Have you ever heard about painter’s putty? What have you already known about other painting tools needed for the project? Which ones have you used in previous work? In this article, we will share some interesting things and facts about painter’s putty – one of the essential parts in a painting project.

Painter’s putty is among the most popular materials used for painting work thanks to its significant advantages. Come with us and we will show you the wonderful painter’s duty and responsibility!

What is Painter’s Putty Used for?

What is painter's putty used forFirst, you need to know what painter’s putty is.

First, let me enlighten you what exactly painters duty is.
The painter’s putty is a chemical powder, which can combine with water to become a composite. This compound can join and fill the holes, cracks, or crevices on the surface, especially on cement and concrete material. So, what do we use the painter’s putty for?

Painter’s putty is used much in the painting project. When you work on the surface and encounter things obscure your painting. The first thing to do is to make the surface flatter and smoother. Painter’s putty is here to help you.

It helps patch and fills all the gaps with about 1.2 centimeters deep or wide inside the surface. It also smoothens the wall or wood so that you can apply coats of paint on. By hiding the imperfection on the wall or wood, the putty also brings another appearance for the surface.

Painter’s putty shows up to be a helpful and effective mix beside other compounds like spackling paste. Spackling paste is recommended when you need to apply paint before fixing the gaps or holes. This composite is not compatible with the paint and will give unreal color results at the end.

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Can You Use Painter’s Putty on Drywall?

Can you use painter's putty on drywallThe answer to this question is totally “yes”. Painter’s putty is made to work on a painting job, which should be done on drywall. Accordingly, it can deliver the best result and effect on cement or concrete surfaces.

The putty can fill in small holes, cracks, and crevices on a concrete wall with just a little amount. The dry time is also impressive.The drying time is really fast so you can apply the primer after that. Because this work is on drywall, you should lightly sand the surface when finishing for the surface to be smoother and softer.

How Long does It Take for Painter’s Putty to Dry?

painter’s putty to dryWhen you finish mixing the painter’s putty with clean water, make sure to use it within 2 hours for the best result. Also, keep it in moist condition by covering a wet towel above to ensure the high quality of the putty.

After applying the putty inside the gaps and dents of the wall, you should let it rest for a few hours in order for the paint to adhere tightly and produce a better outcome. The humidity level plays an important role in the painter’s job so be aware of your area’s weather to use the paint to its best.

Is Painter’s Putty the Same as Spackling?

Is painter’s putty the same as spacklingYes, it is. Both painter’s putty and spackling paste are used for joining and patching the holes inside the walls. The putty and spackling paste are instant, ready-to-use, and portable that you can bring them to any work site as they are just inside a gallon. However, there are differences between these two chemical compounds.

The putty is the most suitable for drywall and concrete surface. It works well on the wall and creates a great cover to improve the appearance outside. As its name, painter’s putty is made for painting projects. It matches with a painting primer and provides enough adhesion when you apply a coat of the primer over the wall.

Spackling paste is a good way to cover up the wall and places that are hard to paint. You should roll a primer’s coat before painting for better adhesion . This material is used for common purposes rather than painting.

Thus, although the painter’s putty might have the same features and ingredients with spackling paste, they serve different purposes. You should use the painter’s putty first to smoothen the surface before painting making it easier to do your work. But if you want to fill small cracks inside your room, spackling paste is the right choice.

How to Use Painter’s Putty

How to use painter’s puttyThere are some ways to apply painter’s putty on the wall; however, we’ve summarized the most efficient method for this work. Let’s find out what we need to prepare before getting into the painter’s putty.

Preparation

PreparationI must say “painting job” is for patient people that prior to the ultimate resultas this work needs much preparation, carefulness, and neatness. It may take a long time to get everything ready for a project, but the more you prepare, the better results you will get.

To apply the painter’s putty on the wall, you must equip the following things:

  • Protective gears: glasses, gloves, mask
  • Painter’s tape
  • Sandpaper, brush, damp sponge
  • Painter’s putty from a reputable brand
  • Putty knife

Smoothen the surfaceAfter getting everything ready, do the pre-treatment on the surface you are going to apply the painter’s putty.

