Hi Rob!

Speaking only for myself, I prefer using dowels to plug holes. While most will use maple dowels, I use "fluted" dowels, simply because I have quite of few of them in different diameters. Also, the fluted section allows more glue to adhere to the dowel, making a good seal in the hole. I'm attaching a few pictures of my Rogers 12x15 Tenor drum that I recently converted into a floor tom. The first picture shows two 1/4" dowels. The second picture shows two 1/4" dowel at the top and a 3/8" and 1/4" dowel at the bottom. That one hole was oblong and I had to drill it out to 3/8" to get a perfect circle. Hope this information helps.

-Mark

Here is a good source for tapered plugs. These are nice because with the slight taper they will seal nice and tight, just glue and press in until it seats, then sand down flush.

http://www.widgetco.com/flat-top-wood-plugs

Hey Jeff!

I like those plugs! Something I never considered. Thanks!

-Mark

No problem Mark!

Hi Mark !

Thanks, that does help, and even though the wood of the dowels and the bass drum aren't the same, i think it might be a better choice.

cheers,

Rob

Hi Jeff !

I never thought of those plugs or even knew of their existence.. (we learn so much on this forum, which why is i love it ! ;)) But at the hardware store near my home, they sell them in packs at almost $7.00 each !

I would also have to get 3-4 different sizes to plug up the different diameter holes, and that'll cost an arm and a leg..Eye Ball.

I'll be going with the dowels instead, but it's always good to know there are other options when the job requires less material.

cheers,

Rob

I use wood filler on small holes like the ones found on a snare strainer or such. But use wood dowels for the larger stuff. My local Ace Hardware has the tapered ones. They fit real well and were very inexpensive.

Hi Mike !

I just finished plugging up the holes.. Dowels worked really nicely and cost me all of $4.00 !

There were some very tiny gaps on 2 of the screws once they were installed, but i covered them up with some epoxy used for wood, plastic, metal, etc.. Worked nicely, but boy does that stuff wreak ! :eek:

They came out really good, and are barely visible.

Thanks to all for your inputs !!

Cheers !

Rob

When I was making guitars I had a set of plug cutters. These cut a clean round plug out. They could also be used to cut plugs from a donor shell and with careful installation they would be just about invisible...

Taper plugs are ok but they only fit tight on one side. If you like those, get a taper reamer to prep the hole first.