Steelfan’s Full Review: UGL ZAR® Wood Patch, 3 Ounce
Pros: You can nail, saw, and drill into it. Very easy to work with.
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: ZAR® Wood Patch is a big improvement over Wood Putty. For anyone looking to repair dents, gouges, chips or broken corners, this is the remedy.
I’ve been working with wood for a long time. My first memory of woodworking was in shop class. We had certain projects that we needed to complete to pass the course. After that, the rest of the time was ours for building whatever project that we wanted to. My project was a badly designed Gun Cabinet which I never really got completed. My Shop Teacher called it the “3 year Gun Cabinet”. Of course some of the reason that the project took so long was his fault, because he always ran me on errands. During this 3 year time, I became very familiar with wood putty. We used it like a bricklayer uses mortar. The mistakes were many and often. I could only imagine the school’s wood putty bill. Wood putty was a very easy thing to use, but after it was applied, it became a big pain in the neck. The sanding seemed to take a lifetime, and the stain very seldom ever looked right in that area. Now years later and a lot wiser, I’m so happy that someone came up with a better way. ZAR® Wood Patch is one of the easiest wood repairing products to use from start to finish. It applies better and finishes flawlessly.
What’s in the Wood Patch.
First and foremost, this compound is latex, which means cleanup is done with soap and water. There is also treated pulverized wood in the patch to strengthen the patch and make it look more original. This allows less shrinkage and when dry, this area can be sanded, drilled, nailed or even sawed. It can be used for inside or outside use. ZAR® Wood Patch comes in three colors: Neutral, Red Oak, and Golden Oak. This is a nice array of colors for blending into furniture. For unfinished projects, I use the Neutral color which after dried and sanded can be painted, varnished, stained, or left natural. This product works on wood projects that have dents, nail holes, broken and chipped corners, or covering screw heads. Wood Patch comes in a resealable plastic container that reminds me of a miniature paint can. This container is great for storing the wood patch between uses.
Using Wood Patch
First, you must make sure that the wood is clean in the area of application. Then you dampen the wood with a wet cloth. Take a small amount of wood patch on a putty knife and press it into the dent or hole. Try to use as little of the putty as possible to do the job. The area should be a little higher than the surrounding wood to allow for sanding. Let the wood patch set up for 24 hrs. Sand the area lightly until the repaired surface is even with the rest of the wood surface. Blend the two surfaces together the best that you can. Sometimes deeper holes or dents may require two applications. You just simply repeat the process again or as many times as necessary. When the area is patched to your liking, you can add stain, paint, varnish, or polyurethane. For staining purposes it is advisable to apply once, wiping excess off immediately, then let dry over night. You then lightly sand the project again, and apply another coat of stain. Most wood projects should be protected to keep them looking nice.
Cleaning Up.
Since this product has a latex base, cleanup is a breeze. Wipe the putty knife off with a damp cloth and clean in soap and water. Try not to let wood patch dry on your tools as it will stick to them like cement.
My Thoughts on this Product.
Being a woodworker for the last 20 some years, I had a lot of experiences with wood putty (some good, some bad). I can tell you that ZAR® Wood Patch is a much better product to work with then wood putty. With wood putty, many times the area chips out during sanding, and the area is most noticeably lighter especially around the edges. This can be a big problem when sanding, and most times adds a lot of frustration to finishing a project. While I have not tried the Red Oak or Golden Oak colors for this product, I highly recommend the Neutral color for unfinished projects. ZAR® Wood Patch is easier to work with, and looks much better when it’s sanded and finished. Also, the fact that you can saw, drill, and even nail into this area makes it even more attractive. If you are looking for a product to repair damage to your woodworking project or wood furniture, this is a great place to start. I bought the smaller size the first time, to try this product, but next time I will have not second thoughts about buying the quart size. The smaller size costs about $3 and also comes in a tube container.
One More Little Tip.
For those smaller, not so deep dents in wood, there is another process that I have used to great success. Take a fairly damp cloth and place over the dented area. Use a clothes iron to heat the cloth in that area. This process makes the wood in the dented area expand, and can bring the dented area out without the use of wood patch or putty. Be careful not to use too much water on the cloth.
Thanks for Reading!!!
Steelfan
