How To Repair Rotted Wood Door with Bondo Wood Filler

🛒 Bondo Pro Series 1-qt. High Bond Filler and Hardener: homedepot.sjv.io/2A5dA
In this How to repair rotted wood doors video we show you strategies on how to repair rotted wood door with huge holes that might seem to be unrepairable rotted wood. But we'll show you how to repair rotted doors DIY style. These concepts also work for rotted wood door frames, and rotted wood door jambs as well. By the end you'll be the expert in how to fix rotted wood doors and how to Bondo wood repair any rotted wood surface.
Wood door repair, Bondo adhesive and tools in this video:
🛒 Bondo Pro Series 1-qt. High Bond Filler and Hardener: homedepot.sjv.io/2A5dA
🛒 Pin Popper Door Hinge Pin Remover amzn.to/2mjovxj
🛒 DEWALT DCK299D1T1 Hammer Drill, Impact Driver Kit: amzn.to/2M6h450
🛒 DEWALT DWA4974 Aluminum Oxide Grinding Point amzn.to/2n7kXia
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The wood rot repair is made simple by cleaning out all the wood rot. The secret to fix rotted wood is to use a drill accessory to clean out all the wood rot up to the point where you have solid wood again. Then we use Bondo wood filler, and this is how to fix rotted wood doors and rotted wood door frames as well.
Bondo door repair
The Bondo wood repair kit contains the can of Bondo base material which you apply a bead of the Bondo hardener and mix up. You have 3 minutes to Bondo Patch rotted wood doors before it sets up to hard to smooth it out over the Bondo patch hole on the rotted wood door. Now you know how to fix rotted doors with bondo wood filler.

[@pr7562]

As a remodeling contractor in NorCal I've been using all-purpose bondo as a filler for my finish carpentry. I also use it for rot repair, except in most cases I apply Minwax liquid rotted wood stabilizer prior to filling with bondo. The liquid stabilizer fills the pores and hardens the remaining wood fibers in the repair area, making for a more solid repair.

[@jeffostroff]

Awesome, thanks PR

[@Dbb27]

P R thank you so much for this comment. I have one wood support on my patio (decorative) and part of it is rotting out. I don't know how deep yet but taking your advice.

[@jamie.777]

Wood this be good for my shed siding? Fkin wood peckers came back this year. I imagine this is good outside?

[@jamesreid-lourie5636]

thank you, i'm looking to this exact same thing. thank you for reinforcing what was recommended to me

[@robertmurray1054]

😊

[@victoriaherring4558]

Thank you so much for this video!! It was so thorough and easy to follow along. We have been stressing about our door and planning on replacing it. I had been avoiding it because I like the door and I knew it would be expensive. Finally called around and the cheapest I could find was at least $2000 because we have an odd sized door. I have loved our door that is original to our 1930s home. It adds so much character to our house. I got my husband to watch this with me and less than $100 later our door is looking good again!

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks, glad to help

[@DovetailSales]

Just happened to find this video this morning as I was wondering how to prep first layer of bondo for a second layer. Have some rotted wood on my boat. Thought I’d try your trick to stuff the gap with masking tape then fill with Bondo. Worked great! Thanks and this video has earned you a subscription.

[@jeffostroff]

Glad I could help! I hope it survives the movements of the boat. Let us know if anything goes wrong. With the board I might have suggested using spray foam, depending on how deep you had to go.

[@DovetailSales]

jeffostroff no worries! It was a small patch in the cabin. Don’t need to worry about the movement of the boat. Thanks for answering.

[@rosendoperez6677]

@@DovetailSales they have special bondo for boats made from fiberglass

[@frankfosco4726]

In on ii

[@corycameronmoore]

Jeff, thank you for the education! You have been a great help. God bless you and your family!

[@jeffostroff]

Glad I could help, thanks for watching Courtney.

[@jennamoore9929]

Thank you!! We have a bay window with about 2 inches in length of wood rot in the window trim and I have been stressing thinking the entire window would need to be removed and replaced. This is a great video with easy to follow directions. Also laughed for a solid 5min when you mentioned “This old House” because I watched a video from them explaining how to fix wood rot and I thought I would have to by the $200 joint compound mix.

[@maddierosemusic]

Buy the Abatron Wood Epox 2 part epoxy fluid and apply it to the wood, allowing it to tack up before you use the Bondo. Or even better use the 2 part putty instead of Bondo in the Wood Epox kit. You'll thank me later - trust me.

[@stephanforray4987]

Do not use blue tape to fill the gap since the bondo will not have support and will crack by the edges. Use pieces of wood instead off and you will get a solid support. Do not use blue tape to form the edge of the door. Use a strait edge ( any piece of wood cover with cling wrap). Use a bondo file to smooth the surface. Do this before the bondo be full cure and stay soft but not sticky yet. I had been fixing rotted bottom doors, bottom rotted door frames and house siding rotted board, using this technic and remains good forever and never rotted back in the same place again.

[@jeffostroff]

Good tips Thanks Stephan!

[@vojtechsobolik9536]

@@joseph7105 great tip with the oil, read it too late though :-D just in the middle of a 1920's door remodelling, had a big seethrough (58mm) you cannot find anywhere now, so I had to fill the hole up. Cut 4 pcs of wood to size, glued them together and put them in, than 2k putty. Put a board to the bottom and when i took it off, the bottom part of the putty came along :-D

[@mbrum3230]

great tips guys

[@mbrum3230]

do you think i could use bondo to form a corner on a door? Or does it really need the wood or alike on either side to have a chance of lasting? Thanks!

[@mackhomie6]

@@vojtechsobolik9536 loool that sucks, dude. Reminds me of the time I emailed the inventor/seller of a certain kind of tuning peg for flamenco guitars. His instruction involved the use of Xylene. Nearly two weeks later, he emailed a second time to mention that xylene melts plastic and whatever I do, not to get in on any part of the guitar. Thanks for nothing, dude. It's a good thing it wasn't a $5,000 handmade flamenco guitar or anything.. _attacks peg guy with the nearest blunt object and an equal portion of homicidal rage_ Really, though, I should've done more research. But still, that's the kind of warning you like to get around the same time as the instructions for use as opposed to much later

[@Joethetoolguy]

I am currently working on a home with water and rot issues. Thanks for this Jeff!

