How To Avoid The #1 Nail Hole Filling Mistake. 

I also like how you started laughing as you said “Take your finger and just rub it into the crack!” 😂😂

“Right into the ocean!” 😂😂😂 (the sarcasm got me to actually laugh out loud here)

1: painters need to stop hating 2: as a tradesman (28yr electrician): tradesman DIY more than most. These videos are game changers 3: who’s talking about your hair w/ a beard like that. 4: my wife thanks you (she has done the brunt of the chalking); I’m so geeked up to caulk she’s laughing about my man crush 5: thanks for taking your time to create content, that saves your viewers hours of time & frustration. I even ordered a drip less caulk gun. Keep rocking out with your caulk out.

Finally, someone who has got it right. Caulk has its use but it is not to fill holes, especially on trim. The builders used caulk on all the trim in my house and now a few years on down the road you can see all of the yellowing caulk, the poorly applied caulk in the miters, the blobs of the stuff all over, the nail holes and it is just about impossible to get off. I pretty much have to remove everything, try to sand down or clean out somehow, put it back together and then correctly fill. Caulk and duct tape, everybody's quick fix that has to be fixed again on down the road. Do it right the first time.

These last few caulking videos have provided a ton of awesome sounds bites about cracks and holes and cramming... I appreciate the chuckles acknowledging them along the way.

Setting compound like Durabond 90 or Sheetrock works best for nail holes and other imperfections. Doesn't shrink, cures quickly, and is easy to sand with a sanding sponge. Why the sandpaper for flat trim? Sanding sponge, end of story. (You can use regular drywall compound but it shrinks and two applications with drying in between is often necessary.) Cheers.

"drop kick it straight into the ocean..." video showing it landing in recycle bin. I laughed out loud!

Love this explanation!

Massive tips thanks, your eye goes right for that stuff will use this for sure!

Another great video. I get so much knowledge from your videos, I feel like I owe you money or something. Thanks!

I feel validated in my choice! I chose a natural wood filler, just so I’d be sure to not miss any spots when coming back to sand (my 50 year old eyes need all the help I can give ‘em!). I’m finishing up some baseboards and a bit of molding today. 😁

I enjoy your videos. I have been working as a trim carpenter for decades and I have always used window glazing putty. It does a great job filling the holes, doesn’t shrink, and no sanding required. 😊

Barbie the Builder from UK joining you again Funny Guy. Here I've used Polyfilla Woodflex (thats the Brit equivalent), and it's filled the holes a treat. Great advice. So glad I didn't caulk 😊

Excellent timing - I have a huge number of holes like this to fill and excellent can get elmers in the UK. With the number of innuendos coming out I think some form of innuendo bingo for 2024 will be needed!

Absolutely perfect!! 😂😂 Don't be nervous

Thanks for setting me straight. I was kind of unclear if I should use Drydex or the wood filler. (I used Kwik Wood epoxy filler on large screw holes on a door jamb and it worked very good. It doesn't shirnk)

excellent content. I love the links to the other videos at the end. Perfect Rabbit hole YT DIY Binge material.

Yes you are great. New follower from Sweden. 🇸🇪 the limited product range here is sad. Just finished renovation of our apartment, many tricks and tips gathered from your videos. Thanks. Regards Niclas

Thanks!

Been painting professionally for 25 years, I use painters putty(glazing), for nail holes, miters and any outside corners. It’s the way I was taught, by a second generation (old school) painter. Never have issues with it, as long as it’s done properly. This is the first thing I put new hires on, to see if they really know anything about painting. Great videos, very informative

Very funny!! Yes I also learned some primo techs!

I use bondo glazing putty. Easy to apply, easy to sand and it works great.

