DAP 542 Series 00542 Pt Natural Plastic Wood-X w/Drydex, 16 OZ

I had a hard time finding this locally, so I ordered it online, and Amazon had the best price with free shipping. This works just like spackle but with the added benefit of changing color when dry, which takes the guesswork out of sanding and painting.It’s easy to apply, easy to clean up, and has been great for fixing the damage my dog left behind on the doorframe and baseboards. The consistency is smooth, and it adheres well to wood, making repairs quick and straightforward. Definitely a handy product to have on hand for small household fixes!

The DAP 542 Series Plastic Wood-X with Drydex is such a staple that it’s hard to even think of another product in its category. It’s widely used because it just works perfectly.The color change technology (pink to natural) is incredibly helpful for knowing when it’s dry and ready to sand. It’s easy to apply, sands down smoothly, and provides a strong, durable finish that blends seamlessly with the wood.Whether you’re filling small nail holes or repairing larger imperfections, this wood filler handles it all like a pro. There’s a reason this is the first name that comes to mind when talking about wood filler. Absolutely recommend it for any woodworking or repair project!

Worked great easy to use

The DAP 542 Series 00542 Natural Plastic Wood Filler is a dependable solution for interior wood repair. It spreads smoothly, dries hard, and sands easily to a fine finish. The natural color blends well with unfinished wood and takes stain and paint effectively. Ideal for patching holes, cracks, and surface imperfections—this product delivers professional-looking results with minimal effort. Highly recommended for both DIYers and professionals.

The turn color quality is a great idea. In theory it works better than in practice. You can "quick dry" with a heat gun or hair dryer, but it may only be dry on the surface. I use regularly on building new cabinets. Hopefully there are no BIG holes to fill. Dry time should be overnight for big patches. For thin coats I have often used a heat gun about a foot away from the patch to quick dry in 5-10 minutes. Don't sand when surface is still hot. The patch will come apart in chunks under heat. A 5minute cool down produces the best finish and sands like a dream with LIGHT pressure. One of the better products I have used. Shrinkage on thicker patches is significant. Best to figure on 3 thinner coats instead of one big coat. Don't try to quick dry a big patch. If possible get it into sunlight and you'll get a better dried patch without as much shrinkage problem. Overall great product. Adhesion is quite good unless you quick dry and try to sand too soon. Then it will break up and come apart.

Having used other wood fill products and been frustrated at the difficulty sanding, I was especially pleased with this results of this product. Having never used it before, I read the reviews and opted to add a bit of water to the container and stirred before use to improve workability. The product does shrink in accordance with how much it has been thinned: I was filling 1/4 inch deep grooves and needed to apply it twice, 24 hours apart. I found it to be very forgiving when spreading: If I had over-worked the product on the wood until too stiff to adhere properly, adding a bit of moisture did the trick. Depending on how absorbent the wood is you're applying it to, you may find it easier to keep a small pool of unincorporated water in the container to create a slurry for re-hydrating on the spot. I was applying it to clear pine, and my learning curve was only a few minutes until I mastered quick application.I heeded the advice of another reviewer to allow the fill to cure for the full 36 hours before attempting to sand it with a 150 grit hand sander - and had no problems with lifting, crumbling or flaking. Moreover, it only took a few passes to polish it perfectly level. The soap and water cleanup of this odorless product is easy, since it re-hydrates well. I plan to seal the areas it was applied to with non-water-based wood hardener then prime before painting, and don't foresee any issues.My only word of caution is that though the label states it can be drilled, I'm doubtful it would be able to securely hold a screw. I'd describe this as a product meant for aesthetic purposes rather than structural/support applications.

Works OK, but it's pretty soft. Only use it for filling surface imperfections which are going to be painted or otherwise won't be subject to stress. Certainly DON'T use it to fill screw holes to be re-drilled!Package dries out and won't seal, so don't expect to have anything which is usable weeks later.

Works great. I bought it for interior trim and wound up repairing a hole in my siding and it worked perfectly.