Nail holes in mouldings, architraves and door frames are something every DIY enthusiast encounters. You have just nailed up a new skirting or window architrave, and now you can see small black pits where the nail heads sit. Traditional wood filler requires application, 2-4 hours of drying time, sanding and painting. With Baowachs, the same job takes 1-3 minutes — and you are finished immediately, without sanding and without painting. This guide walks through the entire process.
What is Baowachs?
Baowachs is a wax-based repair product specifically for small damage in wood — nail holes, small scratches, small splinter damage. It differs from traditional wood filler in three ways:
- Soft — can be shaped in your hand instead of applied wet and dried
- Finished colour — choose the right colour and you do not need to paint over it
- No drying time — functionally finished the second after application
The wax is flexible — it moves with the wood's temperature and humidity movements without cracking or falling out. This is the difference compared with hard fillers which may come loose after a few years of thermal cycling.
When do you use Baowachs?
Good for:
- Nail holes in mouldings and architraves
- Small splinter damage in furniture
- Small scratches in surface-lacquered furniture
- Holes from fixings you have taken down
Less suitable for:
- Larger holes (>5 mm diameter — use Rubinol Linseed Oil Filler instead)
- Deep damage going through the entire material
- Outdoors or damp environments (the wax can melt/deteriorate)
- Areas that are to be painted over (the wax base can impair paint adhesion)
Tools you need
Minimal list:
- Baowachs in the right colour (single stick or box)
- Plastic spatula or small knife (for scraping off excess)
- Soft cloth or cotton rag (for polishing)
- Cleaning cloth + a little IPA or decorator's cleaner (for pre-cleaning)
Step-by-step
1. Prepare the surface
Clean the moulding around the nail hole. Dust, grease or dirt will prevent the wax from bedding in properly. Wipe clean with a cloth dampened in decorator's cleaner or IPA, and wait until it is completely dry.
Also check that the nail is countersunk (below the moulding's surface). If the nail head is sticking up — tap it down 1-2 mm with a nail punch before you fill.
2. Warm up the Baowachs
The wax is hard at room temperature. Knead a small piece in your fingers for 30-60 seconds so that it becomes soft and pliable. Alternative: carry the stick in your pocket for 10 minutes — your body heat will soften it.
Do NOT take too much — a piece the size of a pea is enough for 5-10 nail holes.
3. Press the wax in
Press the soft wax directly into the nail hole with your fingertip or a spatula. Press firmly — better too much than too little. The wax should fill the whole hole and stand slightly above the surface.
4. Scrape off the excess
Use a plastic spatula or a blunt knife (not sharp — it can scratch the moulding) and scrape flush with the moulding's surface. An angle of 30-45° works best. You should see a flat, even surface without wax residue around it.
5. Polish with a soft cloth
Polish lightly over the area with a dry cotton cloth. This:
- Removes any micro-residues
- Evens out the colour match
- Makes the surface shine as much as the surroundings
6. Finished
Nothing more is needed. The hole should now be invisible or almost invisible. Depending on the moulding's colour, your choice of Baowachs colour, and the lighting, the result can be:
- Completely invisible (you have matched the colour exactly)
- Visible from 30 cm away, invisible from 1 m+ (acceptable default)
- Clearly visible (wrong colour — choose another Baowachs)
Choosing the right Baowachs colour
White Baowachs comes in two primary variants for British and Swedish mouldings:
Baowachs Off-White (NCS S 0502-Y)
The standard choice for eggshell-white mouldings — a slightly warm yellowish white, also called "antique white". This is the most common white colour on Swedish mouldings installed between 2010 and 2025.
Baowachs White (NCS S 0500-N)
For chalk-white modern mouldings — a cool white without any yellow tone. The most common choice for modern new builds from 2020 onwards.
Dark colours
Baowachs is available in 50+ colours for furniture repair:
- Oak (light, medium, dark)
- Beech
- Mahogany
- Walnut
- Teak
To be on the safe side: buy a Baowachs Mixed Box with several colours so that you have the right one to hand when needed.
Buying a single stick vs a box
Single stick (~65 kr each)
Good for one-off projects where you know the colour. You buy only the colour you need.
Box (10 sticks)
Good for professional use or several projects — cheaper per stick, and you always have the right colour ready.
Wood Repair Case
A complete kit with mixed Baowachs colours plus accessories (spatulas, polishing cloths). A good gift or for anyone who wants everything ready from the start.