I’ve used window glaze by Dap. It’s pretty good and comes in white

Here in Norway nobody cares about nailholes or any of that stuff. Proffesionals hate it when they start working here. Got a custimer from England & it is driving him insane😂 But when im fixin at home i always try to make it smooth like that, so thx for the tips. ❤❤❤

Cant count how many times I've seen painters use caulking. Awful. I like to use the drydex tube similar to the filler tube you have. I cut the tip on an angle with a ~5/32 opening, press it firmly onto the nail hole, squeeze until it splooges out a bit, and onto the next. The excess is necessary for when the wood casing absorbs the moisture of the filler and pulls some in. Do all your holes and you can go back to the first and start sanding. One coat and a quick sand with 220 and the holes are invisible. I find this to be the quickest without sacrificing a perfect finish, with the added benefit of completely eliminating a putty knife and any need to use your fingers.

Thank you.

👍👍👍.THANK YOU

Were the trims pre-primed or if you have bare wood is it best to pre-prime before filling the pin holes? Most of the door trims in my old house are damaged and scraped really badly by the previous owner who used a very wide walking frame. I suppose its false economy to fill all the scrapes and dents with wood filler, sand and re-paint them rather than replace? Or is bondo better for that sort of job. The finger jointed trim isn't that cheap where I am. Also some doors are set close to one wall as the hallway is narrow and so the trims were cut down to accomodate this. It looks odd having one side half the width of the other. Is it better to make all trim sides the same width? However skinny trim around the whole door might look a little odd too?

I did a whole bedroom of trim and baseboards with caulk and learned this lesson the hard way. I definitely bought wood filler for the rest of my house after the nightmare of 2-3 rounds of filling nail holes. What do you do for nails that did sink all the way? They're not out enough to pull them out, but I haven't had much success trying to get them counter sunk.

Ty sir

Flat trim + two panel (hollow?) doors looks good! Thanks for not going with black hardware.

110% agree!

I use Durham's wood putty/filler. Been working great for years.

Pro tip- mix some lightweight and the orange Elmer’s. That way you can adjust how hard it is to sand. The orange color will help you see what you have to sand. Straight Elmer’s is a bit too hard. You’ll sand right through the pre primed trim.

Excited to make drop kicking caulk into the ocean a part of the job :)

Yes, wood filler for nail holes, as you taught me before. Will add the drop kick of empty caulk tubes for effect. 😂

Holy god! That orange peel on the trim

Fantastic videos! Any suggestions on fixing existing caulk divots left by the sub-contractor?

What do you use on the PVC trim

I made a list of supplies from your videos and the white Elmers Wood Filler I received is "ProBond 5x Stronger"....Honestly I want to follow your instructions exactly so I am probably going to use the natural BUT do you think there is a difference between the ProBond and what I meant to order? Thanks again for your videos and your guidance.

🇦🇺 Happy new year. All the best for 2024 to you and your loved ones.

Nice kick.

My strategy is different but I like the spirit of what you do. I use a 23g pin nailer so the holes are almost invisible and then just run a wax-based wood repair kind of crayon. I then don't have to paint anything at all once it's in place. Also no waiting for anything to dry. Also my pin nailer is cordless so no compressor to install, no hose. You can't see any holes anywhere with that.

I thought in a previous video you said that Dyna Patch Pro was the way to go for nail holes?

I use drydex.

I always use Plaster of Paris. Doesn't shrink and as hard as the wood.

Hi, nice kick, what should be used for inside corners of crown molding that has cracked? Stretchy caulk, or wood filler?

First fill use Dynapatch and for 2nd fill use red glazing putty (bondo or other brands) will provide the best quality results. The reason glazing putty is better for 2nd fill is becuase it will high small imperfections better.

that drop kick... LOL

Love the shorts professional tips. How do I avoid the orange peel look? Moving next month and everything needs to be painted but what rollers to buy? Is expensive better than dollar store rollers?

I’m redoing an old house with old wood and new wood. The wood I used for trim 1x4’s from HD is awful & crooked. 50% doesn’t line up! I have to work with what I have now. You are right, the caulk doesn’t hide these areas. It works take a lot of filler to try and make them look even. I just don’t know what to do. House is on piers. Constantly shifting. I thought the wood filler would crack. The caulk looks awful even though I treated it like clay to shape it! lol! Any advice?

