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  • Plug Cutter Options - What's Your Preference?

    From DerbyDad03@21:1/5 to All on Thu Aug 4 10:13:09 2022
    For those of you that cut your own plugs to hide screws, which style of
    plug cutter do you prefer, the fluted style or the kind with the round bottom blade? (both shown below)

    https://i.imgur.com/pmq17Fy.jpg

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  • From Sonny@21:1/5 to All on Thu Aug 4 10:26:28 2022
    I have the fluted. Cuts ok as long as you don't cut too fast..... apply too much pressure too fast during the cut. I still need to clean up the burrs a bit. I don't use them often.

    Sonny

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  • From Leon@21:1/5 to All on Thu Aug 4 19:17:38 2022
    On 8/4/2022 12:13 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
    For those of you that cut your own plugs to hide screws, which style of
    plug cutter do you prefer, the fluted style or the kind with the round bottom blade? (both shown below)

    https://i.imgur.com/pmq17Fy.jpg


    I am not sure which is which by your description.

    But I use the top 4 cutter ones. Fluted?

    I like them because they do put a round end on the plug if you cut to
    the right depth. This greatly eases insertion into the hole and the
    plugs are slightly tapered, they get tighter the further they go into
    the hole. But don't go too deep or the plug will break off in the
    cutter and is difficult to remove.

    Ideally you sneak up on the cutting depth with a drill press. Cut and
    back out a few times until you just start to see the plug top begin to
    round over. Lock your depth control at depth. Then break the plugs
    out of the holes with a small straight blade screw driver. Or if you
    have a band saw cut the board just shy of the bottoms of the plugs,
    inside the board. The top of the plugs will be the end that goes in the
    hole.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From DerbyDad03@21:1/5 to Leon on Thu Aug 4 19:21:47 2022
    On Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 8:17:45 PM UTC-4, Leon wrote:
    On 8/4/2022 12:13 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
    For those of you that cut your own plugs to hide screws, which style of plug cutter do you prefer, the fluted style or the kind with the round bottom
    blade? (both shown below)

    https://i.imgur.com/pmq17Fy.jpg

    I am not sure which is which by your description.

    But I use the top 4 cutter ones. Fluted?

    I like them because they do put a round end on the plug if you cut to
    the right depth. This greatly eases insertion into the hole and the
    plugs are slightly tapered, they get tighter the further they go into
    the hole. But don't go too deep or the plug will break off in the
    cutter and is difficult to remove.

    Ideally you sneak up on the cutting depth with a drill press. Cut and
    back out a few times until you just start to see the plug top begin to
    round over. Lock your depth control at depth. Then break the plugs
    out of the holes with a small straight blade screw driver. Or if you
    have a band saw cut the board just shy of the bottoms of the plugs,
    inside the board. The top of the plugs will be the end that goes in the
    hole.

    I've always used the "bottom 4" in the image. The ones that have a round cutting edge on the bottom of the cutter. The one thing that I don't like
    about them is that the plug often breaks off while drilling (yes, in a drill press) and I have to extract it before I can go on. I've seen some YT videos where the same complaint is mentioned. But they've always gotten
    the job done.

    I've got a bunch of plugs to cut for the outdoor sectional and I think
    I'll give the "top" ones (the ones I called "fluted") a try. Just curious
    what others are happy with.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Leon@21:1/5 to Leon on Fri Aug 5 10:34:49 2022
    On 8/5/2022 10:30 AM, Leon wrote:
    On 8/4/2022 9:21 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
    On Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 8:17:45 PM UTC-4, Leon wrote:
    On 8/4/2022 12:13 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
    For those of you that cut your own plugs to hide screws, which style of >>>> plug cutter do you prefer, the fluted style or the kind with the
    round bottom
    blade? (both shown below)

    https://i.imgur.com/pmq17Fy.jpg

    I am not sure which is which by your description.

    But I use the top 4 cutter ones. Fluted?

    I like them because they do put a round end on the plug if you cut to
    the right depth. This greatly eases insertion into the hole and the
    plugs are slightly tapered, they get tighter the further they go into
    the hole. But don't go too deep or the plug will break off in the
    cutter and is difficult to remove.