Tips for different substrates
MDF mouldings
Smooth, factory-painted. Baowachs adheres excellently — no extra pre-treatment needed.
Solid wood mouldings
May have visible wood grain. Press Baowachs into the hole and follow the direction of the grain when scraping so that the repair blends into the pattern.
Door architraves and highly visible mouldings
Extra visible at eye level. Spend extra time on colour matching — test the Baowachs on an underside first before you apply it where it will be seen.
Lacquered surfaces
Baowachs is more matt than a lacquered finish. For glossy mouldings: apply the Baowachs, then a thin clear lacquer (Rep-Lack Matt or Saphir) on top to match the sheen.
Common mistakes
Mistake 1: Wrong colour
You grab the nearest white without checking the NCS code. Result: the repair is visible in the wrong light.
Fix: Bring a loose stick from an old hole and compare it with your purchased Baowachs in daylight. Or check the NCS code on the moulding's specification.
Mistake 2: Too little wax
You only fill half the hole — and you end up with a "crater" where the wax has sunk.
Fix: Fill generously, slightly above the surface, then scrape flush. Better too much and scrape off than too little.
Mistake 3: Sharp spatula
A metal spatula can scratch the moulding around the hole and make the damage more visible.
Fix: Plastic spatula or a blunt knife. Angle 30-45°.
Mistake 4: Sharp edge on top of the repair
You scrape and leave a sharp wax profile. It reflects light and shows.
Fix: Always polish with a soft cloth after scraping. This removes sharp edges.
Mistake 5: Filling nail holes in a damp room (bathroom)
The wax can melt in damp heat and deteriorate.
Fix: For bathrooms, kitchens by the hob, or other damp environments — use a moisture-stable wood filler such as Rubinol Linseed Oil Filler followed by painting.
Maintenance
Baowachs repairs are maintenance-free in normal use. If a repair comes loose after many years:
- Pick out any remaining wax with a spatula
- Dust clean
- Apply fresh Baowachs
When is Baowachs not enough?
For larger damage, go to:
Rubinol Linseed Oil Filler (for 5+ mm holes)
Linseed-oil based, hardens into the moulding, can be sanded and painted. Takes 24 h drying time but gives a stronger repair for larger holes.
Hard wax (for parquet floor damage)
For deep damage in parquet floors — use hard wax plus a melter. See our parquet floor repair guide.
Related
- Repair parquet flooring — complete guide — for deeper damage
- Oiling a worktop — how often? — after repairing a wooden bench
- See the full repair case and furniture care range
Sources
Last updated 2026-04-18.
- Ernst P AB — Baowachs product and application data (our own tests and customer experience since introduction in 2018).
- NCS Colour Centre — Standard for NCS S 0502-Y (off-white) and S 0500-N (chalk white). ncscolour.com
- Trähantverk Sverige — Industry guidance for moulding repair and wax techniques.
Vanliga frågor
What is Baowachs?
Baowachs is a soft wax-based repair product for minor damage in wood — nail holes, small scratches, small splinter damage. You warm the wax with your fingers, press it into the hole, and scrape off the excess. No drying time, no sanding, and the surface is finished immediately.
How long does it take to fill a nail hole?
1-3 minutes per hole. An average room with 30-50 nail holes in mouldings takes 30-60 minutes to repair with Baowachs. Much faster than traditional wood filler, which requires application, 2-4 hours of drying time, and sanding.
Which Baowachs colour should I choose?
Match the colour of the moulding. For standard British and Swedish mouldings: Baowachs 655 (off-white, NCS S 0502-Y) or 591 (chalk white, NCS S 0500-N). For dark mouldings and furniture, there are 50+ colours in the Baowachs range. It is a good idea to buy a Mixed Box the first time — then you will have the right colour when you need it.
Do I have to use wood filler first before Baowachs?
No. Baowachs replaces traditional wood filler for small holes (under 5 mm). For larger holes or deep damage, a base fill with Rubinol Linseed Oil Filler plus Baowachs as a finishing layer may be better.
Can I paint over Baowachs?
With care. The wax base means some paints may have poorer adhesion. If you want to paint — first apply an oil-based primer over the Baowachs, then your paint. For a matching finished colour: use the correct Baowachs colour from the start.
How long does a Baowachs repair last?
In normal indoor conditions: many years. Baowachs is wax-based and flexes with the wood's movements, which prevents the repair from coming loose during temperature and humidity changes. Not suitable for outdoor use or damp environments.
