One of the most common uses of a tungsten carbide wood plug cutter is to create plugs to cover up and conceal screw heads. When screw holes are drilled with carbide tipped countersink bits, the drilling creates a deeper hole enabling the screw head to be inserted below the surface. This allows a plug to be inserted into the piece and then sanded down creating a flat and clean surface. Although a great use, not all of us use screws in our furniture. That doesn't mean that we cannot find another use for a plug cutter.

 

Take an example of making a simplistic furniture. After drilling holes and before you are ready for final glue up, prepare and cut to length your dowel pins making sure that you cut the pins 1/4 inches shorter than the length of your drilled hole. Now choose a nice piece of hardwood that contrasts your piece of furniture the most (or to your liking). With your tungsten carbide wood plug cutter, drill down into your scrap piece creating the needed amount of plugs.

 

Detach the plug from the board being careful not to damage the top edge. Apply glue to both the dowel and hole and tap in the dowel until the end of the dowel is recessed 1/4 inch below the surface of the work piece.Take your newly cut plugs, add the glue, and tap into the recessed hole. Make sure that the grain of the plug is running the opposite direction of the grain from the piece. This small detail will create even more contrast.Following the drying period, flush trim the plugs and finish sanding your piece.Applying a finish to this piece will enable you to see the sharp contrast between the piece and the plug creating a beautiful feature.

 

The greatest part of using a plug cutter to create contrasting plugs is that it not only makes a simple joint into a feature but it also just couldn't get any simpler. There are more information to keep in mind: 1.A plug cutter cuts a tapered hole enabling a snug fit; 2. Plug cutters don't have a center spur, it's best to use them in a drill press.

 

 

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