[@jeffostroff]

Glad to help in just make sure since you probably have more time than I had when we were doing this use either expanding foam or chunks of wood with glue to fill the void in the door

[@petermorrissey8520]

Really found this helpful and will be repairing a door tomorrow after getting my pin popper!

[@jeffostroff]

Yeah! Let us know how it goes, want to see if this helps others as well.

[@renateflynn]

This is EXACTLY the repair I needed to know how to do! Thank you!

[@jeffostroff]

Awesome, glad to help out Renate, thanks for watching!

[@ca6177]

I wonder, could this same principle be applied to rotted wood on the outside of a home? We restored a 100 yr old home, but it has some rotted boards under the guttering that’s are rotted!?

[@jeffostroff]

@@ca6177 if these are fascia boards I prefer to cut out the rotted areas and install new boards. Done that a few times.

[@stlalways6715]

Couple things. Rather than unscrew the hinge you can do a couple things to free it. Heat works great. Heat gun or torch work well. Metal soaks up the heat and the door getting black marks won’t matter since you are painting it..... You can also use two crescent wrenches each on a different knuckle of the hinge jam side leaf to break that rust free. Metal expands a lot from heat. Rust doesn’t expand or flex. Instead of using tape take your cut waste and pack those in. Can add a little bondo as a cement or glue to hold the wood in and the end result will be very strong. If you are filling vertical holes with bondo make sure you have foil backed duct tape with you. After filling smooth a piece of the tape over with a trowel larger than the hole. The foil stays ridged so you can fill even large holes in 1-2 fills. Keep a razor scraper with you. Once your finger nail barely indents the bondo carefully scrap the bondo flush to the finish surface SO MUCH TIME AND DUST SAVED! I like to mix the bondo with composite shins. If I use an actual putty knife I put a layer of tape over the knife. I can reuse the shim every other mix mess free or I can peel the tape once I’m done. Store you mix be sure your ready. If you drip bondo it’s best to let it dry. Like a paint drip rubbing or scraping will work the wet product in.

[@jeffostroff]

@@stlalways6715 good tips. The reason why I did not use any of the wood that was removed as because rotted wood as fungus in it you don't want to keep that fungus inside the door that's what causes the rot.

[@StringAlongUkulele]

I really appreciated your methodical approach to fixing a rotting door. I also liked your sense of humor throughout the presentation. Your video has saved me big bucks $$. Thank-you for your advice.

[@jeffostroff]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@odessa1011]

Wow! I would have given up too soon thinking I didn’t get it smooth on the first coat of bondo. Turned out great!

[@jeffostroff]

Yes, bondo dries very hard and sands so smooth and perfect.

[@dalecarver7415]

I repaired a similar door years ago and tried using wood filler. Like you said wood filler is horrible! Wish I’d thought of Bondo! Great video

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks Dale

[@JimPianoGibson]

Great tutorial.I really like your completeness and the bit of humor. (And you are right about orthodontists!)

[@jeffostroff]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Quantiples]

2 years of visits add up. If it was $7,000 for one day or week of work, I could see that being outrageous. Try getting 1 or 2 bridges over a few weeks of time and paying the same. I think a full mouth rearrangement is worth the cost.

[@robertgarcia4117]

Steve. Jeff you did an awesome, awesome job on that door. I learned a lot of you. Thank you very much. Keep up the awesome work.

[@googleuser6040]

Thank you for this video, saved me a ton of headache having to replace a non standard size door

[@barneyhands]

Terrific video - I love that you had to seal the doorframe to keep the cool air in 🤣🌞. I have the exact opposite problem here in the UK 🥶🌬☃️. Thanks for all the fantastic tips - really appreciate you sharing your experience/ knowledge 🙌🏻👍🏼

[@jeffostroff]

Glad it was helpful!

[@edwardtaylor6293]

Wow. I am impressed with how many comments you reply to. What more could viewers ask for? I really enjoyed the video and even enjoyed your side comments. Of course there are other ways to do repairs. Some better some worse. But I found this interesting. And, you're not the only one using Bondo for these types of repairs. Many craftsmen have been doing it for years. Don't listen to the haters. Keep up the good work!! I just ordered some Bondo.

[@jeffostroff]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching Edward. Yes, we find the people who complain the most are ones who snub their noses down on poor people or others up against a time critical schedule. Not everyone has skill of Norm Abrams, so here we simply showed the most basic DIYer how to put lipstick on a pig.

[@xbrizzcakez]

@@jeffostroff so anyone who gives a little criticism or a pointer to you is a snob? You are posting on a social media platform. Also comments are likes are encouraged, you have accept negative comments as well.

[@jeffostroff]

@@xbrizzcakez Don't know where you get that I say people are snobs. Your statement does not make any sense

[@xbrizzcakez]

@@jeffostroff my bad "snub" their noses down on poor people" and whats the critical time period? Norm Abrams would never drop all that filler in a door, I think you are too sensitive to post your own work. Your door came out fine, just a little fine tuning with the filler application, just sharing knowledge thru advice ...thanks for replying

[@jeffostroff]

@@xbrizzcakez No really? Norm Abrams would never drop that stuff in a door? I guess you never paid attention to the beginning of the video where I said this is lipstick on a pig not a norm Abrams restoration. So your comments don't bring anything value added to the table, As you are just repeating what I already stated. As for the other guy that I had to hold him accountable for snubbing his nose down at the poor people yes there are poor people that can't afford norm Abrams, there are poor people that can't afford to go buy the new door,. My friend was in a jam he had to have that door repaired that day because he was going out of town and people were coming to look at the empty house. It would have cost $1200 to put a new door there if you want to send the money I would be happy to go back and re do it and puts a new door there and that way you have a Norm Abrams project that looks perfect.

[@debbiecooper1250]

Thanks for the tip on the Bondo: you're right that wood putty is useless. The door came out great. I'm wondering, though, that because it's still a wood door, and it's still FL, would it be beneficial to install another plate to prevent future rot?