  • STEP 1: Smoothen the surface.
    To smoothen the wall, use sandpaper and rub from the bottom to the top. This is to clear all the bumps or rough areas on the surface. The sandpaper can also remove old paint and primer so that users can apply a new one onto the wall.
  • STEP 2: Clean the surface.
    To clean the wall, use a damp sponge with a little soap or detergent. Detergent is here to help clean the dust, dirt, and impurities that cover around the surface.
    Wear protective gears to keep yourself safe from the airborne dust and bacteria while you treat the surface.
    Wash the wall again by clean water, let it dry and ready for the work.
  • STEP 3: Cover the stuff on the wall.
    There is one more step to do before you can apply the putty: cover the stuff on the wall. There could be accessories such as sockets, pegs, trim, or doors, which you cannot move to other places. You can use a painter’s tape to apply on them, or an unused piece of garment to cloak over. This step should be done carefully; otherwise, the stuff may get stuck by the putty.

Apply Painter’s Putty on the Wall

Apply painter’s putty on the wall

  • STEP 1: Mix the painter’s putty in a bucket.
    When you finish the steps for pre-treatment, take the painter’s putty out into a bucket and mix with water. The ideal ratio should be 1 / 2, which means 1 ml of putty comes with 2 ml of water. However, there is a proper instruction stick outside the box of the painter’s putty that shows you the right scale.
    Remember to pour water into the bucket before adding the putty and do not proceed reversely. Use a stick or stirring drill to stir the mix thoroughly. Mix well until the material is smooth and uniform without any bumps or lumps inside. The dry mix now is ready to use.
    When you finish the mix, use it within 1.5 to 2 hours for the best result as the putty only performs well in wet conditions.
  • STEP 2: Apply painter’s putty on the surface
    In this step, you will need a putty knife as a primary tool. Take a little of the mix on the wide putty knife and fill into the cracks, crevices, and holes on the surface. Try to estimate the amount needed for those cracks; otherwise, the putty will spill. Rub tightly on the potty area for the putty to stick and fill well inside the holes.

    With the amount of putty spilled outside, you can wipe it back to the bucket. However, scuffing the surplus putty too many times may lower the quality and the adhesion of the material. For this reason, applying the appropriate amount of painter’s putty will give you the best result.

    After applying the painter’s putty in the holes, you should keep it away from everything outside and let it dry for 4 to 6 hours. In other areas which are more humid, it takes up to one day for the putty to be totally dry.

  • STEP 3: Treat the surface after applying painter’s putty
    It’s not done yet!. You must do some work to make the surface smoother and softer so that you can apply paint over.
    First, use sandpaper to scuff and rub all the dust and impurities sticking on the surface. Remember to do it gently because there is a layer of putty here. Then, wash again with a damp sponge and clean water. This way will get a better surface for you to apply the primer and paint on.

You want a good wall with invisible patches on it, do you? Then it’s a good time to use a paint primer for your own good. The primer is here to help hide the patches made by the painter’s putty, while giving a smooth coat for the paint to adhere to. Note that you should paint the whole wall with the primer because you will apply paint over it eventually.

As you can see, it’s not difficult to apply painter’s putty on the wall.. While the process is easy to follow, it’s important how you prepare all things before getting into the work.

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How to Soften Painter’s Putty

How to soften painter’s puttyWhy do we need to soften the painter’s putty?

There are many good reasons why we should soften the painter’s putty.

As noted previously, the putty is instant and should be used within up to 2 hours after you mix it with water. What if you don’t use it all? The mixture usually dries up and it is a sign that you should be clearing it up . All the putty will get hard within a limited time, so how can we reuse it when needed?

First, you should pour out all the putty left inside the gallon or can for better clean up. Pour clean water into the gallon to make the putty soft. You will need a putty knife to remove all the content inside the gallon into a tray. Then, cover the putty with a piece of garment, roll it on a flat surface and repeat until the material gets smoother and softer.

When you see the putty elastic and bendy enough to apply on the wall, then it is ready to use again. Now you can fill the putty inside the holes, gaps, or cracks like a natural product, but we recommend the preserving time shouldn’t last longer than 2 years.

In Conclusion

Painter’s putty is significant, isn’t it? Above are the most 6 common things you need to know about painter’s putty before you start a painting project. Especially if you are about to have some DIY painting work inside your house, these things will help you much.

Now you can answer all the questions needed before using a painter’s putty. Following those tips and ways to use will provide the best results in your work. If you still have questions about the painter’s putty, comment below for more support!