Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Plug cutters
Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA
I cut a 5/8" plug from softwood today, using my no-particular-brand plug cutters of the type below. Fortunately, it's not critical and didn't go anywhere visible, because it burned badly (I was getting smoke in the shop!).
I'd appreciate recommendations for plug cutters in the 1/4" - 5/8" range: decent price, decent quality.
Lee Valley's got some exotic carbide tipped ones, but the price is gasp-inducing.
Dowel Cutters
Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey
do much better
https://www.woodworkingshop.com/search.aspx?q=dowel+cutters
Re: Plug cutters
AZ in Colorado Springs
I have a set by Snappy that works great. Got' em at woodcraft.
Re: Plug cutters
JL
I have the set of the Lee Valley tapered plug cutters (not the carbide ones).
I like them. But they only go to 1/2".
never experienced burning
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
I have cut hundreds of them, even in notoriously easy to burn cherry, with the "ordinary" LV plug cutters and never experienced burning. Never tried pine though. I suspect that just like with a chisel, it takes an exceptionally sharp cutter for pine.
Re: Plug cutters
Barry Irby
I have a set I bought at Lowes many years ago. Cheap ones coated In the gold colored TiN. I have cut hundreds of plugs out of pine (white pine or sugar pine, whatever they sell as shelving boards these days) and some out of hardwoods such as cherry walnut and Oak. Occasionally got a little scorching, but never any smoke. I recently threw the package away because it finally disintegrated, so I can't look at the name brand.
The reason for so many pine plugs was from house flipping. Wallowed out screw hole in hinges in door jambs is common. Drill a 3/8 hole right into the screw hole, insert a dab of glue, insert the tapered plug, tap with a hammer, cut flush, good as new.
Run the drill press at medium speed.
Re: Plug cutters
Philip Duffy
I think, from my experience, Barry hit the nail on the head! Slow it down. P.
Re: Plug cutters
Howard Pollack
I have a set of the Lee Valley tapered plug cutters (not the dowel cutters you show). The work just fine. They are not carbide. I don't know if they still sell them, but if they do I recommend them. -Howard
fuller plug cutter's are the best
del schisler
fuller plug cutters do a search i have used them for yrs and lots of plugs
Re: Plug cutters
John in NM
I like the Fuller style cutters. I believe Fuller makes them straight, but I can't say as I know for sure, I do have a few of the Lee Valley tapered cutters and misc ones I got at Woodcraft or HD. If the plug is exposed to the elements I've had better luck with straight ones as the expansion/contraction of the wood tends to work with the taper to break the glue and pop the plug out.
+1 for Lee Valley tapered cutters *LINK*
http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=32320