Best material to stuff in plaster screw holes prior to sanding flat and repainting

[OwlHoot]

I am removing some wooden shelves and the metal rails on which brackets supporting the shelves were fitted.

Once everything is off the wall, this of course will leave a neat grid of holes from where the screws supporting the rails have been removed.

So I was wondering what would be the best material a DIY novice could buy in somewhere like Homebase to stuff in these holes so that after drying it can easily be sanded flat.

The filler needs to dry fairly hard, but not so tough and "plasticy" (for want of a better word) that it's next to impossible to sand flat without at the same time scouring and wrecking the surrounding plaster surface.

I don't really want to be mixing my own plaster, although that might be the simplest approach for a pro.

[BrilloPad]

Newspaper soaked in water always works for me.

[greenlake]

So I was wondering what would be the best material a DIY novice could buy in somewhere like Homebase to stuff in these holes so that after drying it can easily be sanded flat.

Polyfilla

[Bellona]

So I was wondering what would be the best material a DIY novice could buy in somewhere like Homebase to stuff in these holes so that after drying it can easily be sanded flat.

The filler needs to dry fairly hard, but not so tough and "plasticy" (for want of a better word) that it's next to impossible to sand flat without at the same time scouring and wrecking the surrounding plaster surface.

I don't really want to be mixing my own plaster, although that might be the simplest approach for a pro.

UniBond All Purpose No More Cracks Ready Mixed Filler

Used it a few ties. Dries pretty quickly and is also water resistant.

Dries "white" so easy to paint over

[vetran]

as the filler dries (stiff to the touch) wipe over with a moist sponge (lightly) and you will get it smooth. Also sand when almost dry don't leave it for days. It's like cement and hardens over a few days.

Sometimes with deep holes its worth filling just 1-3 mm below the surface, leave to dry a few days then skim lightly with filler so there is very little to shrink.

[OwlHoot]

Polyfilla

That was my first thought, but ISTR from previous uses it is harder than plaster. So when sanded down (by me anyway) would tend leave a bump with the surrounding plaster scoured away.

[d000hg]

Macaroni

[Bellona]

Macaroni

With or without cheese ?

[d000hg]

Dry of course.

[Sysman]

Polyfilla

Toothpaste.

Courtesy of the Zurich contractor-moving-out-of-apartment school of DIY.