Replies

1. 
   Jimurock | Mar 11, 2009 04:29pm | #1

   Dowel rod isn't always dead on in diameter.  You could make your own plugs using cutters such as these which taper slightly, with the added benefit that you can use the same species of wood with grain running in the same direction:  http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32320&cat=1,180,42288

   Jim

2. 
   hammer1 | Mar 11, 2009 04:32pm | #2

   Heck no, Scott. None of us has ever made such a bad mistake, what were you thinking?

   Is this plywood or solid wood? Solid wood is more prone to movement and may shed filler in time or at least make it visible. In this case, I would prefer to use a face grain plug rather than an end grain dowel. There are some good fillers and some not so good. One of my favorites is Famowood. It won't absorb moisture and puff out like spackling, joint compound and other similar light fillers. Bondo or Minwax wood filler are also good choices. I wouldn't try to fill the holes just with filler. You aren't likely to fill the pocket completely. You would have to go a little at a time and poke it in with a toothpick to eliminate any air pockets. I would plug the holes the best you can and use a good filler, keeping the amount to 1/16" or less.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

1. 
   scott57 | Mar 11, 2009 04:38pm | #3

   Thanks for the replys.  the holes are in birch plywood.  that plug cutter is a good idea.  

   I should have said "my friend" made a mistake that and I was trying to help him!

   Scott

    

3. 
   oldusty | Mar 11, 2009 04:47pm | #4

     Hello  Scott ,

              Join the club , as the Llama people say " spit happens "

          I have done the same thing and even worse drilled right through the finished end once or twice .

         Depending on if this area will be behind doors or not may determine the best fix . You could simply putty and sand the wrong holes or what I have done is to place a piece of 1/4" Birch  or whatever matches best to make a new skin for that wall if you have the room , drill through the new .

           " how good we are is how good we fix our mistakes"

                regards           dusty

1. 
   Shoemaker1 | Mar 11, 2009 04:58pm | #5

   Use Bondo.
   As for the term Spit happens. I took a personal quest and the best latin I could find to translate is "Contingio Dregis" an occurance of feces. Politically correct indeed!

2. 
   scott57 | Mar 11, 2009 05:01pm | #6

   Dusty,

   I won't even get in to all of the mistakes I have made on this project.  This is my first attempt in built-in cabinets.  it has been a great learning experience...in correcting misktakes.

   thanks

   Scott

    

1. 
   oldusty | Mar 11, 2009 05:08pm | #7

     Scott ,

                  If we don't make mistakes , we won't learn from them .

           The best lessons are learned from doing and re doing , seldom will we make the same mistake again .

       Don't be afraid to make mistakes , heck it is only a few pieces of wood .

                   regards         dusty

3. 
   hammer1 | Mar 11, 2009 07:54pm | #9

   " how good we are is how good we fix our mistakes"Therein lies the truth in so many things. The experts have just had enough time to make a lot more mistakes than the average person. You have to be bad to get good.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

4. 
   montec24 | Mar 11, 2009 07:35pm | #8

   If the holes are on the inside of the cabinet and it has some sort of face frame or the edge wont be seen you can skin it with 1/8" or 1/4" plywood.  Dont ask me how I know this:-)

    

   Dana

5. 
   DustyGeorge | Mar 11, 2009 08:13pm | #10

   I forget who said, "Experience teaches you to avoid mistakes.  How do you get experience?  Make mistakes."

   You don't stop laughing because you grow old.  You grow old because you stop laughing. - Michael Pritchard
1. 
   scott57 | Mar 11, 2009 08:28pm | #11

   If mistakes get you experience, I have gotten a ton of esperience on this one.  I'll share the dumbest thing I did.  the cabinet has 4 doors.  I milled all of the lumber for the rails and stiles.  somehow I managed to cut all of the stiles 1 inch too short.  the bright side was that I noticed this before I glued up the doors.  so I re-check my measurements and then I take a brake for lunch and to calm down.  I mill the lumber again for the stiles and look at the wrong plans instead of the corrections and cut them 1 inch too short again!  I'm happy to say the 3rd time was the charm and I got them right. 

   I appreciate all of the replys guys.   

