Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Oak strip floors

We are installing a new wood strip floor (unfinished). Have a couple of small "gouges" in a couple of boards that should be filled with something. In years past, my husband's Dad mixed sawdust with some kind of glue to fill holes before finishing floors. What kind of glue do we use that will accept a stain and polyurethane finish, and how do we mix it (how much glue to how much sawdust, etc.)? Thanks.....

There are commercial fillers that will do the same thing without the mess and fuss of making your own. Check you local home center. Can't remember the brand that Home Depot carries, but comes in small cans with brown label. Made from real wood fibers in various wood species. Would be a good idea to "manufacture" a couple of gouges on some scrap and see how it works before using on the floor.

Circlerv, If your father-in-law was a floor sander he undoubtedly used laquer and sawdust. It is unparalleled for color matching and stainability as you are using the fine dust (edger) from whatever floor you are working on. It does have serious drawbacks though. The laquer smells to high heaven and is highly flammable. The ratio is roughly half and half adding more laquer when it gets hard to easily spread with a putty knife(like hotcake mix but not runny).


I think you (and your housemates) will be much happier if you follow tow-guy's advice about the commercial fillers.A lot of the newer ones are water-based and have little to no objectionable odor.