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How to Use Colored Putty
I often use premixed putty for filling nail holes in my wood finishing. Colored putty comes already tinted., I can use it straight from the container of intermix two or more colors to make my own custom color match.
Two popular brands I use
The first one is Minwax which makes color putty to match their stain colors. So if you are using Minwax stain to finish your work, you would simply use their color matched putty.
The other brand of colored putty is called “Color Putty” and made by The Color Putty Company. This putty comes in a number of colors and they too can be intermixed to make any color necessary for a match to the stain used.
The sequence of my wood finishing system is as follows:
- Stain (oil based Minwax penetrating stain)
- Seal (Zinsser’s Bullseye shellac)
- Seal (Zinsser’s Bullseye shellac)
- Putty (Minwax or Color Putty)
- Varnish (oil based varnish - Quick 15 satin)
You must varnish over the putty after it is applied (for best results)
After the second coat of shellac is dry, I sand the surface to level and degloss it, then it is vacuumed and tack clothed with a micro fiber tack rag. Next, the putty is applied. After this, the whole surface is wiped clean with a rag dampened with mineral spirits. This wipe down will remover any putty oils smeared on the wood outside of the nail hole. After this, I apply a finish coat of oil based varnish. You must use oil varnish over the color putty, other finishes may not adhere to the putty. Other finishes won’t stick to shellac either (unless it is de-waxed).
Note: If you leave the putty unfinished, that is, if you put down your final clear coat and then putty and leave as such, you will find that the putty will look flat and stand out like a “sore thumb” on your nicely varnished wood. Also you will find that the unfinished putty will collect dirt and discolor.
See the following directions for Color Putty as per The Color Putty Company
Directions for using “Color Putty”
- Stain or seal wood with oil-based product.
- Fill nail holes or imperfections with putty and wipe clean.
- May be intermixed with other oil-based putty for desired shade.
- Will not dry to a sandable hard.
- Apply one finish coat of oil-based sealer or varnish.
- Clean up with mineral spirits.
- Try test sample before using. Not recommended for table tops or floors.
Another option is to make your own “Swedish putty” from your stain and whiting too if you wish. If using an oil based stain to make your Swedish putty, I would finish with an oil based varnish (over Swedish putty, you can probably finish with an oil based urethane too- test it and see). If you used a waterbased stain, to make your putty, you should be able to finish with a waterbased clear coat.
Note:Color Putty Company also makes a waterbased putty for use with waterbased stains, sealers and clear finish coats.
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After the final coat of varnish you can do a final buff with 0000 steel wool and finish with paste wax.
You must seal the wood before using the putty
If you don’t seal the wood first, you will stain the surrounding area around the nail hole with the putty itself. This will look like blotches around all the nail holes. Sealing the wood before you putty prevents this from occurring..
It has been brought to my attention by a website reader that Minwax does not recommend finishing over their tinted putty. My response to this is that I have used oil based varnish over both Color Putty brand and Minwax putty for years without any problems whatsoever. But, I don’t like to recommend anything to others which may be contrary to the manufacturer’s instructions, so I will leave that up to you to decide whether to use an oil varnish or not over their putty. You can use Color Putty instead of Minwax and finish with an oil varnish.. The instructions for using Color Putty is similar to my generic finishing method which I use with all color putties
Note: Finishing with an oil primer and oil enamel over (untinted) white oil putty has been done for years by painters on new (to be painted) wood trim.
Generally speaking, you need to wait for the oil putty to "set up" or "skin" prior to painting with an oil primer or oil paint, as per the instructions of most putty manufacturers.
See Dap Painter's Putty technical data sheet
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