Wood and woodwork are a part of every architectural creation. Our houses have wooden equipment like wooden tables, cupboards, drawers, shelves, and many others. Some of these items are plain while others have intricate designs carved on them. A well finished woodwork is attractive and pleasing to look at. Many times, the beauty of a piece of woodwork is lost when screw heads pop-up on the wood surface. Visibility of screws on woodwork is a common issue. But experts know quite a few ways to solve this problem of how to hide screws in wood.
There are many ways by which you can hide screws in wood. A very easy solution would be to place these screws where they cannot be seen easily, like the underside of a woodwork. Placing a screw where it cannot be visible is not a permanent solution. So, you need to know alternate ways on how to hide screws in wood.
If you are searching to know how to hide screws in wood, then you have come to the right place! This article will provide you with step-by-step guide on various ways to hide screws in wood.
How to hide screws in wood?
This article will discuss four different ways of hiding a screw in wood. They are:
- By using wood fillers
- By using wood glue
- By using counterbores and plugs
- Curling or peeling
Materials required:
- Sandpaper
- Wood filler
- Wood hardener
- Putty knife
- Wood glue
- Wood plug
- Drill press
- Screwdriver
- Mallet
- Chisel
- Superglue or tape
How to hide screws in wood by using a wood filler?
The first method to hide screws in wood (and the screw hole) is by using a wood filler and a wood hardener. A wood filler is combination of wood particles and wood fibers mixed in a binding substance. It is used to repair damage on the wood from the inside. A wood hardener is a liquid substance. It soaks into the wood and prevents it from rotting. Given below are the steps on how to hide screws in wood by using a wood filler.
Step 1: Rub the wood surface with a sandpaper to remove debris. Use a wet cloth to wipe away the residue left after sanding.
Step 2: Take the required amount of wood filler and a very small amount of wood hardener (pea size is recommended) and mix them together with a putty knife.
Step 3: Fill and spread the mixture over the screw and hole and let it set.
Step 4: Once the filler is set, rub the surface with sandpaper and wipe the residue left behind. The wood surface is now ready without the screws being visible.
How to Hide Screw in Wood by Using Wood Glue?
The easiest and cheapest method to hide screws in wood is to use wood glue. Wood glue ensures wood pieces are tightly bonded together. Given below are the steps on how to hide screws in wood by using a wood glue:
Step 1: Spread wood glue over the screw and the hole that you want to hide.
Step 2: Let it sit until the glue is dry.
Step 3: After drying, rub the surface of the wood with sandpaper to even out the surface. You will now have a surface without the screw being visible.
How to Hide Screws in Wood by Using Counterbores and Plugs?
Another way to hide screws in wood is to counterbore the screws into the wooden surface and concealing it with a wooden plug. Wooden plugs can be bought in wood shops or can be self-made. Using plugs is the classic way of camouflaging screws. Make sure you have the same color of plug as the wood. Before using it on the desired wood surface, you need to try it on a different wood surface. This is done to check whether the plugs fit perfectly in the counterbore. Given below are the step-by-step procedures to hide screws in wood by using counterbores and wooden plugs.
Step 1: After checking the counterbore and plug, drill a counterbore on the wood surface where you want to put the screw in. Drill the counterbore with depth enough for your purpose.
Step 2: After creating the counterbore, drill a pilot hole in the center of the counterbore.
Step 3: After creating the necessary pilot holes and counterbores, put the screws in tightly using a screwdriver or drill.
Step 4: take small amount of wood glue and spread it on the sides of the counterbore. Insert the wooden plug into the counterbore. If necessary, tap the plug with a mallet to firmly sit in the hole. Wipe the glue that oozes out with a wet cloth. Let it sit until the glue dries.
Step 5: after the glue dries out, rub the wood surface with sandpaper to smoothen out the area. Remove any residue with a wet cloth. With that you have finally hid the screws inside the wood surface.
How to Hide Screws in Wood Using Peeling/Curling Method?
Peeling/curling method is done by peeling or curling a section of the wood surface, inserting the screw, and covering the screw with the peeled or curled part. Step-by-step procedures of this method is given below:
Step 1: using a chisel and mallet, peel off a part of the wood surface. The part that is being peeled should not be too thick. Wetting the surface first will make the peeling part flexible and easy to peel.
Step 2: Under the peeled section, drill in a pilot hole and insert the screw. Drive the screw in such a way that the screw head is below the wood surface. Make sure you do not bend the peeled part too much that it would break under pressure.
Step 3: Spread some wood glue over the screw. Press the peeled section down over the screw. Spread a layer of superglue on top of the peeled surface. You can also use tape instead of superglue. This is to make sure that the peeled section of the wood remains in place until the wood glue dries.
Step 4: After the glue dries out, use sandpaper to rub on the wood surface to give it a smooth finish.
There are many ways to hide screws in wood. But not all screws need to be hid. Cup washers and flat head wood screws sit on the surface without making the woodwork look bad. To help you solve your issue, this article has provided you with enough ways to discreetly hide away all those little screw heads on your woodwork.
