Filling/repairing screw holes in interior cabin teak

[Suijin]

Hello all.

I have some random screw holes in my interior cabin teak that I would like to repair. The teak is oiled, and part of the process for some but not all areas with screw holes is going to be a thorough cleaning and reoiling.

I'd like to know if anyone has some experience fixing these. The holes in question are relatively small (#6 and #8 from what I can tell) and I don't want to drill and plug as some of these are in paneled areas and a plug would be more noticeable than filling.

What should I fill them with, and what's the best strategy/process for getting a decent match to the surrounding wood in the final result?

Thanks a bunch.

Alex

[Suijin]

Bump...

Someone has got to have done this before...

[model 10]

Originally Posted by Suijin

Bump...

Someone has got to have done this before...

make a small peg and hammer it in the hole

[Samantha ann]

Mix up one epoxy mix in sanding dust from reck inject in holes!

[boatpoker]

plugs done properly are the least noticeable option.

[Krogensailor]

I'm a woodworker. I like the idea of taking some teak, I asume its teak, shave it into a spike tap the spike into the hole with some plain woodworker glue. Let it dry, trim it with a sharp chisel. Sand lightly. The thing about this way is your only getting end grain as a visual. No grain. Takes longer to write about it than it does to do it. Try it on a few. The other option is to get some teak and a belt sander. Grind up some teak powder, mix it with again wood glue, not epoxy, and fill.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Krogensailor

I'm a woodworker. I like the idea of taking some teak, I asume its teak, shave it into a spike tap the spike into the hole with some plain woodworker glue. Let it dry, trim it with a sharp chisel. Sand lightly. The thing about this way is your only getting end grain as a visual. No grain. Takes longer to write about it than it does to do it. Try it on a few. The other option is to get some teak and a belt sander. Grind up some teak powder, mix it with again wood glue, not epoxy, and fill.

+1

[kthoennes]

I take a small piece of teak and cut it into a long rectangle, about 3/8ths square, then trim the corners. You're going for a dowel about as big as a pencil. If you want to get fussy about matching and the plugs not showing, then you can cut the cylinder with the ends on the face grain - if you know what I mean - but that's a hassle and its a weak way to cut wood, snaps easily. Then I just take a manual pencil sharpener to the boat with me, sharpen the cylinder like it's a pencil, dab of glue in the hole, drive the tip of the teak pencil into the hole, cut it nearly (but not quite) flush with a small, fine trim saw (little Japanese pull saw works well). Then I trim it perfectly flush with a wide, razor sharp chisel (sanding is not good, leaves a light spot that has to be oiled again, never looks right). Make another point on the teak pencil with the pencil sharpener and move on to the next hole.

There you go.

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by Krogensailor

I'm a woodworker. I like the idea of taking some teak, I asume its teak, shave it into a spike tap the spike into the hole with some plain woodworker glue. Let it dry, trim it with a sharp chisel. Sand lightly. The thing about this way is your only getting end grain as a visual. No grain. Takes longer to write about it than it does to do it. Try it on a few. The other option is to get some teak and a belt sander. Grind up some teak powder, mix it with again wood glue, not epoxy, and fill.

Ding ding ding we have a winner. In fact, I have one of those japanese wood saws that will cut it perfectly flush. Perfect solution and so straightforward I feel like an idiot for not having thought of it myself. Thanks!

[Weyalan]

if the holes are small I'd go with epoxy resin mixed with teak sawdust.
if the holes are bigger, make a small plug

[bobconnie]

Ive always used teak ive salvaged, find the grain I need to come close to matching, make my plug,fit it so the grain matchs, do it like ya always do with plugs, refinish the area, and if ya do it careful it will be like one piece! works for me, but it is a little more work

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Suijin

Hello all.

I have some random screw holes in my interior cabin teak that I would like to repair. The teak is oiled, and part of the process for some but not all areas with screw holes is going to be a thorough cleaning and reoiling.

I'd like to know if anyone has some experience fixing these. The holes in question are relatively small (#6 and #8 from what I can tell) and I don't want to drill and plug as some of these are in paneled areas and a plug would be more noticeable than filling.

What should I fill them with, and what's the best strategy/process for getting a decent match to the surrounding wood in the final result?

Thanks a bunch.

Alex

Use wood filler, but sand some teak of a similar color first and use the sanded wood "crumbs" to color the filler with. Haven't done it on the boat. Have done it on furniture.

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by Krogensailor

...Grind up some teak powder, mix it with again wood glue, not epoxy, and fill.

I am following this as I have the same problem...

The wood glue I have is yellowish, would that work? You don't recommend mixing with epoxy - why?

[Krogensailor]

Yellow glue is fine. make it a relatively dry mix. Press it in like putty. Epoxy, in my shop is only used for either strength or waterproof as in to seal wood and to make a durable surface. Epoxy in this case would be like shooting a squirrel with a howitzer. Not that we should be out there shooting Gods creatures. (especially the little ones)

[kthoennes]

I use matching sawdust and glue concoctions myself from time to time with ornate inlays when I have no choice, but why would anybody do that with small round holes? Seldom matches well even if you use dust or bits from the very same piece of wood because you're packing gluey sawdust into holes. Sure it's done a lot, but why not just tap in a nice clean snug plug and trim flush? I don't get it.