filling in large-ish holes in wall. What do I need?

[scripsi]

We recently moved and need to repaint. There is a shallow but almost side plate sized hole in the plaster on one wall (as if something was stuck on and then removed taking the paint and some plaster with it?!) and I would need to fill it in.

Which kind of filler should I get for this as it is a larger than usual hole? I assume I would also need a scraper of some kind to make it even and then to sand it down?

I'm no expert, but if the hole is shallow, I think normal polyfiller stuff will work fine. :)

Oh, and dust it thoroughly, then spray/moisten, to make sure the filler sticks well.

Thanks Flow4! I shall venture into a DIY store if my hayfever allows me to leave the house this weekend.

I would buy filler you mix with water yourself, a bit of sand paper, a filling knife or wallpaper scraper thing.
With a hole that big you will have to work in stages, fill in a bit, let it dry, then fill some more, etc until it is level with the wall.
I personally love red devil filler, white, lightweight. But not for big holes in walls, more for ceilings and coving etc.

This stuff does the job I will allow you all to make your own conclusions about my DIY abilities.

Lost, looks like stuff I would like
Filler keeps this house upright.

The last review was funny, he didn't read the "expanding" bit, did he.

That sounds like extreme stuff LostInWales: I think that it might be dangerous to let me loose with it!

Will have a look at the stuff you mix yourself.

dont use no more big gaps
thats for deep holes or round windows etc.
you squirt 2cm's of the stuff and then 10 mins later it has expanded to 10cms deep.
If it is a shallow hole try
www.diy.com/nav/decor/decorating-supplies/fillers-putty/fillers/-specificproducttype-interior_fillers/Polycell-Finishing-Skim-Polyfilla-PC0370010-White-9254179?skuId=9261878
plop it in the hole spread it out and over the edges.
leave to dry for 12/24 hours then get a small grit sand paper and sand it smooth to the wall.
great stuff

I missed the word 'shallow' in the OP. Damn, that could have been fun.

No, as the poster said, don't put it in a shallow hole. Unless you are trying for a unique and individual blobby wall effect. Save it for a rainy day when you have something at least fist size to fill. And then only put a little bit in until you have grasped how much it expands unlike the man in the reviews.