Grab rail plugs

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M

MickP

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Nov 20, 2012
65
Hunter 33 Charleston
Hello,
I am varnishing the grab rails on the top of the cabin roof of my Hunter 33C 1983 for the first time. I have just noticed that one of the rails is missing the plugs that hide the heads of the screws that attach the rail to the roof. I would like to fix this, but not sure how to go about it.
- should i buy one of those drill bits that drills out plugs of wood - if so what wood should i get? Are the grab rails made of teak?
- Can i buy ready made plugs from a hardware store?
- Should i buy a piece of dowel and cut it to pieces of the correct depth?
- Should i glue the plugs in, or rely on an interference fit and varnish?

Thanks for any help
Mick
 
N

nolasafari

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Jul 19, 2013
186
Hunter 33 New Orleans
Buy a plug cutter and cut your own or buy a bag or precut. Use a scarp piece of wood of the same type as the hand rails to cut plugs from, more than likely teak. Glue in standing proud following the grain. Cut down with a sharp wood chisel, then sand to level and finish. To remove old plugs drive a small wood screw into the middle of the plug and it will come out like a wine cork.
 
Nereussailor

Nereussailor

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Mar 22, 2004
733
Hunter 30 Vero Beach
You can buy pre made plugs at Defender, West Marine, etc. It's cheaper to make your own if you need a lot of them. If you only need a couple, buy them. The quickest way to remove the old ones is to take a drywall screw, cut the head off, chuck it in a drill, insert it into the center of the plug and drill.
 
M

MickP

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Nov 20, 2012
65
Hunter 33 Charleston
Splendid, thanks very much for your help, exactly what i wanted to know
 
S

sandpiper10471

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May 31, 2007
773
Hunter 37 cutter Blind River
As part of my business, I remove these plugs on a regular basis. Yes, chucking a headless screw makes a good extractor. However, the technique frequently chips out surrounding wood. I have found far better luck drilling them out with a Forstener bit. 3/8" is the most common. I usually glue the new plugs in with a dab of varnish.
A sharp chisel as mentioned will cut off the plugs flush most of the time. However, cutting them off with a special flexible saw with fine teeth set in one direction only cuts them flush every time and does not mar the surrounding finish. Example here - http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=32928&cat=1,42884
 
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