Nontoxic Wood Filler

April 17, 2012 by Debra Lynn Dadd

Question from Vi

I'm chemically sensitive and searching all over the web for a Safe (safer : ) wood putty for interior windowsills.. primarily where the old wood sill meets the relatively new metal storm windows...so I guess they are both outside (as far as moisture etc and inside as far as VOC and other irritant concerns... 

I was told I should look for a water based product and I found Famowood...but a trial of that (on tin foil) and it still has a strong "solvent" irritating odor after four days... 

any suggestions? 

the sills have basically contracted from the metal storm windows....some of the retraction is thin like a pencil tip...other places its at least as thick as a pencil erasure... these are old windows...no sawdust available (I saw an earlier post where you recommended that)... as I am completely ignorant of home repairs in general, am open to ANY suggestions, even of other materials... thank you 

Debra's Answer

There are a number of water-based wood fillers available.

Updated 2020: Rubio Monocoat makes a solvent free wood filler putty.

Toxic-Free Q&A

These are archives of Q&A asked by readers and answered by Debra Lynn Dadd (from 2005-2019) or Lisa Powers (from 2019-2020). Answers have been edited and updated as of December, 2020.