    Ideally you sneak up on the cutting depth with a drill press. Cut and
    back out a few times until you just start to see the plug top begin to
    round over. Lock your depth control at depth. Then break the plugs
    out of the holes with a small straight blade screw driver. Or if you
    have a band saw cut the board just shy of the bottoms of the plugs,
    inside the board. The top of the plugs will be the end that goes in the
    hole.

    I've always used the "bottom 4" in the image. The ones that have a round
    cutting edge on the bottom of the cutter. The one thing that I don't like
    about them is that the plug often breaks off while drilling (yes, in a
    drill
    press) and I have to extract it before I can go on. I've seen some YT
    videos
    where the same complaint is mentioned. But they've always gotten
    the job done.

    I've got a bunch of plugs to cut for the outdoor sectional and I think
    I'll give the "top" ones (the ones I called "fluted") a try. Just curious
    what others are happy with.


    Something to think about.    With the fluted cutters, the ideal depth to cut the plug is deep enough to round the top on the plug when it is
    still in the wood blank.   This also tapers the plug!   So cut your
    plugs and remove them and then drill holes for the screws in scrap wood
    so that you do drill deep enough.   With the tapered fit if the hole is
    too shallow it will never tighten up in the hole.   Test the depth with
    a screw in the hole too, the screw will make the hole shallower.



    One more thing! Drill down slowly for a smooth cut and to help
    prevent breaking the plug. You will get the hand of this by slowly
    increasing you feed rate. At some point the plug may break off aaaand
    then you will know to slow the rate down. Some wood plugs are more
    prone to break off any way. I have had issues with red oak but never
    with white oak.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Leon@21:1/5 to All on Fri Aug 5 10:30:34 2022
    On 8/4/2022 9:21 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
    On Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 8:17:45 PM UTC-4, Leon wrote:
    On 8/4/2022 12:13 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
    For those of you that cut your own plugs to hide screws, which style of
    plug cutter do you prefer, the fluted style or the kind with the round bottom
    blade? (both shown below)

    https://i.imgur.com/pmq17Fy.jpg

    I am not sure which is which by your description.

    But I use the top 4 cutter ones. Fluted?

    I like them because they do put a round end on the plug if you cut to
    the right depth. This greatly eases insertion into the hole and the
    plugs are slightly tapered, they get tighter the further they go into
    the hole. But don't go too deep or the plug will break off in the
    cutter and is difficult to remove.

    Ideally you sneak up on the cutting depth with a drill press. Cut and
    back out a few times until you just start to see the plug top begin to
    round over. Lock your depth control at depth. Then break the plugs
    out of the holes with a small straight blade screw driver. Or if you
    have a band saw cut the board just shy of the bottoms of the plugs,
    inside the board. The top of the plugs will be the end that goes in the
    hole.

    I've always used the "bottom 4" in the image. The ones that have a round cutting edge on the bottom of the cutter. The one thing that I don't like about them is that the plug often breaks off while drilling (yes, in a drill press) and I have to extract it before I can go on. I've seen some YT videos where the same complaint is mentioned. But they've always gotten
    the job done.

    I've got a bunch of plugs to cut for the outdoor sectional and I think
    I'll give the "top" ones (the ones I called "fluted") a try. Just curious what others are happy with.


    Something to think about. With the fluted cutters, the ideal depth to
    cut the plug is deep enough to round the top on the plug when it is
    still in the wood blank. This also tapers the plug! So cut your
    plugs and remove them and then drill holes for the screws in scrap wood
    so that you do drill deep enough. With the tapered fit if the hole is
    too shallow it will never tighten up in the hole. Test the depth with
    a screw in the hole too, the screw will make the hole shallower.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Scott Lurndal@21:1/5 to Leon on Fri Aug 5 15:44:27 2022
    Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet> writes:
    On 8/5/2022 10:30 AM, Leon wrote:
    On 8/4/2022 9:21 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
    On Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 8:17:45 PM UTC-4, Leon wrote:
    On 8/4/2022 12:13 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
    For those of you that cut your own plugs to hide screws, which style of >>>>> plug cutter do you prefer, the fluted style or the kind with the
    round bottom
    blade? (both shown below)

    https://i.imgur.com/pmq17Fy.jpg

    I am not sure which is which by your description.

