Gluing small plugs

Re: Gluing small plugs

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I do not understand the concern with glue, that is, why question whether any traditional wood glue would work? Your pegs are little different from pegs traditionally used to peg mortise and tenon joints. People tend to use whatever they used for the M&T.

My personal preference would be liquid hide for its lubricating property for driving the peg in. It will not take much glue power to hold a peg in.

Cynaoacrylate is NOT a permanent adhesive for wood. It will fail eventually, years to decades depending on humidity and temperature.

Re: Gluing small plugs

Keith Newton

Hum, I wasn’t aware there was one that small on the market. At any rate, what I would choose is a quick grab like #1 red top TB .

Aside from that, whenever I’m needing to plug holes, here is what I’ve found to make I easier. First choose a good scrap that matches the project, then drill them close together being sure to down to the little bevel. Once they are drilled, clean the face and press on a strip of masking tape before taking it to the bandsaw. Cut about 1/4” over from the face, then peal the skeleton piece leaving just the plugs adheared to the tape.

If it is a type of wood that is hard to tell grain direction, I mark the ends with a sharpie so I can see that just before inserting.

To glue, I squirt a blob of glue out on a scrap of mdf then pick it off on the end of a bamboo skewer. You may need to use a toothpick. I’ll apply glue to about 10 holes, then peal the plugs off the tape one by one as I need them. Leaving them on the tape means you will always be picking them up by the right end for insertion. Tap them with a small hammer.

Re: Gluing small plugs

David Yoho

I had to read your description of how you were making the 1/8" plugs several times before I realized how you were doing it. I knew I'd never seen a 1/8" countersink or a 1/8" plug cutter before. That's a clever way to do it if it works, which I have to assume it does. As for glue, I'd agree with Bill. I think liquid hide glue would be your best bet. When I do tapered plugs I put a dab on the end of a small screwdriver and smear it on the inside wall of the hole the plug goes into and then insert the plug.

Neat trick Bill...

John in NM

Gonna have to try that too!

Re: Gluing small plugs

Barry W. Larson

Thanks Guys! Hide glue it is. I need to replenish my glue stock and I might as well add some liquid hide glue to the mix. It is tough to make plugs as small as 1/8", but I'm pretty sure I read the trick about using a countersink to drill very small plugs on Wood Central. Most advice I find worthy of following can be found on this website - Thanks Ellis.

Cheers and stay well.

Barry

Re: Gluing small plugs *LINK*

Jim Dillon

Barry, when stabilizing cabinet door panels, I've had luck using sandwich toothpicks to carefully add a drop or two of hide glue to 1/8-inch plug holes . I have never actually made 1/8-inch plugs, but used ready-made dowels or bamboo skewers cut to length. These plugs were out-of-sight, so appearance didn't matter so much. The flat version of the toothpicks also works and can be twisted and broken, if needed, to get a finer tip. I've used these toothpicks for a lot of 1/4 and 3/8-inch ebony plug holes in G&G inspired furniture. Jim


Sandwich Toothpicks

Making / Gluing small plugs

neal in SC

Making accurately sized small plugs is pretty easy. I picked up this trick from Steve Latta on one of his inlay DVDs. Make a plug cutter from small brass tubing. I cut off about 2 inches and file several (4 - 6) small teeth on the end with a triangular file. I find I get much better results when I chuck the plug cutter in a drill press; hand holding in a drill usually results in the cutter skittering all over the stock. Use a light touch or you risk deforming the teeth, but if you do, so what? You have maybe a quarter invested in the cutter and you can just file new teeth. Use a drill or smaller piece of tubing to push the plug out of the cutter if it sticks in the cutter, but usually it will stay in the stock and you pop it out with a small screwdriver. Small brass tubing is available from hobby and craft stores, but if they aren't open in your area, try Micro Mark (micromark.com). Their latest catalogue lists it for about a buck for a 12 inch length in nesting sizes from 1/16 in to 1/2 in dia. HTH Neal

Re: Making / Gluing small plugs

Barry W. Larson

Thanks Neal. I like this idea. I wonder if stainless steel tubing would work as well - a bit harder which might be an advantage in white oak. If I can't find suitable stainless steel, I know that the brass tubing will work.

Cheers, and stay well.

Barry

Made my day

Ellis Walentine

Thanks Barry, and to all of you who continue to enlighten me every day.

Cheers,

Ellis

Re: Making / Gluing small plugs

DizD

You can check auto parts store for steel brake line. Should be more durable than brass and easier to file teeth than stainless steel.