[@jeffostroff]

Hi Debbie I doubt the plate was put on there to protect the door, I believe it was put on there to hide the existing rot that was on there. Wood rot is actually caused by a fungus with the presence of moisture so I doubt that even having a plate on it would help and it, unless the door sees a lot of rain and needs a splash guard, just makes doors look unsightly. Your best bet with doors is to make sure that it has a good solid top coat of paint on it and that the paint never wears down because once it does you invite fungus and other possible calamities to your wood door.

[@queenreporter]

@@jeffostroff i wish i could find someone to fix my garage door panel.

[@nessadaz9572]

What a great video! Amazing fix and transformation! Thank you!

[@jeffostroff]

glad to help out

[@charredskeleton]

I usually get the off the shelf whites too. Best trim color ever. Seems like the of the shelf the gloss whites blend nicely enough to touch up with a different can if needed

[@jeffostroff]

I think so too!

[@charredskeleton]

Durhams is good stuff, it just can't get wet. I really like Bondo for wood.

[@jeffostroff]

Plus we primed it twice and have good exterior paint.

[@libertarian1637]

The bondo seemed like more work than just cutting the center out and replacing the wood. I do use and like bondo myself; the same company makes a fiber reinforced filler as well that is stronger for larger gaps. You can get bondo poly resin that soaks in to rotted wood first to get a slightly stronger bond and end product. I also use DAP Plastic Wood filler; it is solvent based and sets fast as a single part mix. I also use an epoxy wood filler that’s 2 parts and works like a thick putty. Bondo is great with doors though because it is strong and you can both drill and if needed tap it. You can mix in Xylene about 5-10% to the bondo first than add hardener and actually inject the bondo; it just takes longer to set up but it works great for tougher to get in areas.

[@jeffostroff]

Yes, but a lot of work and time and effort too in order to get the right thickness wood to put in there, then you need all sorts of wood tools, planing down the wood to the right thickness, we had to do everything in that afternoon for my friend. I wanted to just replace the door, but it's a non-standard size, $350 to order it, 3 months to wait for a new one, then permitting, and hurricane non-sense, would have been over $100= at the end.

[@libertarian1637]

Non-standard doors suck; I had to fix an 84x36-1/2 because there was no easy/inexpensive fix. You can do a lot with a router and table saw but yes wood fixes take longer than bondo as even some of the fastest glues can’t compare to bondo. I gave gad good luck though with CA glues and UV cure liquids for fast fixing. A spring popper works great on hinges too, especially the bottom hinge where you don’t always have a lot of working room to get a good swing.

[@bobbitoman6677]

X,😉😃

[@44bluezone]

Great video! I always use a surform plane to take most of the Bondo off before it gets fully hardened. It makes the sanding much easier and faster. I learned that from watching auto body workers.

[@jeffostroff]

Great tip!

[@lindseycorcoran4875]

Do you have any recommendations for a good quality surform plane?

[@mohamedelzubeir2718]

You are awesome man, I have this kitchen cabinet that has been driving me crazy and I didn't know how to fix it BUT now I do thanks to you. Cheers

[@mprice8851]

I found that stucco screen rolled up and screwed inside the larger cavities makes an extremely strong attachment and holds the bondo in place.

[@jeffostroff]

That is a good idea also

[@MrSloika]

I've used Bondo to fill minor imperfections in wood. If the wood shows rot damage, I'll clean as much of the rot as practical, use a bit of wood hardener resin and then the Bondo. That door has way too much rot to fill with Bondo. I would have hung a new door or if the customer insisted on repairing the old door, I would have replaced the bottom rail entirely.

[@jeffostroff]

They also make a version of bondo with fibers in it for reinforcing.

[@raulgutierrez5920]

You right👍👍

[@MrSloika]

@Carolynska S Google, "Minwax wood hardener"

[@MrSloika]

@Carolynska S It hardens wood that has become soft or punky so it can be filled or painted.

[@AndreNsala]

Great video! I picked up some bondo for a project and now I’m feeling much more confident (and entertained).

[@jeffostroff]

You can do it!

[@liamball8335]

And the Oscar goes to... YOU for how this door looks. I just bought a 1932 cottage with tons of termite damage. Thanks for giving me a taste of my future!

[@mgeasley]

This video is just what I needed! Thanks!

[@jeffostroff]

Glad to help!

[@mikefotiadis1355]

Thank you for that. I Learned something I can use . Good work 👏

[@jeffostroff]

Glad it was helpful! Just make sure to use wood and epoxy or glue for the filler instead of tape, that's all we had in this empty house the day we were there.

[@alfalders3020]

Thank you from over here in Australia. This video has solved a problem for me. 👍

[@tommurt4449]

VERY educational! Thank you. Great job!

[@Vgallo]

I cut the rotted sections out, and put blocks of timber in them because I’ve got a pet door in mine and I wanted to strengthen the door a bit More, my hardware store in Australia, recommended I use filler instead of bog, glad I watched this cuz I knew bog would be better. Although now that I’m finished I’m not sure about the bog, I couldn’t get a meat finish on it, using those trowels is really an art especially when you’ve only got a couple of minutes to finalise it and especially when you gotta create an angle, the whole bottom edge of my door was caved in, so I had to build it up to match the rest of the door, I tried using tape but it kept coming off, so you can clearly see all the bog after I’ve painted it, I don’t have an electric sander either so that probably doesn’t help. I also couldn’t get the bottom pin out from my door, it’s too close to the ground, so I took the screws put of the door, cuz I have a metal door frame and it’s got pop rivets to the frame, which I don’t have a lot of experience with so I don’t really want to touch. Have you got a link for that door pin remover?

[@jeffostroff]

Tim, here you go: 🛒 Pin Popper Door Hinge Pin Remover amzn.to/2mjovxj

[@benparker3871]

What bog product did you use in lieu of Bondo Vincent? I’ve contacted 3M and they’ve told me they don’t supply Bondo here in Australia and they couldn’t recommend any of their other filler products for timber applications.

