Is Wood Filler As Strong As Wood Itself

[khaleesi]

I've drilled a pilot hole in some wood a few millimeters in the wrong place, what should i use to fill it? My initial thoughts were wood filler, but i'm worried it's not going to be strong enough as i will need to put a heavy duty screw through half of it. Thank you

[SlackAlice]

Better idea might be to put a small piece of dowel down the hole with a bit of wood adhesive. Tapped in carefully with a mallet or hammer. Once dry and set you can sand it level. then carefully drill a pilot hole for the screw

[khaleesi]

that's such a good idea alice, thank you so much

[Buenchico]

This definitely isn't my specialist area but simply putting 'strength of wood filler' into Google (and just looking at the results page, without even bothering to click on any of the links) is showing things like . . .

"Usually available in small cans, pre-mixed wood fillers don't have much structural strength. They won't hold a screw or a nail . . . "

and . . .

"Repeat after me:"Wood filler/wood putty has NO structural strength"

I think that's probably all that's needed to answer your question!

[wildwood]

Some of that 'plumber's putty' sets really hard, but the dowel one is the best one. Make sure that you use a proper joiner's dowel piece, these have minute grooves in it so that all the glue is not rubbed off when you hit it in. If you can not get one small enough, use the smallest and drill the hole out to the proper size.

Have you upset Buenchino? Chris is usually very cordial and helpful. This certainly looks like an off-day. :-)

[Buenchico]

I wasn't trying to be nasty, Wildwood.

I was simply saying that, while I personally know nothing about the subject, a quick glance at Google indicates to me that wood filler isn't exactly strong!

;-)

[khaleesi]

arrr, thanks wildwood, I was gonna use a plain one left over from my ikea kitchen furniture.
Thank you too chris, I didn't even think to google it