Filling holes in oak.

[pilsbury]

I'm close to moving into my new house - a 1920's property with some really nice oak trim and paneling in the lounge. Not sure how to describe the finish, varnished is the wrong description, more polished to a light sheen without looking like it really has a coating on..... It is a mid colour (neither dark nor light) with a lovely aged patina.

Either way, very nice, except for a few holes where over the years fixings have been simply screwed in then removed with little thought for the beauty of the wood.

How to fill these holes? I basically want them to become invisible. How can I achieve a great finish?

Advice welcome

 

[Dave54]

Wax filler sticks are usually the best way. You can get sticks in various colours and mix them to match. Liberon is one firm who make them.

 

[pilsbury]

Thanks for that - very interesting. Also a reasonable price at under a fiver for a medium oak stick.

 

[Dave54]

The colours aren't bad from what they are called actually, but as I said they are mixable. I generally aim for a very very slightly darker rather than lighter shade, failing an exact match. I find it tends to show less.

 

[pilsbury]

I shall bear that in mind Dave. Cheers

 

[Chud]

Your other option would be a water based wood filler -across the pond I hear good things about timbamate, here in the UK the closest I can find is this http://www.toolstation.com/v3/m/part.html?p=24128

You can then color in the grain with a coloured pencil... Then just apply your finish.

 

[Chud]

About 2 mins in is the bit on using the filler: