When you are busy with DIY or projects mistakes can happen or maybe part of your project is filling nail holes or nicks. Either way, you will need something helpful to repair the holes without taking too long or with minimal effort. An excellent candidate for these types of repairs is a quality nail hole filler.
Nail hole fillers easily repair holes and knicks using substances like primer or spackling to fill a hole easily. The nail hole filler will usually be easy to sand to get a smooth finish and can even come in various colors to match the area you are fixing to keep the color uniform. A good nail filler will not shrink, crack or sag and keep the hole filled permanently.
We have got the best nail hole fillers that are available so that you have a range of options with varying features that can suit your repair needs exactly.
COMPARISON CHART
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3M High Strength Small Hole Repair
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Timbermate Maple/Beech/Pine Hardwood Wood Filler
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Goodfilla Water-Based Wood & Grain Filler
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Elmer’s E855 Carpenter’s Wood Filler
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Red Devil 0542 ONETIME Lightweight Spackling
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Features
- Makes repairs 3x faster than traditional vinyl spackling
- Primer enhanced spackling compound for great hiding power
- No shrinking, cracking, or sagging
- Lightweight spackle compound
3M high strength small hole repair all-in-one applicator includes everything you need for quick & easy repair of nicks & nail holes. Including primer-enhanced spackle, putty knife & sanding pad all in one. This makes repairs 3X faster than traditional vinyl spackling. You will find no shrinking, cracking or sagging. 3M high strength offers quick and easy repair for nicks and nail holes. This is ideal for repairs of hole repairs up to 3” in diameter.
WHAT WE LIKE
Ideal product for filling small nail and screw holes, nicks, and dings. The all-in-one feature makes it easy to walk around the house and quickly patch up a dozen or so small areas, then come back through the next day for painting. You can fill and patch up to about a half-inch hole but anything larger will need some more support. It is easy to sand, spread, fill, and re-sand. This is something small and cheap for quick and easy repairs.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
At times the solution was too runny even after having shaken the bottle. There are no instructions that come on the bottle so you are left guessing on how to use it. The sander does not adhere to the bottle very well. You cannot get any excess back into the tube leading to wastage.
PROS
- All in one feature is ideal
- Can easily patch numerous holes
- Works for holes of about an inch and a half
- Easy to sand, spread, fill and re-sand
- Small and cheap solution
CONS
- Solution is very runny
- No instructions
- Cannot put excess back in
2. Timbermate Maple/Beech/Pine Hardwood Wood Filler – Best for Beginners
Features
- Easy preparation
- Timbermate is versatile and may be used for all interior repairs, including repairing edges. It protects wood and doesn’t harm it.
- Fast drying
- When you’re done with your repair, scoop it up and put it back in the bucket.
A totally unique, quick-drying, water-based grain filler and wood putty accepts stain beautifully or can be tinted. Never goes bad, easy to apply and clean up. No shrinking, cracking or falling out. It does not become permanent until you apply a finish. If you’re ever unhappy with the way it looks, the color, etc. – just water it down and remove it. If it freezes, simply put it in the microwave to warm it up or if it dries out, just stir in water. This allows for zero waste! This might just be the perfect wood filler. Manufacturer recommends using only stainless steel or plastic tools to apply because Timbermate may react with low-grade steel and turn black. If this happens, simply add water and remove it, or wait for it to dry and sand it off.
WHAT WE LIKE
Even if it dries in the can you can always easily revive it. Don’t know why but by some miracle it matches the color of wood much better than other wood fillers. Especially red oak walnut and maple with almost no difference. Easier to apply than other brands. Takes stain pretty well – the color difference between “wood-filled” parts and bare wood is very minimal. The product blends so nicely and has a drying time so short you can get your project finished in no time.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
It’s water-based but has an unpleasant odor comparable to non-water-based products. Plastic or stainless steel spatula should be used. Regular steel tools leave black smudges on the wood. Does not store well and the filler becomes crumbly after first use. When using water to reconstitute it is difficult to get a smooth consistency.
PROS
- Can be revived even if it dries out
- Matches the color of wood easily
- Easy to apply
- Takes stain well
- Quick-drying time
CONS
- Unpleasant odor
- Steel tools leave smudges
- When reconstituting smooth consistency is hard to achieve
3. Goodfilla Water-Based Wood & Grain Filler – Best for Professionals
Features
- Does not shrink, sink, or crack, and has excellent adhesion. Only need to apply it once, and it flawlessly accepts any finish or stain.
- Innovative, easy-to-use, water-based wood filler. Designed for professional woodworkers but perfect for your everyday DIYer, too.
- Goodfilla offers an unlimited shelf life since it reconstitutes with water and is freeze-thaw stable.
- Goodfilla is so easy to sand and it’s a green product; zero VOC, zero waste and non-toxic.
GoodFilla’s water-based wood filler can also be used as a grain filler, primer, knot filler, and much more. Use GoodFilla to smooth out deep grooves in hardwood floors, window sills, scratched doors, tables, furniture, and on any wood surface that needs attention. Easy to work and high-quality results every time. Easily fix scratches/divots on hardwood floors.
If you have any marks, holes, scratches, or divots in your hardwood floor, use GoodFilla for a quick and easy fix. Match the color of the GoodFilla to the color of your floors. Apply to the floor, let dry, and lightly sand or smooth with damp cloth. Seal with a clear coat and you’re done.
