6 Methods of Plugging Pocket Holes

Woodworking Workshop

Over on Fix This Build That, Brad runs through six different methods for either filling or plugging pocket holes. I had no idea there were that many options.

YouTube player

The six methods he experiments with are:

* Using traditional wood filler
* Using a homemade filler paste of sawdust and glue
* Using Bondo (auto body filler)
* Using commercial angled pocket hole plugs
* Using homemade angled pocket hole plugs
* Using regular, straight-cut wooden dowel rod

Of the three filling methods, the wood filler and Bondo worked the best. Brad was surprised at how well the Bondo worked. It sanded up quicker than the wood filler and was even a little tighter and smoother than the regular filler. The glue and sawdust method was pretty much DOA.

With the three plugging methods, he found the commercial plugs to work OK, but they ended up being a little lose and in need of some filling afterward. Brad found the homemade versions really not worth the effort, especially because he found just using a piece of dowel with straight-cut ends worked just as well as the commercial plugs and are 3x cheaper. In the video, he also shows you how to create a simple jig for quickly cutting your own uniform-length plugs.

Brad also has a post on his website which covers basically the same info as the video. The post shows you how to build the simple dowel-cutting jig.

Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!
Tagged

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

View more articles by Gareth Branwyn

ADVERTISEMENT

Maker Faire Bay Area 2023 - Mare Island, CA

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 15th iteration!

Buy Tickets today! SAVE 15% and lock-in your preferred date(s).

FEEDBACK