My filler shrank overnight and ruined the smooth surface

I spent hours filling these tiny cracks in an oak table. Used a water-based filler because it was easy to clean. Next morning, the filler had sunk in and left dips everywhere. Now I have to sand it all out and start over. Does this happen often with water-based fillers?

4 comments

4 Comments

sandra_flores854mo ago

Try oil-based, it shrank less for me.

wade7254mo ago

Guess mine still shrank, but that's probably the painter.

young.nora4mo ago

Can you believe how much less it shrinks? I switched to oil-based after my latex paint cracked on some trim in under a year. My basement window sills got an oil coat last fall, and they still look perfect. The water-based stuff I used on the porch peeled by spring. Now the longer dry time feels like a fair trade.

stellanelson1mo ago

Ugh, that is the worst feeling when you think you're done and then wake up to dips everywhere. I feel your pain, I did the same thing on a kitchen table once with water-based filler and it sank so bad I had to sand almost all of it back out. It's like the stuff just disappears overnight, I swear water-based has its place but it's super picky about how thick you lay it on.