What do you use to fill nail holes on a wooden dining table?

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
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I bought a farmhouse style table from potterybarn that is made of reclaimed wood.

That's marketing BS words for beat-up old wood used as a farmhouse look.

So the table top is stained and it has bunch of huge nail holes for the rustic look.

Well it's facking gross when food debris get stuck in em.

I wanna fill the holes. What do I use at home depot?

 
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snoopy7548

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2005
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I'm making a desk (and at some point in the future, a dining table) from reclaimed wood. I filled in some of the nail holes and deeper knot holes with clear epoxy - I wanted to keep the look but like you, stop crap from getting stuck in there.

It was pretty expensive but it works well if you mix is slowly and carefully, and not do too much at once; it's easy to get air bubbles. I'm sure there are much cheaper options at Home Depot, but clear is definitely the way to go IMO. Just read reviews and make sure it won't yellow over time.

West System 105A epoxy and 207SA clear hardener

 
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skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
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I use a filler, and mix two colors of filler to get a good color match.
This product will probably do the trick. I have the Dap in tubes and I keep 3 colors around. I do a fair bit of finish nailing.
Roberts
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
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www.anyf.ca
Epoxy is probably way to go, but a quick cheap fix might be to just fill them with transparent caulk and see if that yields acceptable results. May not last though.
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
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Another vote for clear epoxy .... other options may not stick very effectively since you'll have a tough time "roughing up" the surface area inside the actual nail-holes to give it something to "grab".

Be sure to test with a small drop of epoxy on a hidden spot in case it doesn't want to play nice with the existing finish before applying to the table-top.
 

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,395
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These putty options look... quite like a putty. It's not very nice looking when I'm looking at customer pix.

Epoxy seems far more appealing. Very expensive, damn.
 

Pohemi

Lifer
Oct 2, 2004
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Are epoxies sandable like a wood putty would be? Or would you just clean up epoxy overfill with a razor? I only wonder about the filled holes being flush with the rest of the table surface (and smooth).

Epoxy would definitely be more durable once set and dried, I just wondered about it being 'workable' afterwards.
 

jmagg

Platinum Member
Nov 21, 2001
2,177
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Depending on how many holes there are, I might try to gouge some splinters from underneath, force them in the holes, cut flush, then use rub on poly on the entire top ( lightly sand first).
 

deadlyapp

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2004
6,652
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Are epoxies sandable like a wood putty would be? Or would you just clean up epoxy overfill with a razor? I only wonder about the filled holes being flush with the rest of the table surface (and smooth).

Epoxy would definitely be more durable once set and dried, I just wondered about it being 'workable' afterwards.
Epoxy is very sandable, but you often have to polish it afterwards or work to a very fine grit of sandpaper to keep it clear. Epoxy dries hard as hell, so best to get it the right height first or do the complete table with a skim layer.