Putty facts for kids

Putty is a soft, squishy material that feels a bit like dough. People use it to fill small gaps and holes. It's super handy for fixing things around the house, especially in woodwork. Painters often use putty to make walls and wooden items smooth before painting them. Some special putties can even stop fire from spreading around electrical boxes in walls.

A putty knife helps apply putty smoothly.

Applying putty by hand to seal a window.

What is Putty Used For?

Putty has many different jobs.

• Plumber's Putty: This type of putty is waterproof. Plumbers use it to create tight, leak-proof seals around sinks, drains, and pipes. It helps make sure water stays where it should.
• Glazing Putty: This is a classic use for putty. It helps fix and seal glass panes into old-fashioned wooden window frames. It holds the glass firmly in place and keeps out wind and rain. Modern windows, made from plastic (PVC) or metal, usually use different sealants like silicone.
• Wood Repair: For wooden furniture or floors, putty can fill in small cracks, nail holes, or other tiny imperfections. This makes the wood look smooth and ready for paint or varnish.

How is Putty Made?

Traditional glazing putty is made from simple ingredients. It's usually a mix of:

• Whiting: This is a very fine powder made from chalk. It forms the main part of the putty.
• Linseed Oil: This oil comes from flax seeds. It's mixed with the whiting to give the putty its soft, dough-like texture.

Modern Types of Putty

Today, there are many kinds of putty, including newer, synthetic types.

• Water-Based Putties: These are popular for woodworking. They don't have a strong smell and are easy to clean up with water. They work well with water-based paints and sealers.
• Epoxy Putties: These are very strong, two-part putties. When you mix the two parts together, they dry incredibly hard, almost like iron. Once dry, you can even drill holes into them if needed!

Images for kids

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  Intumescent firestop putty used in a successful fire test, which led to a UL certification listing

See also

In Spanish: Masilla para niños