The Best Way To Fill Nail Holes In Trim(you were doing it wrong)

Compared 6 products. Intros, demonstration, conclusions. Left nothing out. All within 6 mins and 34 seconds. You sir, are legend at not wasting a YouTuber's time with unnecessary fill. More content creators could greatly benefit from following your lead. Thank you for caring about our time.

Perfect I knew there was a reason why I hadn’t filled those nail holes for the last 4 weeks. This video was what I was waiting for 😂

Thank you so much for not making this a 15 minute video. You get right to the point! I love it.

I’ve been a landlord for over 35 years, and have had great success with Ready Patch. I do one coat, slightly overfilled, and sand with a damp sanding sponge. Slightly wetting the sponge makes the sanding much easier, and gives a smooth finish. I also put a sheet of plastic wrap over the top of the open can, then add the lid; make sure the lid is on tight, and the product will stay soft.

You did a very good job with this video. No fluff, no annoying music, just the facts. 👍🇺🇸

I fill a lot of nail holes on paint grade trim and my favorite method to date is the drydex but only in a tube. You don’t have to worry about the material drying out or the crappy lid and it goes a long way. The tube allows you to control the amount of material on your finger tip very well and you can easily smash in the amount the fill the hole, then wipe away the excess and I immediately follow up with a light feathered wipe over top of the filled hole to accommodate shrinkage. Even a small room will usually be ready to start sanding by the time I would my way around to my starting point. After that the key is a 1/4 sheet of 3M gold 180 grit. It removes the material in a couple of light swipes, it leaves a very smooth finish without the over sanding divot, and it doesn’t gum up at all. One 1/4 of a sheet goes a very long way. With 18 gauge nail holes or smaller I typically am good to go in one pass, a 15 gauge hole will still often require 2 coats.

I don't often do home improvements, but when I do, I'm coming to this channel. Excellent, clear presentation.

Interesting video. I don't know any professional who fills holes with a finger. RockHard is hugely popular among NYC contractors, and I've been using it for decades. Yes, you have to mix, but I love that I get to control the consistency, depending on the hole's size. But mostly, I love the product's shelf life. It NEVER dries out. It can sit on the shelf for years and still be perfectly usable. I also LOVE how easy it is to sand once dry. It even sands beautifully with 600 grit paper around gentle edges. I also love how quick drying it is. And, you can add color to it for custom color work. I can't recommend RockHard enough.

Been painting for 25+ years and the old school method is by far the best. Crawfords painters putty rolled into a ball ,then you roll it in plaster of Paris. it sets quick and easy to sand the next day. Just push it in with your finger some bigger holes may need a 2nd application.

This video is incredibly helpful! I love the step-by-step instructions and the emphasis on choosing the right filler for a seamless finish. Your tip about sanding and painting for a professional look is a game-changer

Currently in a hardware store and gotta say, I love this video. Been working on my trim using your videos and has made my life much easier. Thank you!

Love that you test different products out and show us the unbiased results. Thank you so much!

Thanks! I understand that the Durham's Water Putty loses points for needing to be mixed, BUT, I do LOVE that it doesn't have me reaching for the filler and discover it has dried out and gone bad! Yes, if availabIe I grab other things first, but sooooo often the spackle/wood filler/putty is no longer good, and the water putty sits there for decades, always ready when I need it!

Love your videos ! Your fun to watch. As a trim carpenter….I find the best way is to minimize your holes by using a stud finder and nailing in the profile so you don’t see them. Then use a bit of Color matched caulk to fill the line where the nail is. I pre spray all my base before install. Flat stock trim I tend to pre spray and glue on with an instant bonding system so I have no nails to deal with at all. I use a 21 gauge Brad nailer for standard trim and an 18 gauge for premium trim 5/8” and up. 1-9/16” brads always to stay away from waterlines etc

Perhaps the best, most comprehensive and helpful test/review ever published on YouTube. I was having trouble getting flawless filled nail holes and this fixed it for me. Thanks so much!!!

Kudos to anyone who actually applies two coats of anything as a finish nail filler and sands between coats. With all the things I have to do in my life, it gets one coat, sanded and painted. The difference in that second coat and second sanding is one of those things that I accept and move on with my life.

i use one light coat of drydex with a finger... then instead of sanding, i use a slightly damp microfiber cloth (the smooth side, not the coarse)... the holes literally disappear. and it's the fastest, cleanest method i've ever seen.

Nice video thanks for info, I find all your videos very helpful. I am a long time painter and please realize it also matters what wood/substrate you apply your filler to. Ideally hard woods or metal you want a harder filler and soft woods a softer filler. A soft filler on a hardwood especially if hand sanding will dig out the filler during sanding. A hard filler on soft wood and the wood around the hole will sand away before the filler. At least that’s what I was taught long ago, I would love to see a test that accounted for this.

I started housepainting in 1977 and we always kept a ball of Dap 33 glazing compound in out shirt pocket to fill nail holes. Press it in with your thumb and run your putty knife under your thumb and the hole was filled. If the putty got a little dry you rolled it around in your palms and the oil from your skin and the heat would soften it. If it was too soft and oily some dust made it more workable. I think it's kind of silly that zero evidence of a fastener is what people expect today - most people never get down to look at the basebaord anyway.

Keep this up and you’ll become the “Project farm” of trim carpentry. Lol Good work.