Putty ? to cover screws on mahogany boat..

[Spin_Drift]

Greetings,
the restoration of our mahogany cabin cruiser is soon getting to the point of needing some "putty" to cover the sunken screws that hold the planks together. We are finishing the entire boat "bright".

What kind/brand name putty do you recommend as Red Lead putty is not available here in Finland?

[S.V. Airlie]

Bungs.. ???? Not putty... Just make sure the grain in the bugs is aligned.. I would not just fill the holes with putty.... epoxy the bungs in though...

[Thorne]

If the screws aren't set deep enough to allow a bung to be put on top, you might consider one of the epoxy-based fairing compounds, colored to match the mahogany planks.

Don't know what's available in Finland, but I think that the Smith's epoxy line *may* be available as "Rot Doctor", and they have an epoxy fairing compound that takes dye/colors well. You again *may* want to consider using a small amount of partially-cured CPES to get the fairing compound to bind well to the wood and screw head.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=1264&familyName=Smiths+Fill-It+Epoxy+Filler

Whatever supplier you use, best to purchase the fairing compound and the coloring agents from the same source to ensure compatibility.

[Spin_Drift]

Appreciate that info thanks. Replacing the hundreds of copper rivets is not an option as most of them are in good condition. We just have to do repair on very few of them
We need to find something like "lead red putty" or the equivalent of it.

[Andreas Jordahl Rhude]

Famowood

[pcford]

Bungs.. ???? Not putty... Just make sure the grain in the bugs is aligned.. I would not just fill the holes with putty.... epoxy the bungs in though...

Never epoxy bungs...unless they are so shallow there is no other choice. Epoxy creates a ring and they are a b!tch to get out.

Weldwood.

[John Meachen]

If you intend to finish bright,it is often a good idea to apply a thin sealer coat before filling the holes as this reduces the tendency for the pigment in the filler to leave a smudge on the surface.

[Steveh]

SP, haven’t heard of red lead putty down this neck of the woods. Depending on weather you can get your hands on some red lead paint, what I’ve just used on Ngatira is a mixture of common glaziers putty and red lead paint. Just put it on a flat board, like a plasterers pallet and pour on the red lead paint and mix with a 30-50mm flat scrapper until you obtain the right consistency you’re after. In my case I was after a runny filler to fill gaps and holes in the diagonal plank ends between the shear clamp and outer fore & aft planking before the first diagonal layer of deck plank went down. All this would be painted over so no worries re colour matching.

Would be a very light filler (even pink) for use with bright work so my not be what you’re after.

I’m with PC Ford, don’t glue bungs.

[pcford]

I’m with PC Ford, don’t glue bungs.

Did not say to not glue bungs. Just to not glue them with epoxy. Weldwood is the glue to use.

[S/V Laura Ellen]

Interlux makes white lead putty (for above the water line) and red lead putty (for below the water line). I've seen the putty used on painted boats but never on a varnished boat (IMHO, it would look awful).

The only way to cover screw or rivet holes is to countersink the screw heads and add a matching bung (aligning the grain direction).