   Thanks,

   Scott

    

1. 
   DustyGeorge | Mar 11, 2009 09:44pm | #13

   One of my co-workers made a lulu many years ago.  He was making a bookcase with a 3/4" plywood vertical divider.  He routed 3/8" deep dadoes in one side for the shelves.  Then he flipped it over and started to route 3/8" deep dadoes on the other side.  After the first one he realized he had a problem when there was no longer a bottom to his dado.

   GeorgeYou don't stop laughing because you grow old.  You grow old because you stop laughing. - Michael Pritchard<!----><!----><!---->

   <!----><!---->

2. 
   zolton | Mar 11, 2009 09:52pm | #14

   Scott,

   I've had some, ahem, "experience" in patching inadvertent holes in plywood, so I know a little about how to do it pretty quickly and well.

   The trick is to make little Dutchmen. That's a term for a solid wood patch that is let into the wood.

   You'll first make diamond shaped face grain plugs a little larger than the holes. Use a material similar to the veneer of the plywood - probably birch or maple in this case? The plugs only need to be about 1/8 inch thick. You need to slightly taper the sides of the diamond with a small plane so they'll form a tight fit when pressed into the recess you're going to dig into the panel.

   Hold one of the diamonds over the one of the holes and carefully trace around it with an X-acto knife or similar slim knife. Remove the diamond, then deepen the knife marks. Use a small chisel to remove the plywood's face veneer and a little more in the excised area. The bottom of the recess doesn't have to be perfectly flat.

   Dab a bit of glue onto the underside and edges of the diamond patch (making sure you've got it oriented the way it was held in place in the first place) and press it into place. A hammer tap or two will help it seat. You can also clamp it if it's convenient to do so.

   Let the patches sit until the glue cures, then pare off the excess almost to the plywood. Use a scraper or sandpaper to remove the rest. If you've done it right the patch will be nearly invisible. It sounds like it will take longer to do than it actually does. I can make up and glue in patch like this in probably under 7 minutes or so (the result of that "experience" alluded to earlier). And the end result will be superior to anything like a dowel or wood putty.

   Years ago I patched about 30 holes in some oak plywood cabinet doors because a client changed his mind about the pulls. He said he wanted the type that required two holes but instead settled on one-hole units. There was a minor tiff about who was at fault for the "misunderstanding," but I eventually told him I could either patch the holes or make new doors. He opted for the patches. But when I finished doing the work he upbraided me for spending the money for new plywood for the doors. I hadn't. The patches were so tight-fitting that they were all but invisible. That was about 20 years ago and I visited that house last year and the patches are still in place - and still all but impossible to find..

   ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon

1. 
   Shoemaker1 | Mar 12, 2009 12:44am | #15

   So can we now call "Arrg Patch Zolton"
   god fix!

2. 
   scott57 | Mar 12, 2009 12:50am | #16

   Frank - I, of course, did not notice the error until I glued and screwed the shelves  together.  when I mess it up, I mess it up. 

   Zolton - thanks for the tips.

   Scott

    

1. 
   FrankDrackman | Mar 12, 2009 02:16am | #17

   Frank - I, of course, did not notice the error until I glued and screwed the shelves  together.  when I mess it up, I mess it up. 

   I have made similar mistakes.  I bet that you don't make this one again.

6. 
   FrankDrackman | Mar 11, 2009 09:01pm | #12

   Are you at a stage in the project where you could simply make a new panel?

7. 
   JMartinsky | Mar 12, 2009 04:51am | #18

   Shoemaker is right. In plywood, in particular, Bondo is the way to go.

   Best,

   John

1. 
   davcefai | Mar 13, 2009 08:39pm | #19

   At an early stage of my career I made an error of judgement which resulted in about $2500 of unsalable, unrecoverable product (at 1976 prices).So I had to go the the MD to sign the destruct note. He signed it without blinking and said "David, the only people who don't make mistakes are the ones who don't do any work."

8. 
   mike4244 | Mar 13, 2009 10:28pm | #20

   Bondo if painted. Leave it a bit high as it shrinks some. Then sand with 180 to 220 grit. When you paint it you will not be able to find the holes.

   mike

1. 
   scott57 | Mar 13, 2009 10:44pm | #21

   thanks guys.

   Scott