Is there a trick to it?

[NewDayNewBeginnings]

Filling holes with filler. I put filler on scraper... Press into hole, scrape down with the scraper... And it pulls it half back out.. No matter how many times I try or at what angle. Am I doing it wrong?

I use a mastic gun - push the nozzle against the hole and squirt. Then use my finger to smooth it, then finish with the scraper. Also make sure the hole is clean first, brush any dust out

get a small paintbrush. Wet it. Brush it into the hole to moisten the surface and remove dust. If you want, you can add a drop of PVA adhesive to help the filler stick. But sponge it off the face of the wall if you ever hope one day to paint it.

Rather than filler, I suggest plasterer's Joint Cement, or Easyplast.

It usually comes in a giant tub or a small sack. See what the smallest size is.

IMO these plastering products do a better job.

As you say, press them very hard into the hole, with your broad metal filling knife resting on the plaster to each side of the hole to press it flat.

run the knife like a razor to scrape off any excess before it sets. There is no point in having a lump of filler on the wall that you have to sand off.

You can polish the surface after initital set by flicking clean water onto it with your paintbrush, and rubbing the filling knife over it. If you get a stainless one it will last much longer.

p.s.

A scraping knife is thick and stiff.

A filling knife is thin and flexible.

Use an old credit / debit card. It has enough flexibility to push the filler into the hole, and a flat edge to scrape without pulling anything out. Also leaves a minimal amount to sand off.

I use the tub with the yellow label

it is rather big (and heavy. Ask the assistant to carry it to your car). Don't drop it.

plaster products do not have a long shelf life, but if you put the lid back on immediately, it should last long enough for you to finish at least one room.

When you get the hang of plastering, you can use sackfulls and a plasterer's trowel.

I use the ready mixed one in the link ( the tub £32 ) and it lasts for years.

Don’t mess around will filler. If it’s a deep hole i fill it twice once to fill most of it ,then second time to finish it off .

Thanks for all the tips.. Back to the drawing board tomorrow

Wet the scraper

if its a deep hole i usually fold up a piece of paper or newspaper into a little tube then push it into the hole. I then use filler on top and it sticks to the paper. sometimes I need to let it dry before topping up with a final coat and sanding to smooth it out.

For small surface holes, I find the Polyfilla One Fill excellent. It's a lightweight ready-mixed filler in a tub. It's like whipped buttercream and fills holes very easily. It wouldn't have the strength needed in a big hole though.

This stuff: www.screwfix.com/p/polycell-trade-polyfilla-one-fill-tub-white-1ltr/82124

Leave it slightly proud and sand back flat when dry.

You're never going to get it flat when wet plus it shrinks a bit when dry so if you get it flat when it's wet you have a dry crater that needs filling again.

I just use shops own brand fine surface filler as it always sands easily.

I stoped using polyfiller years ago. Horrible stuff that goes off quickly and resists all attempts to sand it flat.