Exterior wood filler

I have two related situations where shed doors and a gate I built and installed last summer---our driest part of the year---have swollen to the extent that they now bind in the openings. I used framing lumber which had already had a full year to dry in covered storage, and simply did not anticipate the amount that primed and painted wood could still swell during our six month wet season. The shed doors will be relatively easy to fix because after I take them down and trim them to size I can reposition the surface mounted hinges. For that situation I only need to know a reliable exterior wood filler to fill the old screw holes for repainting.

The gate presents a much more difficult problem because it is huge and heavy. It is mounted with large strap hinges---each using nine 3/8" X 3" lag bolts. The strap hinges are in the only places they can be vertically, so moving them up or down to get them away from the existing holes isn't an option. Moving a hinge 1/2" laterally when the screw holes are 3/8" in diameter is the challenge. A few years ago a friend of mine who is a remodeling contractor rebuilt a rotted section of a structural beam (and the building department approved it) using some type of specialty epoxy which was very, very expensive. That would probably work here as well, but I'd like to avoid that last part---the very, very expensive part---if possible.

Stan

Minwax wood filler is what I've used with success on vertical surfaces. It's an epoxy, but not expensive at all and available everywhere.

I'd just drill the holes out to a standard size, probably 1/2", and drive in a dowel after coating the hole and dowel with a waterproof glue. Epoxy is my favorite for outdoor, but there are others that work.

I agree with the dowel pins and epoxy, or even carpenters glue.

They will be hidden by the hinges, held in by the hinges. The dowels will be an advantage because they will offer similar strength and support as the surrounding wood.

Gorilla Glue after dampening the hole and plug. Great it is. Jim

I would caution against this filler for that purpose. Good filler, easy to use, sands well, but it is not an Epoxy. It is a Polyester, same stuff used for body filler, bondo etc. A little polyester resin, hardener and lots of filler, usually talc.

Great for shaping and smoothing but little strength and not waterproof until coated with paint or other finish.

A few ideas come to mind, all address the metal, not the wood.

If as you posted the hinges have 9 bolts holding them on then one side probably has five bolts and the other has four.

This would result in two different bolt patterns.
Flip the hinge side to side and you will have fresh meat to install the lag bolts.

If the design of the hinge will not work to flip it then drill a new set of holes in the hinge to achieve the adjustment while avoiding the old holes.

Last resort drill the holes in the hinge oversize to accommodate an oblong bushing.

Or pull the hinge, weld up the holes and re drill accordingly with a template made before you welded the old holes up.

Or drill the holes oversize then weld on washers to reposition the hinge.

If the metal work is not something you are comfortable with, grab a jackall and a length of 4x4 you will be surprised by how much you can move with it.

They make an epoxy especially for rotting wood however if at all possible I would replace the wood with pressure treated wood. I have used bondo to fill exterior wood. It works well however you just can't expect it to last a long time.

Gorilla glue AND a wooden dowel. Life will be good again.

Thanks everybody for the useful suggestions and good information. This gate and these shed doors have used up an unreasonable amount of my time. I can't tell you how glad I will be to get everything adjusted and working properly, and never have to deal with them again.

Stan