, Yes it’s possible. We have discussed all the ingredients and tips and techniques you need to make the process succeed.
You can make DIY wood filler without sawdust by using cornstarch as sawdust, wood glue, and petroleum jelly. First, mix cornstarch and wood glue in a mixing bowl and knead until it turns to a dough-like consistency. Add a little amount of petroleum jelly to remove the stickiness. Wrap the mixture using a plastic wrapper and place it inside a plastic bag. Let it sit for 24 hours before use.
Furthermore, I’ve answered some frequently asked questions as well.
Hope you have learned everything you need to know about making DIY wood filler without using sawdust.
This is the healthiest method to make wood filler with no irritating sawdust. Let’s give it a try!