How about stained moldings?

I saw you had a can of the MB ready patch. I’ve been using that for about the last year or two with good results. But I’m also the guy installing the trim and either at the end of a day or right after I install a piece I’m there hitting it with that stuff to maximize dry time.

I couldn't agree more on the nail holes, but I've had the miters eventually crack when using filler vs. caulk. Thoughts?

The links to the videos 'over here' don't show on my mobile

I gotta admire your caulk kicking abilities, lol.

That miter seam looked fine..

Lol!!! I was just about to say great hack caulk kick. Then you show the out takes😂😂. So you just tossed it in. 😢

FYI, They recently booted Elmers wood filler from my local Home depots. It is my favorite also, now we have DAP and i refuse to buy it cause Elmers worked great and DAP is twice the cost, i’ll go somewhere else.

I used wood filler once but the issue i had was after several weeks the filler would crack from the contraction and expansion of the house. Any tips for that?

Would you still use the wood filler on PVC trim?

Can I use window glazing, like Dap 33?

Use Bondo. Dries quickly, dries hard, easy to sand and is super tough.

Use an oil based putty. Simples😂.

You need some floetrol in that paint its looking like moon craters as well my man.

Is there an issues with this Elmers coming through if it's not the white when using white paint? I have the natural color and am painting all the trim with Benjamin Moore's satin Advance. Can't imagine anything showing through this stuff but I'd hate to wait the 20 years for it to dry to find out. 🤓

How do I hire this guy!!

the nail holes do look bad , set to deep for caulk but using a roller on your trim is worse i hate that stippled look on trim other than that good video

That part my boss is always complaining😅 why so many holes are see ahaha😂

🙂

If Trudope saw what you did with that caulking he'd have a fit

Never sand like that. Use a block at least.

😎⚒️😎⚒️😎

Dang... I've been using toothpaste for that minty freshness

Lose the squeeze tube. Learn too use a putty knife with a 6 inch drywall knife

Even the hacks don’t do this around me

Fil stick putty?

The absolute worst is using white caulk and do not paint over it again!!! The caulk attracts dirt and leaves very obvious huge dark smudges where the caulk is. Yuck! It was so bad at our condo complex that I repainted it and just didn’t tell anyone.

Disclaimer: Please do not toe punt corking into the bloody ocean

Ya garbage caulk on mitre and Nail holes. Quick and hacky

Why do we bother mitreing the corners anymore if we're going to glue them together and fill the seam with wood filler then cover with paint. Especially for flat trim like this.

Chalk isn't ment to fill holes ( that's wat filler is for)

You grip about the way the holes are filled then you pant it with a roller

Alex Plus caulk should be banned. The stuff doesn't work well for any purpose. I use water putty for my holes now. You can mix it to whatever consistency you want.

I LOVE your content HOWEVER are you advocating the harm of sea turtles? I live in California and we have suffered through paper straws to mitigate the devastation of the sea turtle population. I believe that drop kicking caulk into the ocean may be illegal in our state. Please people, whoever is watching/reading this PLEASE DISPOSE OF YOUR CAULKING TUBES PROPERLY. If we can save one sea turtles life, we've made our time on this planet worth while! 🤣😂

I like this guy, but this is why carpenters shouldn’t paint. And don’t let them caulk anything that will be seen

Whatever you do, never hire a capenter to do your fine finishing work 🔨

English teachers?

Putty?

Best wishes for 2024! You by far are the funniest carpenter but should move away from painting... Filling nail holes is done by painters with their tricks of the trade. Depending on the nail size with lightweight specle are lacker-filler. Dries quickly and easy to sand. Greetings from the land of the wooden shoes.

Painters use light weight spackling for nail holes, not wood filler, not ready patch and no painter uses a roller on door casement. What the hell are you telling people?

Reminder: do not throw caulk tubes in the actual ocean

It only makes sense. Wood filler for wood holes. Anything else would probably fail.

Maybe should be called 'the someone who thinks hes funny carpenter' ?