[@alexcordero6672]

This is exactly what my back door looks like on my 110 year old craftsman home. The dog tore it up it already had some rot. I can't find a door like the one that's there so I have to fix it. Like you showed, I have two plywood panels to hide the damage. I'll do this tomorrow. Thank you for the demo.

[@jeffostroff]

You likely have more time to work on a denied did so make sure you do it even better than this and use small pieces of wood and glue where we used the balls of take

[@ImAChristianFirst]

@@jeffostroff You must have replied on your smartphone.

[@bobbg9041]

You can always build a door from scratch just need the right woodworking tools to cut the stiles and rails as well as the panels. But on a door like this exposed to the elements id use a rot proof wood like Cypress or ceder if you can afford it an alternative wood that mimics moghongany might be red gruddas its cheaper and about a rot proof as they come unless you get into some of the high end woods.

[@hughrs]

I've never seen anyone put bondo on so messy, wow.... you can save so much time if you work on learning how to spread bondo and drywall mud

[@hashnlg]

Thanks for the video, you explained things great for beginners!

[@jeffostroff]

Glad it was helpful!

[@saigyl9149]

i just use my trusty nail set to hit the pins up and out, and i'd bet those plates contributed to the wood rot, there were gaps at the top and no where for it to weep out effectively

[@jeffostroff]

Yes, the plates are a waste, the owner had put them on there before when there was some rot starting to form, but most people are unaware that fungus that causes wood rot gets trapped in the moisture behind the plate, also humidity in the air down here is brutal and gets trapped in there as well. This new primer and paint job should protect it well for years to come.

[@Dbb27]

I have been using a small window squeegee, like what is sold for showers, instead of a spackling tool for my finish work before painting. The squeegee eliminates the lines that are caused when the hard metal spackle tool skips over any hard nub. Once dry you can push out any high spot. I haven't used this on the bondo. But will try it to see if it works. I used a two part auto bondo to repair my crumbling septic tank 15 years ago. It's still holding apparently.

[@jeffostroff]

that is incredible!

[@eleanoreagly4844]

In place of tape, the blue/green/pink soli insulation (not styrofoam) could be cut to fit in less time than the tape, I retained left over pieces from insulating the interior of a horse trailer and picked up a few small pieces curbside. But of course the tape may be OK but it could if it gets moist allow mold to grow.

[@Timetravel1111]

Yes I like that idea more. My hole is not as big yet another filler maybe best. For 30 years by the time I moved out of this 90 year old house 🏡 lol

[@fuyu5979]

Jeff awesome DIY repair turning a seemly impossible dry rot into a "swan" of a door ! Very useful step by step instructions. Try to watch ur DIY repair vids. Kudos for upload. Will incorporate ur instructions in my own dry rot fascia repair. Anticipating ur next one. Peace

[@pablogutierrez1009]

Amazing! Thank you for your patience, hard work and great presentation.

[@jeffostroff]

Thank you very much!

[@yusufchops8635]

Hi Jeff. Great vid. I have a wood cabinet with rotted wood but the problem is the rotted wood is on the bottom corners of the cabinet. How would I fill it up with bondo and restore it to the same shape? In your vid the tape works as the rot is in the middle bottom layer. But I'm battling to figure out how best to handle the corners(it's a big chunk of rot that I need to get rid of). Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

[@jeffostroff]

I don't think Bondo will carry a load. Look at some of the other versions of bondo that have fiberglass fibers in them to strengthen it, see if that helps. Check their web site for engineering info on whether it can handle the loads.

[@JC-zt1zu]

You just solved a problem for me mate, love this video. Nice and easy job that was explained well. Subscribed and looking forward to new videos.

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks for the sub and glad it helped you JC!

[@almazabraha]

Wow! Thank you for sharing.

[@jeffostroff]

Glad to help out, thanks for watching!

[@raqueldurgin8244]

Loved the video and your channel! I have a antique door similar not nearly as much rot just a little. Filling it all with bondo. To your other rude commentors. No i do not want a new door. This one is perfect and just needs some TLC. So glad i stumbled upon this video. How would you seal the windows in a old antique shaker door ? It has 6 windows on top. Want to make sure it is sealed. Caulking?

[@jeffostroff]

Raquel it's important to understand the difference between caulk and silicone. So caulk is basically used interior use only on baseboards, door molding, etc. But for anything around kitchen sinks, bathtubs, windows, exterior doors, they use silicone because it is 100% water proof, whereas caulk will dry and crack. Many installer and builders incorrectly use caulk on bathtubs, which is why you often see caulk on bath tubs eventually get cracked, and black with mold. If you choose a silicone for the windows, either try clear, or if you need white for a white door, you can try that too. Just be aware most silicone cannot be painted, some can however, so make sure you are aware of the limitations. I don't have any expertise in that, because we mostly replace exterior doors here in FL with solid metal doors no windows. You might try some youtube video from skilled craftspeople who know their stuff and repair these doors.

[@edwardschmitt5710]

Window glazing is used for glass. Silicone has ZERO UV inhibitors and so the sun deteriorates it. You can also use Phenoseal caulk, it is made for exterior functions. Paint keeps the sun off the glazing or caulk. You can call us rude but for me it is like a doctor operating on someone wrong. No one may die here but whomever paid for that did not get a repaired door, and will have the same problem all over again.

[@lachutequimarche8074]

Thanks for showing this! Forget all the negativity- you said flat out that this is the quick and crappy way to do it. Everyone here’s acting like you were doing a paid job. I have a junky old door that I’m going to do this with. Hope it looks as great as yours!

[@jeffostroff]

Well said!

[@unclebobcarpenter6079]

Good tip Jeff, because replacing doors takes a lot of skill along with many headaches!

[@jeffostroff]

Yes they do

[@davew4539]

Very well done informational video. I'm wanting to repair some minor rot at the base of my shed walls, walls are T-111 19/32" thick and bottom of walls are about 5" above the ground. Just a few rotted sections along bottom about 4" wide x 2" high each spot. I'd like to give this stuff a try... Perhaps I can use tape underneath across the bottom edge to help form a straight bottom?