WHAT WE LIKE
The screw-off lid is very easy to remove and put back on and seals tight to prevent drying out. The jar is completely full of wood filler at the top of the lid. The filler consistency, texture, and thickness are very smooth and creamy, like wall plaster. It spreads easily and smoothly and fills in deep cracks and holes very easily without applying a lot of pressure. It dries just as fast and is just as hard as solvent-based wood fillers. It easily sands smooth and even, just like the solvent-based fillers.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
It does seem to shrink a little with temperature changes. The filled areas tended to come out darker after staining. It has a very thick consistency that makes it seem unable to be used especially when cold but with warming it up it gets to the perfect consistency easy to use.
PROS
- Good consistency
- Spreads easily
- Fills holes easily without pressure
- Dries fast
- Sands easily
CONS
- Shrinks with temperature
- Filled areas are darker when stained
- May need to be warmed to achieve correct consistency
4. Elmer’s E855 Carpenter’s Wood Filler – Best for Indoors
Features
- Paintable and sandable
- Sands easily to a smooth finish
- Resists shrinking and cracking
- Easy water clean-up
Elmer’s E855 Carpenter’s Wood Filler, 3.25-Ounce Tube, White Wood filler is both paintable and sandable. It resists shrinking and cracking. It’s an easy water clean-up. From filling nail holes in molding strips to filling gaps in hardwood floors, Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Filler tubes make the task quick and easy. Carpenter’s Wood Fillers are sandable and paintable – and they come in six convenient colors.
Elmer’s Products, Inc E7000 Carpenters Wood Glue, 4 Fl oz , Yellow is used for furniture repair and general household use. It can be used on soft & hardwoods, particle board, and porous materials. It is yellow when dry and you just need soap & water cleanup when wet. It is for indoor use only. Additionally, it is non-toxic, paintable, stainable and non-foaming. Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Glue is America’s favorite wood glue. Contractors and homeowners alike use Carpenter’s Wood Glue because it sets fast and bonds strong, even stronger than wood. Carpenter’s Wood Glue is sandable and paintable, so you’ll have the perfect finish every time.
WHAT WE LIKE
Goes on and sticks very nicely, and when it’s dry it’s super easy to sand and has the patch look near-perfect. Doesn’t take long to dry and paints over very nicely too, if you so desire. The tip lets you be super precise and fill the old holes without making a mess. Perfect for indoor application.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
This filler can be a challenge to get out of the tube. There is a large amount of air in the tube meaning you do not get a full container of this filler. It can take up to 2-3 applications to get the desired effect. Does not store well and hardens over time even though it is sealed.
PROS
- Applies nicely
- Easy to sand to smooth
- Dries quickly
- Tip allows for precise filling
- Ideal for indoor use
CONS
- Hard to get out of tube
- Need 2-3 applications
- Does not store well
5. Red Devil 0542 ONETIME Lightweight Spackling – Best Value
Features
- Interior & exterior use, it can be used anywhere around the home
- Spreads easily. Just apply with any putty knife for a professional-looking finish
- Won’t shrink or crack and requires only 1 application to create a permanent, long-lasting repair
- No sanding is required, simply smooth the repair flush with the wall and you are done
Pre-mixed formula for fast, professional repairs. One application. Fills cracks, nail holes, & other holes in plaster, wallboard, wood and stucco. Won’t shrink, crack or sag. No sanding is required. Can be painted within minutes and cleans up easily with water. Use on interior & exterior surfaces, such as plaster walls, wallboard, drywall, and wood.
WHAT WE LIKE
Well-priced budget option. This product is very lightweight. Easy to use and easy to clean up. Easy to sand and easy to paint. Seems like it was almost dry when done spreading so it works fast. Minimal smell to this option.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
Very hard to spread. Claims that this option is pink but it arrives in a different color. Deeper holes may need to be done twice as once it dries, sometimes it sinks back in a little. Be aware that this product becomes a little elastic and a little hard when it is dry.
PROS
- Budget option
- Lightweight product
- Easy to use, clean, sand and paint
- Works fast
- Minimal smell
CONS
- Hard to spread
- Not pink as advertised
- Big holes may require multiple applications
Conclusion
When it comes to filling nail holes or nicks in items the more convenient the better and with the all-in-one solution the 3M High Strength Small Hole Repair is this has to be the best option. A 3-in-1 solution including a filler, sander and scrapper you have all you need in one compact solution. With this option it is easy to sand, fill, scrap and re-sand in record time. It is a small and affordable nail filler option that easily gets the job done. A lightweight option that is 3 x faster to use than similar spackling products makes it a true value for money. Additionally, it does not shrink, sag or crack which means once your repair is made it stays put and will be hard to distinguish from the rest of the area. This is really an all-encompassing solution that you won’t regret using for your next nail hole repair.
If you liked this article about the best nail hole filler, consider checking out these other articles below —
- Best Wood Filler
- Best Finish Nailer
- Best Woodworking Books
- Best Shop Vac for Woodworking
- Best Whittling Pocket Knife
I am a woodworker with over 19 years of experience crafting everything from furniture to ornamental pieces. I take pride in my ability to bring out the beauty of the wood I work with, creating unique and lasting objects. My passion for woodworking has been a life-long pursuit and I strive to push myself further and further with each new project. I am dedicated to the craft and take great satisfaction in the final product that I create.Read More.
