Screws in woodworking reinforce molds and splices. However, these screws create holes. Those holes make for an unsightly backdrop to the aesthetic beauty of a wood project. The remedy is to hide those screws in plain sight—and fortunately, there are many ways of doing just that.
Entirely Hide Screws out of Plain Sight
You could do this by placing the screws strategically. The screws could be under or hidden between a pair of splices. However, this method would need a lot of time for planning and implementation. Sometimes, hiding screws through this approach may not be practical.
Use Wood Plugs and Counterbores
You can buy these wood plugs in the nearest hardware store. These stores have many sizes available. You can choose wood plugs with the same color as your woodworking projects. Alternatively, you can use contrasting colors that could add to the aesthetic quality of your finished project.
The problem with this method is that wood plugs often have different colors from the wood you’re using. The wood tone and grain might not match those of your current project. If you can’t find the perfect match, camouflage the wood plugs with the scrap materials from your wood projects.
The application of wood plugs is quite easy. Draw the screws into the wood and create enough space for the wood plug. If the wood plugs have the same wood tone with your current wood project, you can apply the sanding method, and you’re done.
However, if the wood plugs have a different color tone and it’s going to be a problem if left as is, you have to cut a few pieces from the wood scraps to camouflage the wood plugs. Apply a bit of sanding to smoothen the area. Another way to camouflage the wood plugs is to apply paint.
Wood Fillers Are Awesome Alternatives
Sometimes, wood plugs can be a bit expensive. You don’t need to buy them but instead, improvise with what materials you have. For example, you have extra wood fillers. You can use these wood fillers to hide screws from showing out.
You don’t need to draw the screws deeper into the wood than necessary. Even a little space would be enough to apply the wood filler. The secret of having a smooth finish is the proper preparation of the wood filler. You have to create the right consistency of the wood filler “paste”.
Apply the wood filler with a puffy knife. Let the filler set for a few minutes to an hour, depending on how soft it is. When the wood filler is hard enough, sand the surface. The downside of using wood filler is the re-application of paint or varnish to create a camouflage.
Conclusion
There’s no denying that screws are great for reinforcing splices, but these create holes that look unsightly. To improve the aesthetic quality of your projects, you can use wood filler or wood plugs to hide those screw holes. Of course, strategically choosing the spots for screws is also an option.
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