qt Zinsser 04424 Zinsser, Ready Patch Professional Spackling Compound

I have been using this brand of patch for years. It is incredibly easy to work with, sands really well, paints perfectly, and has an almost unbelievable shelf life even after you open the can. I don’t usually need to use a lot at a time, and my last can probably lasted almost 10 years before the consistency became unusable. My local hardware store doesn’t carry this brand, but since it has proven its worth, I was happy to delay my project for a day or two to get it delivered from Amazon.5 stars.

I've been using MH Ready Patch from Zinsser for at least 5 years as a filler for wood projects that are to be painted. I've used it in both inside and outside applications. In one outside project I filled wood defects in stair railing posts that were not protected over the winter in south-central Pennsylvania. I completed the project in the spring by doing a finish sanding and painting, as I usually do. This product withstands cold and rainy weather well. I'd previously used a product that required mixing for outside projects, but I always ran out of the "cream" that was needed to set up the product before the can was more than half empty. MH Ready Patch has been a great alternative.

So far have used this to smooth out paint layers transitions on an 80 year old interior door after I scraped away a few sections of cracking paint and also to fill in gouges and craters in trim elsewhere. Best spackle I've ever used. The consistency is great for these vertical jobs. Dries white. Sands extremely well (I waited about 1.5 hours but 1 hour is probably sufficient before sanding). Strong smell when the can is open, so kept window open w/ small fan for exhaust. Used two putty knives, narrow one and wide one and cleaned off easily with baby wipes. Some descriptions online say cleanup with mineral spirits but can says with soap and water. Can opens and closes easily. I suggest using a freebie paint store paint can opener rather than a screwdriver to open it, in order to keep it easy to press back down snug. As others have said, I wish I knew about this product years ago.

Timely arrival. Been using this brand for years, especially in patching walls in water-prone areas without cracking due to humidity -- E.g., bathrooms, basements, outside doors. If you're sensitive to chemical odors, you may want to either wear a mask or consider another solution. That aside, it's a durable product that dries quickly.

First use was flawless. Worked easily and looked great. Although the can was opened for less than 5 minutes, second use the next day was problematic. Product pulled away from itself, leaving zagged, raggedy surfaces. Just installed, I'm unsure of the longevity of the patches. (Patching window frames and redwood siding in a historic home.)

I have used Ready Patch on drywall, vinyl siding, where drywall meet concrete, and metal doors. I even used it to patch up a deep scrap on a wood cabinet which I painted white. In ALL cases, it held up with no issues. Some reviews reported cracking. It ONLY cracks when a large amount is applied all at once, like a deep crack or hole needs to be filled in. Like any product, thinner layers and patience prevents cracking. I like this product and only use this product because I know it will work because it adheres to all of the surfaces I have applied it to.

Our home is over ten years old. The deck posts and some boards were splitting on the very edges. We were curious about this patching compound. The reviews we read all stated this was one of the best patching compounds available. It was pricey but once we got to work on a warm day the expense was worth it. The application process went extremely smooth and there was not a lot of clean up, other products dried out quickly and stuck to the floor requiring extra work to remove and at times sand a bit to remove them completely. A wonderful product and we will use it again.

A little pricey for a small can, but drywall compound would not have worked on the steel door - too much expansion/contraction. The weather has been mild so we'll see if a full swing of seasons causes any problems.Used a Rustoleum enamel over it. Be sure to give two coats of primer. It does suck up the paint and will produce a dull spot when using gloss if you don't. I used two final coats as well.