Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:56:56 GMT, The Medway Handyman wrote:

I haven't found a good technique for getting the filler to the
bottom of the holes. So far I have been pushing some filler in,
then tamping it down, adding some more, tamping it down...

That's a bit excessive IMHO. Why do you feel the need to fill the hole
completely? I remove the old plugs, make a nice thick filler mix and
using a small trowel spread a small dollop of the filler over the
hole. A fair bit goes down the hole and a "spread" or two more is all
that is required. Leave a bit proud but before it fully hardens treat
like plaster, wet and smooth over with a small float or the flat of
the filling trowel. I've not had any of these fillings fall out or
crack around. Part of the trick is a stiff filler mix so if you trap
a pocket of air and it can't get out it doesn't push a dome onto the
surface of the filler. A stiff mix doesn't slump out of the hole
either.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Readymix-Fil...ed-Filler-Once

Brilliant - does what it says on the tin.

Is that nice and smooth or a bit gritty? Bought a tube of ready mixed
polyfilla, on the basis that it would always be ready and easier than
mixing up a tiny amount of powdered filler. But it was terrible
stuff, not smooth at all but full of tiny gritty bits.

Very smooth, not at all gritty - you can smooth it off so well it doesn't
need sanding most of the time. See also
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/32581/...tweight-filler

and the best one IMO
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Ind...ler/index.html



--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk