Filling holes in wood mast

[kristian]

Thanks much. I made some teak plugs, and am going to bond them in with resorcinol glue. Whats the best way to fair flush without damaging the mast? Small plane?

[Jim Fulton]

You don't need a plane. Glue the plugs in with the grain running in the same direction as the grain in the mast. After it dries, take a sharp chisel and carefully pare the top of the plug down so that it is even with the mast surface. Sand lightly if necessary (it may not be) and you're done. It's usually better to make plugs (or bungs) out of the same kind of wood as object that you're putting the plugs into so that the whole structure will expand and contract at the same rate.

Jim Fulton

[kristian]

Thanks all! Cut some plugs and it turned out very nicely. It's not often that I get to use a chisel.