[@jeffostroff]

If there is going to be any load on the wall, would not use Bondo repair, but rather slice off bad wood and re-install new wood. Might be better to cut out rectangles arounf the rotted wood, and slide new wood rectangles into its place and glue and screw it in.

[@r.f.1935]

Thanks for the tutorial! During an exterior paint job I accidentally got myself into fixing a rotten front door just like this! Hopefully it turns out great just like yours. Any tip on how to try to make a wood like texture??

[@jeffostroff]

I have heard you can buy templates that you would lay over the wet product and it will leave imprints, but I don't know where you would get it

[@susanshaver912]

Try using a small stiff bristle broom in the bondo before dry.

[@jimfreeman2822]

Excellent video. Just what I needed for repairs on my patio rails. Thank you. Jim

[@jeffostroff]

Awesome if they are big holes that you encounter you might wanna fill them with wood chips and glue and let them dry 1st before applying bondo

[@rickchapman2733]

You are a good teacher, man. Thanks. I have some builder grade vanity drawers that are shedding. Do you think I could use this to cover the drawer box sides or would something else work better?

[@jeffostroff]

Yes you can use bondo up to 1/4" thick and as long as the sides are not brushing up against anything, that should be fine. But why are they shedding?

[@t.b.1596]

Thank for this video. I am about to apply bondo to my custom designed fence and didn't know how to use it. The door looks amazing and brand new. To bad you couldn't have stripped the hinges it would have been even more perfect. Maybe they will repaint them? Good job!!!!!

[@jeffostroff]

I never paint hinges

[@charredskeleton]

It looks wonderful. How long do these types of repairs last? I've only recently started using Bondo on wood, I love the stuff, best filler ever. I just wonder how long my repairs will last.

[@jeffostroff]

Not sure, but this is Bondo's latest product made for adhering to difficult surfaces, and as long as paint lasts, this should hold up.

[@jeffostroff]

@Tom Wood That is correct Tom we have a number of commenters here who have comment that it is gonna crack in a few weeks but these guys have no idea about this new bondo, they are still thinking of their grandfathers bondo from the 1970s.

[@charredskeleton]

To remove the rotted wood I use a Dremel and a old wood carving bit. Kind of like a carbon bur. Woks real nice. Gets right down in there.

[@jeffostroff]

Good tip!

[@losulli983]

Thank you for the video you mentioned that if you had expanding spray foam you would have used it before the bondo. do you have a specific manuf and product?

[@jeffostroff]

I like the Loctite Tite Foam: homedepot.sjv.io/56qX2

[@sab605]

Really nice job. Thank you for posting this video.

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks for watching Steve!

[@rodw]

Hey Jeff, curious to why didn't you use newspaper or something like that instead of the painter's tape? I still like the video, I learned a lot. Never would have thought about Bondo. I think of drywall mud or something else like that. Thanks again Rodney

[@jeffostroff]

The house was empty there was no other supplies are or anything around. We really wanted to replace the door but it was such a strange custom size and it would have been months to get a new one.

[@gingervytis]

Packing with paper is a lazy "repair".

[@jeffostroff]

@@gingervytis Of course it's a lazy repair, this is a cheap bottom of the barrel repair and was not advertised as anything but. This is for the guy who has no means or money to fix it.

[@kimchee94112]

@@jeffostroff Use bubble wrap, doesn't rot and termites don't like it either.

[@Doodchillbro]

@@kimchee94112 genius

[@AllenFarms]

You can harden the remaining wood with minwax lquid wood restorer, the Bondi adheres to it and makes a better repair, dries fast

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks for the tip Allen

[@charredskeleton]

That min wax stuff works awesome!

[@EmmieTuesday]

May I pl lease have a supply list. Thank you.

[@pqf30]

This is an amazing job you've done. My carpenter just stuck two plates on my rotten doors and now looking at all the work you put in, I see why he's not doing a similar job. i would do it myself but that's a lot of sanding. Thanks for sharing this. That door really is a piece of art after you're done! Gives me some hope for my doors!

[@johnp556]

Dewalt orbital sander, done.

[@johnsakakeeny8200]

Great Video Jeff, you are a good teacher.

[@jeffostroff]

I appreciate that! Thanks for watching John!

[@parallelburrito]

Great fix. I hate it when my feet get rained on when going #2. Also foolish to have the hinges on the exterior. Robbers dream. One more thought. For holes that large I would probably screw some screws into the cavity to give the bondo something to hold onto. Overall great repair for what you had to work with.

[@jeffostroff]

Great idea for next time!

[@MrKrokodilDundee]

I appreciate quick fix videos like this and do not mean to be crapping on this DIY repair. However, I would recommend filling with something else other than tape because tape has a "non-stick" surface which is sort of like grease paper. The non-stick side function is so you can peel it off itself on the roll. If you've ever seen any DIY with epoxy they will tape with packing or cellophane to provide mold release against the epoxy in any project. For this purpose, using other fillers would be much better for longevity. I'm sure it held up OK in this repair but when you use bondo, you really want it to stick as much as possible even below the sanded surface.

[@jeffostroff]

We wanted to us expanding foam but you have to let it cure overnight, and we had to get this done that day.

[@AAYim89792]

Great video and liked "the corroded metal is just blocking the artery", great analogy!!

[@r6f09]

I use bondo at times but use a surform shaver while it’s still setting up saves lots of time and dust. Give it a try you’ll love it.

[@jeffostroff]

Sound slike something to try!

[@allanrowland2324]

Do you have a video dealing with the same sort of problem but using expanding foam as the filler? I have a wooden vertical bean that has holes where it was nailed to the exterior. I am going to use foam as the filler and then top it off with bog (bondo). Cheers.

[@jeffostroff]

No I did not make avideo with foam yet, but you can use expanding foam, but you have to wait overnight for it to cure before applying the bondo over the top. We did not have the luxury of time it had to be done same day.

[@zaxarispetixos8728]

If it is a beam that can fall in someones head replace it

[@allanrowland2324]

@@zaxarispetixos8728, not applicable in my case. It was an upright that filled where 2 corners came together.

