LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Repairing a screw hole

2K views 21 replies 16 participants last post by  SMP 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi all - I made a table for my camper, and at the very end of the process, when attaching the mount to the bottom, I accidentally drilled a hole right through it. Super frustrating. Does anyone have any ideas of tbe best way to cover up / hide such a hole?
Wood Natural material Table Plant Wood stain


Brown Wood Flooring Hardwood Wood stain
 

Attachments

See less See more
4
#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
Drill larger, say 1 1/2"or so shallow hole with a Forstner bit and put a plug inlay in it. that way it looks like you did it on purpose for a decoration….contrasting color would enhance that idea. You could get carried away with that idea and make a ring of plugs inlays around the outer perimeter of the table. You will need a hole saw or something similar to make the plugs.

Also you could use a router with a template guide to cut the shallow hole and also make the inlay. Wood working stores sell a kit for this purpose. Here is a picture of Rockler's ($39) Make a template the size you want then You route out the shallow recess for the inley and then take the small ring guide off and cut an inlay out of the what ever wood you choose for a filler. I usually cut the inlay about 1/8" deep in a thicker piece of wood then slice it free on the table saw.

Product Font Auto part Metal Nickel
 

Attachments

#3 ·
Mount a paper towel holder over the hole.

Add a lazy susan.

Get a coin size Forstner bit and set a coin with the current date as a date inset.

Put a light in the center and use the hole for a cord.

Paint numbers in red & black with 0 and 00 in green around the edge. Put a spinner knob in the hole and have casino night with your significant other.

Paint spokes and the word THIRD on it (3rd wheel - get it?)

Cover the top with laminate. (This is actually the best idea.)
 
#7 · (Edited by Moderator)
I would just buy some Timbermate in a matching color and call it a day.
- SMP
Alternatively, if you have a lathe, scrape some sawdust off an offcut or go ape******************** with some 40 grit sandpaper on another offcut and make some sawdust… mix with pva glue or ca and overfill the hole… sand level and Bob's your mother's brother!
 
#8 ·
+1 make an inlay.

+1 Decorative plug
Drill the hole out to 1/2" and cutting the patch with plug cutter on top of a small pin knot in another board, making it look just like the one nearby. The color/pattern of wood helps hide it.

Because of tear out around the hole, and the location being a light spot in middle of unique grain pattern, I would consider manually using a chisel to cut a small 'V' shaped slot in the lighter wood between the dark sections, and insert a 1/8" wide splinter of similar colored wood as patch.

When you make as many mistakes I do, you learn all kind of ways to fix stuff. BTDTGTTS

#IAMAKLUTZ
 
#11 ·
With the tear out it might be tough to do a plug, but that would be my first approach… I have had a full set of plug cutters, for doing cross grain plugs, for years and used the living heck out of them.

Although, I did recently purchase one of those inlay bit sets that LesB showed above. It works perfectly. But, being a new tool in my arsenal, I might not always think of it first. The nice thing is, you could shape it so it blends in better than a simple plug. You could try to find a piece that has similar grain, and match it up the best you can.
 
#17 ·
It's plywood, correct?
Plywood isn't going to hold up well as a table surface. Any restaurant I've visited that had plywood tables, the veneer was lifted and it looked rather bad.

To be honest, this little incident has saved the day. Cover it in Formica laminate and enjoy a functional table for the next 25 years.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
#18 ·
I can't believe some suggested to cover it up. That's just another way of sweeping dirt under the rug.
Any craftsman worth his salt has been in your spot many times. Fixing slips of the hand or mind is something that happens naturally. The only way to gain experience and make a invisible repair is to try.
Hiding it under a napkin holder last resort after your repair doesn't pan out.

Good Luck
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top