Filling screw holes to be reused.

[Gauss]

As I finish up my tops, my T39 is getting freshened up to match. I took a router to it and now the plastic corners fit differently. So, rather then leave them sticking out in their old position, I want to put them on right. The holes I need to make are sometimes overlapping the old ones. Which method is best for this? I've filled a lot of holes with bondo or PL, but I've heard about using toothpicks to create something solid for the screws. Is that the best method, or is there another?

Thanks

[Bruce Weldy]

If the holes aren't too close to the edge, use a 1/4" or 3/8" bradpoint bit to drill out the hole (you can drill all the way through the plywood if you want. Then glue in an appropriate sized dowell, let it dry, then cut it flush. Now you have a good patch with holding power. Way better than wood filler or toothpicks, and it really doesn't take any longer to do.

I alway have pieces of dowel on hand for these kind of repairs (and I've made a few over the years). Oh, and spend the extra buck and get oak dowels. They have 'em at any home center.

[netwerks]

As I finish up my tops, my T39 is getting freshened up to match. I took a router to it and now the plastic corners fit differently. So, rather then leave them sticking out in their old position, I want to put them on right. The holes I need to make are sometimes overlapping the old ones. Which method is best for this? I've filled a lot of holes with bondo or PL, but I've heard about using toothpicks to create something solid for the screws. Is that the best method, or is there another?

Thanks

Hammer golf tees in there with a little wood glue or PL and break them off. Then new screws will bite in there OR fill with bondo/spot putty to finish over the hole.

Don't laugh. It's ghetto but it works!

[Ron K]

Piece of masking tape on the bottom. Mix a small amount of 5 min epoxy in a Dixie cup. Pour in a few drops of Denatured alcohol to thin the mixture. Pour into the hole. Scrap off excess let dry.Sand flush.Strong and able to be re-drilled later.

To thin Epoxy resin without alcohol simply place in microwave for 15-20 seconds on high.Please check with your significant other prior to doing this as I will not take any responsibility or liability for any rolling pins to the head or other kitchen utensils!

I found an old Microwave at a yard sale for $15.00 and put in in my shop.It heats epoxy resin. poly resin and anything else I desire along with an occasional slice of pizza or shot of Boilo!


http://www.riverreporter.com/issues/06- ... boilo.html

http://www.coalregion.com/Recipes/boilo.htm

[Gauss]

Wow, there are a lot of good ideas on how to solve this. I also heard about using bamboo skewers. I'll check out the thickness I'm filling and find the right filler: Dowel, tee, skewer or toothpick. I'm going to skip the epoxy for now, though I've enjoyed using it for art projects in the past.

[LelandCrooks]

Piece of masking tape on the bottom. Mix a small amount of 5 min epoxy in a Dixie cup. Pour in a few drops of Denatured alcohol to thin the mixture. Pour into the hole. Scrap off excess let dry.Sand flush.Strong and able to be re-drilled later.

To thin Epoxy resin without alcohol simply place in microwave for 15-20 seconds on high.Please check with your significant other prior to doing this as I will not take any responsibility or liability for any rolling pins to the head or other kitchen utensils!

I found an old Microwave at a yard sale for $15.00 and put in in my shop.It heats epoxy resin. poly resin and anything else I desire along with an occasional slice of pizza or shot of Boilo!


http://www.riverreporter.com/issues/06- ... boilo.html

http://www.coalregion.com/Recipes/boilo.htm

New one on me. When you thin with the alcohol, how much does it affect dry times? And can you thin enough either with the wave or the alcohol to use it as a surface coating? This could be very useful, great tip.

[Frankie G]

I didn't have the clutch set right on my cordless drill and stripped out about 3 holes in my Otop's before I figured it out!!! Anyways, all I had available at the time was Gorilla Glue and some toothpicks. I coated 3 toothpicks really well and tapped them down in the hole. I could clearly hear the difference in sound when they hit the bottom of the hole. I let them sit for about 1/2 an hour or so then clipped them off flush with a pair of toe nail clippers. Didn't have to re-drill with the small hole left in the middle of the toothpicks. They are holding just fine.

If the holes aren't too close to the edge, use a 1/4" or 3/8" bradpoint bit to drill out the hole (you can drill all the way through the plywood if you want. Then glue in an appropriate sized dowell, let it dry, then cut it flush. Now you have a good patch with holding power. Way better than wood filler or toothpicks, and it really doesn't take any longer to do.I alway have pieces of dowel on hand for these kind of repairs (and I've made a few over the years). Oh, and spend the extra buck and get oak dowels. They have 'em at any home center.

Great idea for a fix!

[bzb]

Toothpick trick works fine for the small #10 screws in the corners. Basic wood glue, a handful of toothpicks, add some drying time, and an Xacto or dovetail saw. All stuff you probably already have around the house.

[Ron K]

Piece of masking tape on the bottom. Mix a small amount of 5 min epoxy in a Dixie cup. Pour in a few drops of Denatured alcohol to thin the mixture. Pour into the hole. Scrap off excess let dry.Sand flush.Strong and able to be re-drilled later.

To thin Epoxy resin without alcohol simply place in microwave for 15-20 seconds on high.Please check with your significant other prior to doing this as I will not take any responsibility or liability for any rolling pins to the head or other kitchen utensils!

I found an old Microwave at a yard sale for $15.00 and put in in my shop.It heats epoxy resin. poly resin and anything else I desire along with an occasional slice of pizza or shot of Boilo!


http://www.riverreporter.com/issues/06- ... boilo.html

http://www.coalregion.com/Recipes/boilo.htm

New one on me. When you thin with the alcohol, how much does it affect dry times? And can you thin enough either with the wave or the alcohol to use it as a surface coating? This could be very useful, great tip.

If anything it speeds it up a tad but not very much.Thinned you can paint it on like a thick poly coating. It's a trick I brought over from my RC Plane building days.Often we would glass sheeted balsa sections that were exposed to high pressures and forces. Thinning made it very easy to coat and still keep it strong and smooth.

It only takes a few drops of alcohol. With the alcohol method the mixture stays thin for nearly the entire curing length.

example: 5-min epoxy will stay thin till the full 5 mins. Same with 15 but maybe it starts to cure around 12 or so.30 min around 25 or so.

With heating it begins to thicken as it cools so heating requires you to work a bit faster if you want to work with it thin.Of course the thinner it is the faster it will cool and return to it's normal viscous state.It wont affect the cure time just the viscosity.15 min may cool in 3-4 mins and then become very viscous again but it still wont set up until the 15 mins has exhausted, Same with 30 min etc.Once it begins to cool you can hit it with a heat gun to keep it thin but be careful as if you get it too close it can blister or lift the material below it or start delamination on thin ply or plastics.

[Gregory East]

Sheesh. I've fixed door hinges in the house with matchsticks and wood glue. Still holding.

For holding plastic corners on ghetto will be fine.