Bondo is a great wood filler when you are trying to fill screw holes.
When you use Bondo, you can get a piece of wood looking almost normal again.
The Bondo that you use can completely change the overall look of a project and make it look complete again.
The question is, will this Bondo then take another screw?
Many people try to screw into the area that took the Bondo so that it can be used in the same way it originally was.
Can You Screw into Bondo?
It is not possible to screw into Bondo.
Bondo is a product that is used for cosmetic purposes.
When you use screws, you will simply destroy that Bondo that you have put in place.
Since this is more of a cosmetic filler, it has no ability to hold the screw and keep it in place.
Therefore, the Bondo will rip apart, and the hole will need to be filled yet again.
If you are using Bondo to simply be able to put a screw in place again, then there is a different process you can follow.
Here are the steps we would take.
Filling a Hole So That You Can Screw into It
Most of the time, this sort of problem happens when you measure incorrectly.
You think that you have the proper spot to screw in your hardware, only to find out that it was indeed the wrong spot.
Sometimes simply filling this hole is enough.
Other times, there is a bigger problem because of the screw being in an area that is very close to the proper location.
If your new screw is going to need to be near this older area, then you will need to make sure that you fill the hole properly.
These are the steps that you should take.
Step 1: Gather Supplies
To complete this process, you are going to need a few specific supplies.
First off, you are going to need some very small scraps of wood.
If you don’t have any, you may be able to get away with using toothpicks or matchsticks to get this completed.
Once you have your small wood pieces, then you will need white PVA glue.
This glue will be used in addition to the wood scraps to fill the hole.
The tools necessary to complete this will include a drill and a knife.
- Small scraps of wood or a dowel
- PVA glue
- Screwdriver
- Knife
- Worksurface
Step 2: Fill the Hole
As we mentioned, the issue with Bondo is that it does not properly fill the hole with something that a screw can latch on to.
With a product like Bondo, there is nothing stable enough for the screw to hold on to.
Therefore, you will need to use some small pieces of wood mixed with glue in order to fill the hole correctly.
Depending on the size of the hole, you may be able to fill it with a dowel.
If a dowel doesn’t work, you can fill the hole with matchsticks or toothpicks.
If nothing will fit in the hole in your wall, it is acceptable to drill it out a bit further.
You are better off making the hole bigger and fixing it properly than leaving it done improperly and open to falling apart.
When you take your pieces of wood scraps and place them into the hole, it is fine if they are sticking out over the top of the hole.
The wood does not need to be cut down to be flush until the glue has dried.
Stuff the hole as best you can, and then pour the PVA glue around the outside of the hole so that the entire area is filled.
The next step is to wait for the glue to dry.
Step 3: Cut Area Clean
Once you have given the glue some time to dry, it is time to cut the area down so that it is flat again.
You will have to take a knife or a small saw to get the wood pieces and glue mixture cut down so that it is level.
If you are having a challenging time, an X-acto knife tends to work really well.
Once you have it smoothed out and cut down, you can then sand it a bit if needed.
The sanding will help it get to the same level as the wall around it.
Step 4: Screw into Wall
Now that you have completed all of these steps, you should be able to screw into the newly filled hole.
Even though the hole will be a mixture of wood pieces and glue, it will have enough grab to get the screw to latch on.
You will find that, if you have completed this process properly, the screw will work just as it would have had you been screwing into the main part of the wall.
Remember that the glue can sometimes take about 24 hours to dry.
You will not be able to rush this process if you plan on fixing your issues for good.
Is Bondo Better Than Wood Filler?
Bondo is a product which does an excellent job of filling a hole in a piece of wood.
Since Bondo is so good at what it does, many wonder if it is, in fact, better than wood filler.
The truth is both Bondo and wood filler are very similar.
They are both going to accomplish the same things, but Bondo will dry much quicker.
If you are in a hurry to complete a project and need to make sure that the hole is filled in a short period of time, then Bondo is your better choice.
Neither Bondo nor wood filler are going to be good for screwing into.
Is Bondo Waterproof?
One of the many things people have to worry about when it comes to wood is whether or not it is waterproof.
Wood and water don’t always mix well, and there are situations where rot can come into play.
Luckily, Bondo products are completely waterproof.
This makes Bondo a good product to use if you are filling holes in wood that is located outdoors.
The outdoor environment can be a bit harsh on other products, and they will take away the ability for the product to stay in good shape long term.
Can You Paint Over Bondo?
Painting over Bondo is possible, but you should follow a few steps before doing this.
You will need to remember that the Bondo may leave a different surface than the rest of the wood.
This is why we highly recommend sanding and then priming the area where you plan to place the Bondo.
You will have to sand the area so that it accepts the primer, and then the primer will help to even out the surface so that it looks the same as the rest of the wood.
If you follow this process and then use two coats of paint, you will be able to get a smooth and complete finish over the Bondo.
Some people wonder if the wood filler is easier to cover than Bondo.
In our experience, we have not found this to be the case.
Wood filler and Bondo seem to cover over each other the same way and don’t require any additional work for the look to be complete.
One other thing to remember is that you will not want to sand or paint over the Bondo until it has cured.
In order for the Bondo to cure, you will need to give it about ten to fifteen minutes.
This makes it a good solution when you need a quick fix.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this information about Bondo has helped you realize what you can and can’t do to complete your project.
If you have made a piece of wood look like a piece of swiss cheese, there are ways to fix it.
If you are going to need to screw into this wood again, make sure that you are not using wood filler or Bondo.
These products won’t complete the work in a way that will allow you to insert screws again.
What ends up happening is the screw will dislodge all of the Bondo or wood filler, and you will be starting at square one.
Follow our simple steps to make sure you can screw back into your filled holes.
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