[@jackcheefer]

We used this putty only for little cracks. In this cases, we used to replace the missing wood with a piece cut and shaped to fit in place. The putty gets broken easily when the door slams

[@jeffostroff]

Yes, wanted to do wood, but no tools there, and no time had to be done that day no trips to the store, etc. We really wanted to replace the door, but custom size and order, and months waiting list.

[@santosdr2]

@@jeffostroff you made it work with what you have. "ideal conditions" aren't always the case.Thanks for showing us a way to solve a problem outside of ideal conditions.

[@donaldaugustine6434]

Thank you was going to us that wood putty and really didn't want to. I was glad I watched you .my aluminum trailer has wood rot.

[@jeffostroff]

Also if you have real chunks of wood you can use instead of the blue tape that is better as well.

[@40redfox40]

I’ve gone through a few gallons of. O do fixing wood. It works great on rotted beams . Instead of blue painters tape on the ends to form an edge, I use gorilla tape. It works great

[@jeffostroff]

thanks for the tip! Next time, I hope we'll have more time to run out to get foam instead.

[@mrrberger]

Buddy, a little more care and you could have inserted some blocks of hard wood. Pin the hardwood then skim with Bondo, reinstate the drop lines and paint. About the same time and a lot less Bondo, less sanding and would last 5 years longer, gives the customer what they expect.

[@jeffostroff]

Lot of would have could have. We were at my friend's empty house, no materials or anything there.

[@medudegowar6896]

No strength, more like paint on a turd then lipstick on a pig

[@jeffostroff]

@@medudegowar6896 There is more strength in this new bondo than you think. This is not your grandfather's bondo.

[@aor980]

I’d be pretty pissed if I found out, as the homeowner, that there was tape stuffed into the door. At least pack it in with wood epoxy putty. I’m not sure how I feel about it. Good thing you used bondo and made some kind of repair. The mass majority of contractors in south Florida would rather cause more damage to the door and call it a repair, like the metal plate, than to actually fill in the door.

[@jeffostroff]

@@aor980 Homeowner knew what was going on he didn't want to spend any money and a new door would have been months away.

[@kaydonahue]

Listening to a wood rot video, fungus causes the decay to wet wood. Was going to epoxy after spraying with clorox solution to keep fungus down. Have never used bondo. Will try. Great explanation!

[@jeffostroff]

Awesome kay, Let us know if it worked out for your door as well

[@JaxLittles]

Thank you so much for this video. I need to fix some brown rot on some exterior beams and I didn't want to use epoxy or replace the beams

[@jeffostroff]

Glad I could help

[@KK-ix9mf]

Great video. Plan to fix a rotten mailbox post with a flower pot holder. This video provided me all the great idea. Thanks!

[@jeffostroff]

IT might not hold if it is going back in the ground.

[@catherine005]

This is what I’m looking for. Never work with wood filler. I built a desk for my girls. 1st major project and I mess up a little bit with the wood. I end up with a small hole on top of the desk and need to fill it in b4 I sand and stain.

[@jeffostroff]

Wood filler is a pain because it just crumbles on your when you're trying to pack it into the holes.

[@sailingsolar2371]

I would have used one hinge pin to remove the seized one from while it was still mounted on the door frame.

[@jeffostroff]

Not enough upward distance to pound that pin out, we had to wait until it was on the bench.

[@kimchee94112]

Removed dozens of doors, ran into one where none of the pins would come out. The bottom one you don't have room to pound it our either. I ended up touching those hinges, almost burn down the house but it came out.

[@Kate-448]

This was an incredibly helpful video, especially for those who don't have a lot of extra money to spend on house projects. I'm amazed at all the negative comments, but then again it's the internet and everyone has an opinion, even trolls 😄

[@jeffostroff]

There are purist perfectionists out there who did not realize this was a very low budget repair for those who have no money and not a lot of time to get it fixed.

[@mikeford9176]

Excellent, thanks, using your idea to fix some rotted soffit wood from a ice damn on a house. Thanks for the tips!

[@cadjs]

Body filler and padding...did you used to work in the used car trade in the 60s and 70s? I am sure I had a car repaired the same way... 😎

[@jeffostroff]

Lol no that was just one of those times where my friend wanted a real quick fix and we have 0 time and 0 budget to get it done.

[@ensignj3242]

You could also fill the gaps with pieces of wood.

[@jeffostroff]

Yes, virtually anything will work.

[@chrisgraham2904]

You can fill the gaps with just about anything. I prefer something that is solid like wood or even stone chips and make sure the Bondo has contact with all the wood surfaces that you carved out. You can also reinforce the joints between the rails and styles with screws and then encapsulate them in the Bondo. Bondo is also manufactured in several formulations, some with short or long fiberglass reinforcing hairs incorporated to add stability and reduce slump. There are "professional architectural epoxy compounds" available from a number of manufacturers for just this purpose, but they generally cost 5 to 10 times more than Bondo and I don't believe they perform any better or even not as well.

[@paulman8239]

@@jeffostroff including hot mud

[@Ronin228]

good video, gonna try this on my wood siding that got a little rot in them.

[@jeffostroff]

Go for it! Just don't use the tap. Your wood siding is likely shallow enough that the bondo by itself will be good

[@Ronin228]

@@jeffostroff yes sir it's pretty shallow just gonna block the bottom with a little tape, bondo, sand and re-paint!

[@MikeAcousticMusic]

Love this Repairs of an old rotted bottom dresser so this is primely helpful thank you 😊

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

[@Peter-td3yk]

Hey exposed hinges... wrong thieves can pop them right out...you need other type... plus use scrap wood as filler..v rot cut strait lines cut and glue a filler.. then glue in v repair...other side too... then counter sink screws thru frame... fast done... use Bondo as last filler.. that's me.. permanent fix..

[@jeffostroff]

Yes the builder messed up big time building this house in 1982 with hinges outward., or they should have used non-poppable hinges.

[@patrickdecanio5599]

That's pretty much what I was thinking. I would have a so stabilized the remaining wood with minwax or epoxy.

[@deedee1525]

Hey Peter. No doubt you know your stuff. But as a newbie, I understood very little of what you were talking about.

