Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/furniture repair

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Expert: - 9/5/2009


Question
I need to move the hinges on a cabinet door a distance of about 1/4 inch.  What is the preferred way for filling the old screw holes and providing a tight surface to drill the new holes?

Answer
Hi John, I use a tapered hardwood dowel to fill old screw holes. I'll usually put a small block plane upside down in my woodworking vise and then drag the (1/8" usually)dowel across the blade turning it as I go to produce a tapered dowel. Then glue it into the screw hole with a couple of taps with a small hammer to snug it in. After it dries, use a small saw to slice off the excess flush. I also have been known to use chopsticks for the local Chinese restaurant occasionally, in a pinch, as they're ready made tapered dowels of Bamboo that's fairly hard and good to anchor screws. Then when marking for the redrilling, use an ice pick or sharp awl to mark the location, and push it in quite deep so the drill bit won't be tempted to wander. Be sure to use the right size drill as well, so as to give the screw a good bite, but not risk cracking the wood with too small a hole. Hope that helps- regards- Greg

Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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