What to fill handle screw holes in wooden drawer fronts with?

Mottie · 2026-01-12T18:22:09+0000

I’m having a go at 'upcycling' our kitchen dresser - just painting it and changing the handles but the handles I want to use on the drawer fronts have the spacing for the screws differently - 64mm instead of 100mm. I plan to fill the holes, paint the drawers and drill new holes to fit the new handles but what’s best to use to fill the holes with - ordinary polyfilla, wood filler or something else?

Edit: What about if I got some wooden dowels, banged them in (using wood glue) and sanded them down before painting? Would that work?

Wayners · 2026-01-12T18:43:55+0000

Id go with wooden dowels.
Undercoat then ready mixed fine filler if you want a great finish on your project.

Other way is 2 pack wood filler, but be neat and tidy when you use. Don't spread it around..

2 pack is resin and harder in a can...

big-all · 2026-01-12T18:46:28+0000

Possibly the best you can do is make a bit off a feature, as they won't readily disappear end grain will take stain very differently and oak and beech have different colours and grains
what you can do is cut a plug from the inside surface off the drawer or hidden area to match up but needs a plug cutter the right size and wood with a matching grain

Mottie · 2026-01-12T19:03:07+0000

big-all said:
Possibly the best you can do is make a bit off a feature, as they won't readily disappear end grain will take stain very differently and oak and beech have different colours and grains
what you can do is cut a plug from the inside surface off the drawer or hidden area to match up but needs a plug cutter the right size and wood with a matching grain

Not worried about end grain as the drawer fronts are being painted. Looks like wood plug, fine filler and paint it is then.

aveatry · 2026-01-12T19:11:45+0000

The next time I need to do some wood filling I told myself I would try this stuff. https://repair-care.co.uk/product/dry-flex-4/

freddiemercurystwin · 2026-01-12T19:13:12+0000

As it's being painted I'd just go with some Ronseal two part.

Mottie · 2026-01-12T22:19:10+0000

aveatry said:
The next time I need to do some wood filling I told myself I would try this stuff. https://repair-care.co.uk/product/dry-flex-4/

Seen the price of it!

freddiemercurystwin · 2026-01-12T22:38:55+0000

Agreed, it's complete overkill for such a job hence the to ronseal recommendation.

aveatry · 2026-01-12T22:50:27+0000

Mottie said:
Seen the price of it!

There is that yes,
Wonder how it keeps in the tubes. I have done repairs with the standard 2 part ronseal stuff and it cracks at the filler/ wood junction.
Yes over kill for some knob holes

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What to fill handle screw holes in wooden drawer fronts with?

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