How long ago is “used to be”?

Wood putty or Bondo?

I don't know how long ago. Is today's putty strong enough to repair exterior wood window frames and sills? How does a consumer know which is best: putty, bondo, epoxy, caulk, Abatraon, etc. etc.

”Putty” is for cosmetic issues.

How does a consumer know what to use: I ask people I know in the trades and subscribe to several magazines.

Without seeing your application, I can only speculate; “putty” should not be used to repair exterior wood window frames and sills. Those items should be replaced, not “puttyed”

Not necessarily so Jim, if you have >200 year old close-grained wood on your windows that a PO drilled holes into, filling the hole is wiser than replacing. I've had good results with using Bondo for exterior situations.

Filling a drill hole is what putty was designed for, not for repairing rotted window frames and sills. Filling a hole is “cosmetic”, replacing missing wood in a window is not cosmetic.

Maybe “cosmetic” is not the best term, as preventing water intrusion in a drilled hole is also preventive. But “putty” on window frames and sills to replace rotting and missing wood is cosmetic.

Thank you!