Plugging screw-holes in hulls?

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mingle
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Plugging screw-holes in hulls?

Post by mingle »

Hi Guys,

I have a few smallish (6mm) screw-holes in one of my yaks that I'd like to cover up.

Don't really need to 'professionally' fill them with polyethylene, I guess I could buy some cup/pan-head screws to plug them.

I was wondering if there's any such thing as small, low-profile grommets or plugs that are available, which can be used for the job?

Cheers,

Mike.
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Re: Plugging screw-holes in hulls?

Post by westy »

Tap out and put in a s/steel grub screw ;)
frappa11
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Re: Plugging screw-holes in hulls?

Post by frappa11 »

I actually filled a screw hole with a putty knife heated on the stove and a HDPE milk bottle - took less then 5 minutes. Easier to do then messing around with screws and stuff ?
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Re: Plugging screw-holes in hulls?

Post by peatop »

To answer your question, a ss blind rivet, a blind rivet does not have an opening at the tail end so the rivet itself is sealed ;)

However im in favor of Rons idea, if you get the knife at the right temp to melt the HDPE to a putty and force it into the hole then fuse the perant material to the filler it wont move, leak or come out.

Another option if the holes are in good areas fit nutserts in them, make it look like they were meant to be there. After thought ;)
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Yako
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Re: Plugging screw-holes in hulls?

Post by Yako »

just melt some HDPE easier, cleaner, won't rust or leak. Just use your soldering iron or hold a kitchen knife/steel spatula over hot stove & melt the HDPE. Real easy
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bunyip
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Re: Plugging screw-holes in hulls?

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shane
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Re: Plugging screw-holes in hulls?

Post by shane »

Yako wrote:just melt some HDPE easier, cleaner, won't rust or leak. Just use your soldering iron or hold a kitchen knife/steel spatula over hot stove & melt the HDPE. Real easy
x2. This, much easier to do than you may think and will end up with the best results of all options suggested. Generally a soldering iron is better and work the HDPE into the hole and surrounding plastic. Just don't hold the soldering iron in it too long or it will blacken. You can also trim some excess plastic off hatch covers or opening edges and use it to get an exact colour match. Sand off then use a heat gun and you may not even be able to see it.
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mingle
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Re: Plugging screw-holes in hulls?

Post by mingle »

Thanks for the suggestions guys - looks like filling with plastic is the best option.

Still a bit uncertain as to how to actually melt and apply the HDPE - would I cut it into small flakes, then melt it with the soldering iron onto a piece of foil, then spread/push into the hole with a knife-blade or similar?

Or is it possible to use a thin 'stick' of HDPE like you would with solder? Do the surrounds of the hole have to be heated too?

Cheers,

Mike.
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shane
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Re: Plugging screw-holes in hulls?

Post by shane »

This is one of the better videos for what you want. A standard soldering iron and HDPE offcuts will work. I use a dremel at the end then heat with a heat gun to smooth off.

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laneends
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Re: Plugging screw-holes in hulls?

Post by laneends »

Practice on the garbage bin if you like, its the same plastic
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