Applying heat will make putty softer, not harder.
It generally forms a solid skin on the exterior which can be sanded and smoothed. Yes painters putty will dry, but it normally takes years. If working directly on drywall, you’ll get better results using spackle, which is a purpose-built joint compound for dry wall. Painters putty is designed to be used with plaster, not raw drywall. Yes, you can but it’s not the best option. To finish the post off, I’ve answer a few common questions I get asked. If you’re repairing plaster, corners, wood or trim then consider doing the repair with spackle as this is its primary purpose. If you are going to paint a wall and need to fix or repair imperfections in the surface or working on the ceiling or a wooded surface that you are going to paint, then best painters putty will always give you the best results. It is designed and manufactured with painters in mind and not designed to be a joint compound. With that in mind, what is the better product?
Which is probably not the effect you are looking for if you are trying to finish large visible walls to a professional standard.Īs with caulk, spackle can also suffer from shrinkage once the water dries out, which makes filling in dings in walls with this paste compound harder than painters putty. You can often tell an area that has had spackle used on it because there will be uneven paintwork and colors where the hole once was when it all dries in.
Sure, it will do the job, it just won’t do it producing the same almost invisible results. In general, is not quite as effective at taking on paint as its application purpose if for use on paster. What, then, is the actual differences between them? Similar to caulk, it can be painted over very easily when you coat it with a layer of primer beforehand.Īlthough it shares these similarities in its base compound, it is not just another name for painters putty. For one thing, you can use it to fix gaps, holes and other minor imperfections in woodwork, trim, wall or ceiling. Interestingly, it is a different product that shares similarities with painters putty. Spackle is a drywall joint compound normally used in construction. If you don’t work in construction, you could be forgiven for thinking that this paste one and the same thing. Most painter’s putty is incredibly fast-acting and is so easy to use, no matter what your level of skill or experience and what purposes you have. If you don’t make those corrections to the wall or area you are painting before you commit a coating, your hard work with the paintbrush or sprayer will be compromised and the quality won’t show.Īlthough that may sound like a lot of extra work, there’s no reason to sweat it. So, no-one would ever know you’d actually done anything other than painted the wall. Then, after you have corrected all the problem areas, it can be primed and painted over seamlessly. It is used to fill in any small holes, nail holes, gaps and cracks on surfaces you are intending on painting to help produce a nice smooth finish, when used with a putty knife and sand paper. Painter’s putty is designed as a tool especially for painters (not just your general contractor), as indicated by its name, although some do call it paint putty. It makes sense to first explain what each of these similar products is, why they are used and why you should choose one over the other. Well, in the following post, we hope to help you come to a decision.
If you are completely new to decorating or the use of these kinds of products, you may be wondering which is best spackle or painters putty and what are the main differences. What though, should you use – spackle vs putty. If you are going to use one of those economical and time-saving tools, you’ve probably figured out the paint spraying accessories you need. You’ve made your decision on whether you’re going to use just paintbrushes or one of the different types of paint sprayers out there. The smaller things that cause the most deliberation.Īfter all, perhaps you have everything ready. It’s funny that this is such a big issue because it always seems to be that way.
Both can take each other’s place if needed, but it’s best to use painters putty if possible. Painters putty is designed with painters in mind, whereas spackle is not designed just to be painted. Painters putty vs spackle: Painters putty and spackle are very similar, but there is a difference.