How to repair hole in wood?

Betty French
by Betty French

How do I repair a drilled 1" hole in the 1/2 wooden board installed above my bay window. Currently have shoved a cork in the hole. would wood filler smooth it out and stay when painted over? Any other ideas??


  14 answers
  • I would cut a piece of a 1" wooden dowel to fill it. Use some wood glue to hold it in place. Then you can sand and paint.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Sep 22, 2020

    You can leave the cork there and sand it smooth, it might be difficult to sand it evenly because cork is compressed and has tiny air pockets. Ann's suggestion to get a dowel and glue it in would work very well.

  • Yes that will lok fine. I usually used small wood dowels to fill the holes depending on the size of the hole. Then fill the gaps with wood filler and paint.

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Sep 22, 2020

    Hi! I would definitely glue in a small piece of wood and then fill in any gaps with wood filler. If you are going to paint, just use wood filler that is paintable. If stained, I mix a small amount of matching stain in the wood filler to match. You also can buy wood filler to match. Good and stay safe!

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Sep 22, 2020

    You can use wood putty but you will probably have to apply it in a few coats if the hole is deep. No issues with paint but it won't take stain.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Sep 23, 2020

    Hello one of the easiest things to use is wood filler or possibly caulk. I feel that wood filler gives the best finish that can be sanded stained or repainted.

  • K. Rupp K. Rupp on Sep 23, 2020

    wood filler, Bondo, plug with a tiny dowel. Sand smooth, prime and paint the same color as the board above the bay window.

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Sep 23, 2020

    Bondo has a wood filler you can find at any hardware store - it is awesome to fill in holes, etc. we had rot on our window sill in one area and this did the trick- easy to use and then you sand and paint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7efjyTgsA0

  • Sharon Sharon on Sep 23, 2020

    I would go with a 1" diam. circle of wood, either from the end of a wood dowel cut to the depth of the wood you are filling; or another approach would be to use a 1" drill bit to cut a piece of wood from some scrap the same depth as the surrounding area to be filled. I would then glue in place using carpenters' glue, use some spackle then to fill in the seam, sand, add a dab of primer if painting and then paint the matching color. If repairing a stained wood, use a wood filler that is stainable to hide the seam around the circle or buy one of those tiny bottles of wood filler to make the type of wood your filling.

  • Dee Dee on Sep 23, 2020

    Bondo or wood filler. Over fill then sand down even with your bay window

    May take a few times to fill if it is a big hole. Just let it dry completely between applicaions


  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Sep 24, 2020

    Hi Betty,

    Cut a piece of Timber Dowel and secure with wood glue. when thoroughly dry. Sand down to match existing, Prime, and Undercoat and then top coat.

  • Lauren of Mom Home Guide Lauren of Mom Home Guide on Sep 24, 2020

    I agree that wood filler would work. Just make sure you sand it smooth so it looks nice.

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Sep 28, 2020

    woody filler ? You just need to do that in several layers

  • I wood plug or dowel inserted into the hole and filled with gap filler or wood filler will work great in hiding the hole.