I have used wood filler and it does fill in nicely but can be a pain at times to sand out evenly on the shell. The big downside to using it is it is best for use with wraps because it doesn't stain well at all.

I've used a "wood epoxy putty" before with better results than just regular wood filler. I found the stuff at Rockler woodworking....

Depends on the size of the hole. Small holes are ok with filler but anything 1/4" or lager I would fill with dowel.

I'm with you; but others swear by using filler in multiple applications, using tape to support it. Modern fillers will set hard enough. Personally, I have even given up dowel since I got a set of plug cutter bits. Now I use solid maple plugs for every one larger than a screw hole. But really, a good repair is only limited by the time you are prepared to put into it, imo. Good luck.

Amen to that. Don't have any plug cutters but I'll have to give that a try sounds like a good way to go.

I've used this stuff called PC Woody (found it at Ace Hardware) and it's like JB Weld, where you mix 2 compounds together in order to activate it and it works fantastic! Sands really easily, too!

EMD - I was looking at your blue sparkle trans badge resto. Is that the stuff you used on those holes? How did you fill up the larger holes from the Pearl mounts on the bass drum?

Oh, and by the way... spectacular looking kit!

Thanks...and yeah...I used that stuff to plug the holes on my '58 Luddy. So far, so good! Luckily, whoever fit that Pearl double mount on my kit did a crappy job at drilling the holes, so they were very jagged. I think this helped to create some traction for the filler to hold on to. I know everyone says plugs are the way to go, but I have not ventured down that road yet. That PC Woody stuff may be worth checking out. Once you see it and mix it, you'll see that is not like regular wood filler that dries and sands kinda chalky...this stuff is an epoxy with actual wood mixed in the compound. Check out this link:

http://www.pcepoxy.com/our-products/wood-repair/pc-woody.php

Best of the best especially yon something you going to hit!

http://www.waterputty.com/

-Beau