Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Wood Cabinet Preparation

This week we are refinishing kitchen cabinets.   A family member decided to help by filling in the nail holes and other imperfections with a so called stainable wood putty.
Unfortunately, the  wood putty is not stainable.  We spent extra preparation time digging out the putty and sanding instead of preparing the cabinet surfaces.    What the home owner should have used was a product that is called color putty.  There is a difference between 
spot putty, wood putty, and color putty.

  • Spot putty is an automotive dent filler that can be used on wood We use this product where caulking or spackle will not fill small imperfections.

  • Wood putty is made made of wood filler.  It simulates the look of wood and is not stainable.  A  stain cannot be used on it  because it will  not match your project.
  • Color putty can be purchased in stores but only a few standard colors are available.
Before you start a project, ask a 
professional painter