    But I use the top 4 cutter ones. Fluted?

    I like them because they do put a round end on the plug if you cut to
    the right depth. This greatly eases insertion into the hole and the
    plugs are slightly tapered, they get tighter the further they go into
    the hole. But don't go too deep or the plug will break off in the
    cutter and is difficult to remove.

    Ideally you sneak up on the cutting depth with a drill press. Cut and
    back out a few times until you just start to see the plug top begin to >>>> round over. Lock your depth control at depth. Then break the plugs
    out of the holes with a small straight blade screw driver. Or if you
    have a band saw cut the board just shy of the bottoms of the plugs,
    inside the board. The top of the plugs will be the end that goes in the >>>> hole.

    I've always used the "bottom 4" in the image. The ones that have a round >>> cutting edge on the bottom of the cutter. The one thing that I don't like >>> about them is that the plug often breaks off while drilling (yes, in a
    drill
    press) and I have to extract it before I can go on. I've seen some YT
    videos
    where the same complaint is mentioned. But they've always gotten
    the job done.

    I've got a bunch of plugs to cut for the outdoor sectional and I think
    I'll give the "top" ones (the ones I called "fluted") a try. Just curious >>> what others are happy with.


    Something to think about.    With the fluted cutters, the ideal depth to >> cut the plug is deep enough to round the top on the plug when it is
    still in the wood blank.   This also tapers the plug!   So cut your
    plugs and remove them and then drill holes for the screws in scrap wood
    so that you do drill deep enough.   With the tapered fit if the hole is
    too shallow it will never tighten up in the hole.   Test the depth with
    a screw in the hole too, the screw will make the hole shallower.



    One more thing! Drill down slowly for a smooth cut and to help
    prevent breaking the plug. You will get the hand of this by slowly >increasing you feed rate. At some point the plug may break off aaaand
    then you will know to slow the rate down. Some wood plugs are more
    prone to break off any way. I have had issues with red oak but never
    with white oak.

    Do you use tapered or straight plug cutters? I tend to prefer
    the tapered plugs.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Leon@21:1/5 to Scott Lurndal on Fri Aug 5 10:52:16 2022
    On 8/5/2022 10:44 AM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
    Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet> writes:
    On 8/5/2022 10:30 AM, Leon wrote:
    On 8/4/2022 9:21 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
    On Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 8:17:45 PM UTC-4, Leon wrote:
    On 8/4/2022 12:13 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
    For those of you that cut your own plugs to hide screws, which style of >>>>>> plug cutter do you prefer, the fluted style or the kind with the
    round bottom
    blade? (both shown below)

    https://i.imgur.com/pmq17Fy.jpg

    I am not sure which is which by your description.

    But I use the top 4 cutter ones. Fluted?

    I like them because they do put a round end on the plug if you cut to >>>>> the right depth. This greatly eases insertion into the hole and the
    plugs are slightly tapered, they get tighter the further they go into >>>>> the hole. But don't go too deep or the plug will break off in the
    cutter and is difficult to remove.

    Ideally you sneak up on the cutting depth with a drill press. Cut and >>>>> back out a few times until you just start to see the plug top begin to >>>>> round over. Lock your depth control at depth. Then break the plugs
    out of the holes with a small straight blade screw driver. Or if you >>>>> have a band saw cut the board just shy of the bottoms of the plugs,
    inside the board. The top of the plugs will be the end that goes in the >>>>> hole.

    I've always used the "bottom 4" in the image. The ones that have a round >>>> cutting edge on the bottom of the cutter. The one thing that I don't like >>>> about them is that the plug often breaks off while drilling (yes, in a >>>> drill
    press) and I have to extract it before I can go on. I've seen some YT
    videos
    where the same complaint is mentioned. But they've always gotten
    the job done.

