Filler tips

[timbook]

I have added a new interior door to a new bathroom in the house. The surround of the door frame was quite hollow. I stuffed it full of pieces of wood and rubble to get it a bit 'fuller'. Then I added filler from a ready made tub. I did it about 12 hours ago and while most of it is hard dried, there are soft spots like a soft underbelly if you know what I mean. I can push on them gently and they are soft.
It still needs a final fill anyway before I can pain it but is there any way to make this work without digging the soft bits out? Will it harden any further?
Can I put a specialist type of filler on it that will still harden?
This job of adding a new bathroom has been tough and it is my first big home improvement project and little things like this are setting me back so it'd great to know if there is hope without having to pull it all out and go again.

 

[flameport]

Tub filler sets by drying out. Thick layers will never set, as the surface will seal in the moisture.

Filler should be purchased as a powder, which is mixed with water and sets by chemical reaction.
Products sold as a ready mixed slop in a tub are generally useless, and that includes fillers, tile adhesive, repair plaster, mortar and most everything else.

 

[timbook]

I know powdered is best and I generally use powdered, but everything is in order and the house is almost back to normal and our tenant is home again after the Easter holidays and I was hoping (against hope) that I could get this done this way. Now that I know why powdered filler works better for deeper holes, I will take this on board for future reference, thanks

 

[sparkwright]

For filling holes fast, expanding foam and 2 part wood filler are very useful - though I appreciate you may have run out of time.

 

[timbook]

That is a great idea! Thanks

 

[opps]

For filling holes fast, expanding foam and 2 part wood filler are very useful - though I appreciate you may have run out of time.

Agreed, mind you if you want really fast and are happy to buy a big tin of 2 pack filler it will set even faster if you don't use the foam. The deeper the hole, more heat is generated and the faster it will set.

Going back to the expanding foam and filler, if the OP had used Toupret TX110 powdered filler, it may have set quickly enough to sand later that day.