[@jannibal9273]

Honestly, after all of that work for what looked like it took at least a couple of hours wouldn't it just have been easier to buy a new fiberglass or steel door and paint it? I have the same issue that has occurred at the bottom of a wood utility door on my garage. One of my brothers-in-law has done body repair work for years and uses Bondo to repair lots of things, so I'm familiar with it. But to hire a handyman here and have him do all that work would cost nearly as much or maybe even more (depending on the handyman) that buying a new steel door!

[@jeffostroff]

We wanted to buy a new door here, but this is a 40 year old non-standard size ultra skinny door with window, no longer allowed under hurricane building codes. This would require $350 purchase of new hurricane rated door, waiting several months for delivery, then getting all necessary hurricane permits and inspections which could easily run well over $1000. Now you may have to re-frame to fit door to satisfy hurricane strength requirements. Most contractors in our area charge you $350 to file a permit for a door. Then you have to turn in all sorts of wind mitigation reports along with the door to get approval, then the insurance company wants all sorts of wind mitigation tests, signed off by a GC which costs another $150. But since you have all that extra money lying around, by all means pursue that avenue. What I just explained above is only half the work you'll be doing, and runs many hours over many days, and many headaches, and many unanswered phone calls, and waiting for city approvals.

[@turdpatrol4201]

Thanks so much Jeff, this video helped me out a lot . I was trying to restore an old door in my home and you are right about that wood putty being crap, but I found your video here and helped me so much. I ran out and got me some of the bondo and now my door is beautiful. 👍👍

[@jeffostroff]

Awesome!

[@julieengelman5754]

You are a wonderful person. Bondo is my new go to.

[@jeffostroff]

Make sure you get the new bondo with the green on the can like mine, it is their newest formula, made for difficult surfaces.

[@difarr1618]

The metal panels attached to the outside of the door..... bad idea, esp. the top one. It was trapping water against the recessed panel and keeping it wet... nice pocket for rain, moisture to gather and wick right down into the joint of rails and styles. It covered the damage but compounded the problem making the issue a whole lot worse....

[@jeffostroff]

You are correct, and especially provides a breeding ground for the fungus that causes wood rot.

[@robertp7209]

The plates needed to be sealed against the door, screws too.

[@joeemanuele3134]

Too much hardener in Bondo can cause it to react to fast and lose adhesion

[@jeffostroff]

That's why we follow the directions use the right amount that they call far, drwing a line across the clay

[@billwhite1966]

When the hot and cold hits it repeatedly it comes loose anyway..fiberglass resin and wood are two completely different substances....here in the KC area wood rot repairs with bondo and the likes are causing catastrophic amounts of damage...because it causes sneaky leaks. Period.

[@e.conboy4286]

Thanks, that’s good to know.

[@FlakeBoss]

@@billwhite1966 this is not fiberglass filler it is a polyester based filler. If you use fiberglass filler first, then poly filler it will be waterproof and super strong.

[@Timeline7575]

Great video I wish I would’ve found your channel earlier. Will the bondo hold up in multi season climate zones?

[@user-lf7en6rf8m]

Hi jeff, i had to puddy 2 sides of a door that had a doggie door, it was my first lol, i used a heat gun to dry it, i thought it was dry enough to paint lol, it wasnt, i re sanded both sides and turned out ok ( lipstick on a pig as you would say ). Thank you for skills, input and videos

[@ghshinn]

I've used aluminum foil instead of tape for this kind of gap filling. It works well with body filler. On a hot day, like 80 or higher, you'll be lucky it lasts two minutes after mixing. I've used just a smidgen less hardener to extend the time. How much is a smidgen? It's a bit less than itty bitty.

[@jeffostroff]

My preferred method is courses replacing the door but my friend wanted it done like this. But next time I would be using expanding foam that's typically what's inside many doors anyways.

[@johnsmart813]

He just said it cost $ 7000 for his daughter’s dental brace! Thank God for the NHS. Both my daughters had theirs free!

[@utubewillyman]

Great video. I think I might stuff aluminum foil into the cavities instead of painter's tape. It would be nice to have a base that didn't flex so much when you're applying the Bondo.

[@jeffostroff]

Great idea!

[@rootvalley2]

I’d cut pieces of rigid foam for big gaps

[@douglaskirk9167]

Nice job. I have to repair some No. 105 siding and your video really helped. Thanks!

[@jeffostroff]

Glad to help doubles thanks for watching

[@gsh319]

To clean up vintage hinge sets...……. a power drill with a 32 cal. gun brass cleaning brush.... It's a "Bingo" as they say!,.... "they just say Bingo....

[@oh8wingman]