    I've got a bunch of plugs to cut for the outdoor sectional and I think >>>> I'll give the "top" ones (the ones I called "fluted") a try. Just curious >>>> what others are happy with.


    Something to think about.    With the fluted cutters, the ideal depth to >>> cut the plug is deep enough to round the top on the plug when it is
    still in the wood blank.   This also tapers the plug!   So cut your
    plugs and remove them and then drill holes for the screws in scrap wood
    so that you do drill deep enough.   With the tapered fit if the hole is >>> too shallow it will never tighten up in the hole.   Test the depth with >>> a screw in the hole too, the screw will make the hole shallower.



    One more thing! Drill down slowly for a smooth cut and to help
    prevent breaking the plug. You will get the hand of this by slowly
    increasing you feed rate. At some point the plug may break off aaaand
    then you will know to slow the rate down. Some wood plugs are more
    prone to break off any way. I have had issues with red oak but never
    with white oak.

    Do you use tapered or straight plug cutters? I tend to prefer
    the tapered plugs.

    Tapered! And all of the 4 flute design, that I have had, cut tapered.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From DerbyDad03@21:1/5 to Leon on Fri Aug 5 09:59:21 2022
    On Friday, August 5, 2022 at 11:34:58 AM UTC-4, Leon wrote:
    On 8/5/2022 10:30 AM, Leon wrote:
    On 8/4/2022 9:21 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
    On Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 8:17:45 PM UTC-4, Leon wrote:
    On 8/4/2022 12:13 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
    For those of you that cut your own plugs to hide screws, which style of >>>> plug cutter do you prefer, the fluted style or the kind with the
    round bottom
    blade? (both shown below)

    https://i.imgur.com/pmq17Fy.jpg

    I am not sure which is which by your description.

    But I use the top 4 cutter ones. Fluted?

    I like them because they do put a round end on the plug if you cut to
    the right depth. This greatly eases insertion into the hole and the
    plugs are slightly tapered, they get tighter the further they go into
    the hole. But don't go too deep or the plug will break off in the
    cutter and is difficult to remove.

    Ideally you sneak up on the cutting depth with a drill press. Cut and
    back out a few times until you just start to see the plug top begin to >>> round over. Lock your depth control at depth. Then break the plugs
    out of the holes with a small straight blade screw driver. Or if you
    have a band saw cut the board just shy of the bottoms of the plugs,
    inside the board. The top of the plugs will be the end that goes in the >>> hole.

    I've always used the "bottom 4" in the image. The ones that have a round >> cutting edge on the bottom of the cutter. The one thing that I don't like >> about them is that the plug often breaks off while drilling (yes, in a
    drill
    press) and I have to extract it before I can go on. I've seen some YT
    videos
    where the same complaint is mentioned. But they've always gotten
    the job done.

    I've got a bunch of plugs to cut for the outdoor sectional and I think
    I'll give the "top" ones (the ones I called "fluted") a try. Just curious >> what others are happy with.


    Something to think about. With the fluted cutters, the ideal depth to cut the plug is deep enough to round the top on the plug when it is
    still in the wood blank. This also tapers the plug! So cut your
    plugs and remove them and then drill holes for the screws in scrap wood
    so that you do drill deep enough. With the tapered fit if the hole is
    too shallow it will never tighten up in the hole. Test the depth with
    a screw in the hole too, the screw will make the hole shallower.
    One more thing! Drill down slowly for a smooth cut and to help
    prevent breaking the plug. You will get the hand of this by slowly
    increasing you feed rate. At some point the plug may break off aaaand
    then you will know to slow the rate down. Some wood plugs are more
    prone to break off any way. I have had issues with red oak but never
    with white oak.

    Just FYI...I've cut hundreds of plugs.

    However, as I said, I've always used the "blade on bottom" type.

    Speed doesn't seem to be the issue with plugs breaking off inside
    the cutter. It happens even when drilling real slow, but only somtimes.

    I'm going to try the fluted kind anyway. I'll learn something, one way
    or the other.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)