# Can I make my own wood putty? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2026, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563 "2026-01-11T14:41:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/1 "2026-01-11T14:41:27Z")
I generally don’t like any store bought wood putty. But upon finishing a new railing for our stairs to the garage, I do have a small gap. Not really a big deal. The rail is made of oak. and I have a lot of very fine/small oak sawdust. Hum… What about making a paste of that sawdust and Tight Bond glue to make a putty to fill the gap? I think that would work great. Anybody try this? ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/2 "2026-01-11T15:08:09Z")
In high school wood shop in the 70’s we just used sawdust and Elmers glue. It was good enough for those old school wood shop teachers. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/3 "2026-01-11T15:11:35Z")
Tightbond is yellow, which will change the color of your putty somewhat. Elmer’s glue dries clear. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/4 "2026-01-11T15:12:31Z")
It just seems like a perfect fit. I’ve got the very fine saw dust, and now Tight Bond glue. I need a shot glass or something to make the mix. Hmmmm. No shot glasses. I need a very small container that I can mix this in. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/5 "2026-01-11T15:16:15Z")
Good point, but I’m not too worried about the color. And I know Tight Bond. Don’t have any Elmers (or kids). They are stairs to the garage afterall. Looks real nice. I doubt I will even stain it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/6 "2026-01-11T15:18:00Z")
Oh, I know what my container/mixer will be. Very easy to cut off the bottom of a pop or beer can. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/7 "2026-01-11T16:16:45Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I doubt I will even stain it. Which is good, because … one issue with the glue+sawdust approach is that the glue generally makes the uptake of stain or finish very different from the uptake of the ‘normal’ wood. Kind of like how they tell you not to treat your cast iron surfaces (eg, cabinet saw, band saw) with a silicone-based product because the silicone prevents some better finishes from ‘taking hold:’ > **[Silicone Life](https://stusshed.wordpress.com/2013/01/09/silicone-life/)** > > Silicone is the bane of woodworkers. Which is a real shame, as it is a superb lubricant for metal. Way back when, while demonstrating for Triton, silicone spray was the lubricant of choice for gett… > **[Does making filler from sawdust and glue affect finish?](https://www.lumberjocks.com/threads/does-making-filler-from-sawdust-and-glue-affect-finish.310535/)** > > I have had glue cause issues with finishing many times over the years. And I have heard of people mixing sawdust with glue to use as filler. But how does this not affect finish? Or is it certain finishes only? FWIW i am making a small walnut box... ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/8 "2026-01-11T17:12:02Z")
I might choose clear epoxy mixed with sawdust over titebond, because titebond shrinks significantly as it dries. But if the gap is small, it will do the job ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/9 "2026-01-11T17:32:06Z")
Very commonly done. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/10 "2026-01-11T17:35:09Z")
Yeah, done that many times. If it’s outdoors, use TiteBond III, which is waterproof. But you probably know that. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/11 "2026-01-11T17:37:33Z")
Thanks all. Looks good. I’m gonna let it dry a bit more and sand it. Now I need to clean up all the sawdust in the garage. This was a little project, but I had to move stairs and build a landing and new handrails. One of the reasons I did this in oak was the pine available was absolute shit. And the only round type handrail Lowes had was 12’ long. Umm… no I don’t need that much at all. I didn’t buy that based on general principle. “Where’s your red oak?” That’s what I went with. Better overall. Twice as strong. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/12 "2026-01-12T01:26:20Z")
Photos? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/13 "2026-01-12T01:39:28Z")
I use small bathroom cups or mayo jar lids for mixing these kinds of things. I’ve used water putty and sawdust to make a wood putty type stuff. It worked really well. I love water putty powder almost as much as JBWeld. I keep them both for a rainy day fix-it project. (Durhams rock hard water putty, this stuff is magical) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/14 "2026-01-12T11:30:33Z")
It’s possible to do this with epoxy plus filler/thickener - and the filler can be wood flour; this might be more physically durable than a standard wood glue, but epoxy does tend to yellow over time so it might not stay matched. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/15 "2026-01-12T13:29:59Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Photos? Here you go. The whole reason for this project was to get that 2’ landing at the top. Also to extend that to the wall. The door is on spring hinges (building code) so it automatically closes. I did add a magnetic door stopper to keep it opened. But it was still a pain. This also is a place to set things down when unlocking and entering the house. I also but an electronic lock on all of our doors. But you still have to key in your code. There is another hand rail to the left that is not shown. The other reason is, well we are newly retired and not getting any younger. It’s weird, the photo looks a bit out of proportion. [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/HlVj7Gc.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/eqCeH03) ---
**Author:** ![Stana\_Claus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stana_claus/32/13874_2.png) [@Stana\_Claus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stana_Claus)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/16 "2026-01-12T14:08:31Z")
That’s just the preview that’s been stretched to fit the window. Clicking through to the actual image makes things right. As did you. That’s one fine looking set of steps! ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/17 "2026-01-12T14:21:08Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > The other reason is, well we are newly retired and not getting any younger. > > It’s weird, the photo looks a bit out of proportion. Yep. I had my contractor friend come out and put a metal handrail on our front steps last week after almost 30 years in this house. We aren’t getting any younger. Looks just right on click-ghrough. And I agree…that’s one fine looking set of steps. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/18 "2026-01-12T14:35:43Z")
Thanks for the compliments. It came out pretty good. And the home-made wood putty worked great. I may put a steel railing on some back steps. But ironicly, they are sort of just a series of three landings. Our next project is to figure out why our refrigerator is not dispensing water or ice. This frige was switched out when we bought the house (we knew they where going to do it). I suspect they forgot to hook up the water line. I donno, and it’s not that big of a concern. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/19 "2026-01-12T14:37:29Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Our next project is to figure out why our refrigerator is not dispensing water or ice. This frige was switched out when we bought the house (we knew they where going to do it). I suspect they forgot to hook up the water line. That would do it 😉 As would them _having_ hooked up the water line, but not turning a possible – if not likely – water _valve_ back on. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563/20 "2026-01-12T14:42:07Z")
How did you attach the treads to the stringers? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563.md?page=2)