MULTI-PURPOSE PUTTY QUART

Mix 50 parts putty to 1 part cream hardener by weight. Scoop out the putty you need, lay a bead of hardener across the diameter of the scoop, and mix until the color is uniform. It sets in 3 to 4 minutes and cures in about 20 minutes, so mix only as much as you can apply inside that window.

You can use it on wood rot after stabilizing the area with Wood Restore Liquid Hardener, but it is a cosmetic repair only, not a structural one. It is not UV resistant, so it has to be painted. Left bare on an unsealed deck it will degrade in sunlight. Prime and paint the patch once cured to keep it protected.

Yes, a cured patch will hold a nail. Predrill a hole slightly smaller than the nail rather than driving it straight in, which reduces the chance of cracking the patch. Let the putty cure fully first; it cures in about 20 minutes. For anything heavy, anchor into a stud rather than relying on the patched area alone.

No. For a leaking concrete water trough that livestock drink from, J-B Weld's support team points to Original J-B Weld, part 8265 or the larger 8281, and says to let it cure 24 hours before refilling with water. Use the product they recommend for that job rather than this putty, even though the putty is rated waterproof.

It works on wood, metal, concrete and drywall. Degrease the area, sand with 80 grit or coarser, and wipe with a solvent such as acetone before applying. Sand any painted surface first. It will not bond to low surface energy plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene. The quart size suits a run of small to medium patches around a house.

Store it indoors between 50 and 80F. Heat and freezing both shorten the usable life of the putty and the cream hardener. Seal the lid tightly between uses, because air exposure stiffens the surface of the putty. Never put mixed, catalyzed material back into the can, since it will start curing the rest of the contents.