When removing hinge pins you should start with the bottom pin and move up because the weight of the door will tend to keep the lower hinges in line making removal of the top pin fairly easy. If you start at the top and work down you will have a bear of a time removing the bottom pin because the weight of the door is working against you as it tries to fall away from the jamb causing misalignment of the hinge components. That's what happened to this fellow. A cone stone like that in a low speed drill is quite likely the most useless tool you could possibly try because it plugs off with debris in literally seconds which causes the abrasive cutting edges to be ineffective. In fact of matter, stones should never be used on soft gummy material for this reason. Stones work on the principle that they must wear away to expose fresh abrasive. If you must use a rotary cutting tool use a carbide burr instead or better yet, just use a good old fashioned wood chisel or gouge and finish with a rotary burr. When it comes to working with bondo you should never mix it on a porous absorbent material like wood as it draws the liquid component out of the putty and causes faster curing. He should have used one of those kick plates he removed from the door. You should also have a much better handle on how much hardener to use. Using too much hardener also causes the putty to lose cohesion and it breaks away easier. When mixing bondo, you don't stir it. You use your putty knife and you scoop it up and lay it over on itself like you would if you were making bread dough. Stirring bondo is time consuming and will frequently give you a poor mix because the hardener is mixed through the putty inconsistently. You don't use your putty knives to take down "cheese" hard bondo. You use a cheese grater rasp. (www.amazon.com/AES-Industries-Cheesegrater-Adjustable-Position/dp/B0013HHSIQ/ref=sr_1_12?dchild=1&keywords=bondo+file&qid=1589137555&sr=8-12 ) It's faster, more precise, and won't gouge your surfaces. If you started to sand bondo that is that uneven in a body shop they would laugh you out of the shop. That's why you use the cheese grater. Bondo is great stuff when used properly but it does have a few failings. One of those failing is it has little strength without a good backer. If one was to accidentally bang or kick this "repair" there is a good chance it would cave in because the only backing it has is masking tape and air. He should have pulled as much of the tape as he possibly could and filled completely with bondo to avoid the void. This fellow fails miserably on all counts. Then at 27:32 there is that comment about how the door edge sits down low and the weather stripping will cover it. That sort of describes everything you will see here. It is the mark of a true blue scab tradesman. You know, the kind of guy who always cuts corners and always produces substandard work. He's the Mechanic that scabs brakes on cars that have accidents later. He's the Autobody guy who doesn't fix the rust but putties over it and paints it so it looks good for a couple of months. He's the Electrician who uses whatever wire he has around even if it's too small a gauge for the load. He's the House painter who doesn't prime new raw drywall so that he needs to use twice as much paint and gets a streaky finish. He's the Drywaller that hangs sheet any old way and relies on the Taper to fix his mess. The kind of guy that shows up to do your work but somehow never has the right tool for the job so he "improvises". "I don't need no stinking chisel! I have a slot screwdriver for that!" You all know that guy......... As far as subscribing.......I seem to remember something about a snowball chances in hell. This is totally amateur night and if you hire this guy or someone like him you are paying far too much for too little. Crap is crap and just because you put lipstick on it doesn't make it less of a pig.

[@jeffostroff]

Actually, what you didn't see in the video, I started on the bottom pin, but it was so stuck, and hinge so close to the ground could not get any mechanical advantage tapping upward with a hammer, and it actually broke my pin popper, because it was so tightly jammed in there. You saw win the video once the door was laying flat, how hard it was even with the best mechanical advantage angle and the hammer to really pound that pin out of there. Once the pin was sanded, lubed, and reseated, it was much smoother.

[@Oldtimecarpenter]

Scooter Tramp Hey Scooter that was a long winded reply. But a damn good one and well said! This is the end results of doing hack work. Receiving negative comments from professionals like ourselves who cares about the quality we give our customers. It’s too bad there’s people like this guy that doesn’t give a damn except for making some quick money! He claims their wasn’t enough time and the customer needed it done immediately. Myself, I would have said “no thanks “ and walked away as any honest carpenter would have! You’ve got my thumbs up for making a “ well said” reply!

[@jeffostroff]

@@Oldtimecarpenter You both missed the point of this video, the train left the station, you weren't on it. I specifically said at the start of the video this was a lipstick on a pig repair, I stated this is not a Norm Abrams restoration project and to go elsewhere if that is what you're looking for. As a "professional" you claim to be, you certainly lack the ability pay attention to details and you lack situational awareness. Both of you are so high on your own arrogance you can't see what's really happening. It has nothing to do with pride of quality, or me being sloppy, my friend the owner of the house already moved out of town, needed this door fixed the quickest possible way in a few hours as part of a huge punch list. Did not want to spend any money on it. One day when I do one of my preferred style repairs, we'll upload that video. But snobs like you don't understand when someone wants just the quickest basic cheapest repair, this is what they do. You snub your nose down at them.

[@Oldtimecarpenter]

jeffostroff The bottom line is you don’t care about the quality of work you do! So the sucker buying the house now has a door that won’t last a year! It makes me wonder if your tool box is filled with bandaids along with whatever repairs you performed on the house. You know that was a complete hack job and I’m more concerned about someone watching this video thinking this is the way to quick fix decay. It’s clearly NOT! That door ( referring to the bottom rail ) is trash and for little money more, a new door could have been purchased! It’s obvious you know little about carpentry and even less about quality and building standards!

[@jeffostroff]

@@Oldtimecarpenter We'll await your video then on how it's done.

[@ratchriat1716]

what a transformation enjoyed the video.

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks I'm glad you liked it

[@roserouge8938]

Love the shirt. I m redoing my outside windows. Love the little tool to remove the pin.

[@jeffostroff]

I am really surprised that neither Lowe's nor Home Depot sells that pin popper tool, we had to order it off of Amazon

[@xbrizzcakez]

I thought I was watching one video and hearing the Audio from another, You said don`t apply too much Bondo and then You did exactly that? You need to polish Your knife work , The Bondo should only be applied to the rotted and deepest areas and built up with a few coats. It looked like you were skip texturing the door...

[@xbrizzcakez]

Im sorry but that was hard to watch, lol

[@jeffostroff]

Sounds like you didn't watch the video since it was too painful to watch, but the Bondo was applied exactly like you said it should be applied, "built up with a few coats"

[@xbrizzcakez]

@@jeffostroff Your finished product was Decent, I`m trying to say that the filler should be knifed into the deep openings first, You were knifing it on the face of the door way to early and had a major mess going on. A sander is the real hero. Also some advice for you is to buy a tube of Bondo finish putty for when You need a perfect surface. Its a single component finish putty for all the minute scratches and imperfections in the Bondo. Also lose the tape as a backer, small pieces of wood do the job.

[@edwards1218]

I would’ve used a cheese grader to shave off the excess bonds

[@onehundredjacks3315]

I bet all the weight of the door was on that pin you could have still popped it if you raised the door slightly and angled it just right.

[@jeffostroff]

Mostly the problem was my disadvantage leverage point, I just could not get any solid upward force. Even when I had the door on the table and the perfect sized pin inserted into the bottom of the hole I still had to slam it pretty good with ideal mechanical advantage.

[@hiker64]

Great job - Thank you for taking the time to film this!

[@jeffostroff]

Glad it was helpful!

[@maiden2314]

I am in the same stage as you Jeff. As I'm using my power tools to clean rotted wood from the patio that I inherited, I feel like a dentist. If only i had been brighter in high school and pushed myself to become a dentist. Instead I'm doing what i can to save the patio deck and save a few thousand dollars for our kids dentistry costs.

[@jeffostroff]

That's the way we get the job done!