Cheap, fast and effective plugging screw and nail holes in salvaged lumber. Works for me.

[Tallbald]

Salvaging lumber from old furniture to use for scroll saw stock, I often find screw and nail holes that need addressing. I learned long ago that for blond woods, I can quickly take bamboo chopsticks or Dollar Tree bamboo kabob sticks, sand them on my disc sander to a cone shape, and clip them off at about 1/2 inch length with pruning shears. I dab them with glue and tap them into the screw or nail hole. They sand down easily and make for a solid fix that takes finish, screws, nails and stain well. My jet scroll saw doesn't know the difference between the plugs and the base wood. I don't mind if the plugs aren't a perfect color match, because I'm rescuing otherwise wasted material. And proud of that.

Don.

Edited June 27, 2023 by Tallbald

[Joe W.]

I like it.  I like it!

Thanks for the tip.

[James E. Welch]

Great tip. Thanks