Dowell Plug - Staining Outline

Make it a feature. Use walnut plugs or some other highly contrasting wood. Alternatively, use a dowel or floating tenon instead of screws.

Stain has pigments that will settle into that joint. Dye doesn’t, and will color the wood with less emphasis on the joint.

-- Half of what we read or hear about finishing is right. We just don’t know which half! — Bob Flexner

I’ve done what ” brtech” said and they looked pretty good. I’m talking about the plugs. Mel

-- MEL, Kansas

lose the screws
- klinkman

This^
You don’t need them. Just a waste of time, screws and stress.

-- “Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.” – Plato

You’re way too picky. :-D

-- Everything is a prototype thats why its one of a kind!!

Glue them in with hide glue.

-- Bondo Gaposis

The stain loves end grain, which is ever so slightly exposed on the perimeter of the drill hole and plug. The only way I know to achieve your goal without changing your finishing schedule is to assemble and then plan on scraping/sanding away up to 1/16” to fully remove any exposed end grain areas.

Alternatively, the suggestions to feature the plugs instead fo trying to hide them probably is easier. You can make them square, slightly proud (Greene & Greene style), contrasting, even from soft metals like brass or aluminum.

I did these about three years ago, no screws, no problems – except on one of them the very bottom sapele panel glue-up has separated about a millimeter. I just turn it to the wall and dont see it.

-- WWBBJ: It is better to be interesting and wrong, than boring and right.

Some great suggestions everyone, thank you for your inputs and education from your experiences.

I think I’m going to lose the screws to avoid the stain line all together. I’ll use a couple of 1/8 or 3/16 dowels on the mating surfaces for alignment during glue up. Adds another step but it should provide a simple and effective solution.

Really appreciate everyone’s ideas.

-- Klinkman, hand tool enthusiast

Another alternative where you absolutely need to use screws is to cut out a shape, e.g., a small tree, just as if you were putting in a bow tie, and then make the insert out of a contrasting wood the same color as your stain. More work though.

lose the screws
- klinkman

This^
You don t need them. Just a waste of time, screws and stress.

- Tony_S

most of the time no,but sometimes their needed.even the great sam maloof used screws in his furniture.but he didn’t try too pretend he didn’t and used contrasting plugs as part of the design.

-- working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

most of the time no,but sometimes their needed.

- pottz

Agreed. I have no aversion to using screws where they’re needed, but in this situation they aren’t. It’s a simple long grain glue joint. More than strong enough without fasteners of any type.
In reference to Maloof, yes, I’m very familiar with his construction techniques. He did use screws, but to the best of my knowledge, not on long grain glue joints. Only on small cross grain and end grain to long grain joints.

-- “Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.” – Plato