How to Fill Cracks in Wood Before Painting

When you paint your wood, the outcome is not as good as you expected. This may happen because cracks were left in the wood after it had dried out.

Cracks will always appear over time due to weathering and other factors that affect its stability. Even though this happens, you can still repair them successfully. Read through the article to get information how to fill cracks in wood before painting.

Apply Filler

First, clean out any dirt or debris from cracks and holes using a rag or toothpick. It’s important that there’s no dust between the cracks.

When using a filler, make sure that the surface is completely dry before doing so. You should also test first on how easily you can scrape off the dried product from your wood before painting it.

Whether it’s acrylic or oil-based filler, use your finger to spread the product on a small area. Smooth it out with a paintbrush until you can’t see any lumps or bumps. Let this dry for at least two hours.

Scrape Off Dried Filler

After using filler, don’t just stop there because these cracks won’t go away without proper scraping off. Use a plastic scraper to fix this problem, especially when dealing with bigger gaps and crevices.

You may also have to use finer sandpaper as a finishing touch, depending on how deep the cracks are. Sand it down carefully so you won’t have to give any finishing touch afterward.

Paint Your Item

Your final step is to apply paint or varnish so that your crack repair project will look like nothing had happened in the past.

Make sure that this product isn’t too thin as well, so you’ll have a good finish while maintaining its integrity. Apply evenly and leave it to dry for some time before you start using it.

Bottom Line

Fixing crack problems in your wood items will make them appear more attractive and presentable. It’s also an easy task and can be done by anyone.

If you want to make wood items more durable, then this should be on your list of things to try out.