How to Disguise Nail and Screw Holes in Molding
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Step-by-Step Instructions:
When attaching any type of molding, you will probably want to hide screws or nails. If the molding is to be painted, filler can be used to cover these holes. Stainable filler is also available for natural wood finishes. For prefinished moldings, or where expensive hardwoods have been used, the most professional finish is achieved by plugging the holes. This involves filling the hole with a piece of wood that matches the molding in appearance and is thus almost invisible. The technique is shown below; you will need a drill plug bit and the basic toolkit.
Drill Small Pieces of Dowel
Use a plug bit to drill into an offcut of molding, to get small pieces of dowel. Drill into the screw holes to the same diameter as these dowels.
Insert the Dowel
Once a screw has been inserted, apply wood glue to a dowel and insert it into the screw hole (Image 1).
Drive the dowel firmly into place with a hammer (Image 2). Wipe away any excess adhesive.
Shear Off the End of the Dowel
When the glue has dried, use a chisel to shear off the end of the dowel so that it is flush with the surrounding wooden surface.
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Excerpted from Do It Yourself Home Improvement
© Dorling Kindersley Limited 2009
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