Fairing Question

[David McCollum]

When fairing new planks on a carvel hull, is this done before the plugs are put in? I have read about the procedure for trimming the plugs flush with the surface of a new plank. It just isn't clear to me when I do the final sanding and fairing, whether before or after the plugs are trimmed flush. Would the end grain of a plug be more resistant to shaping by the sandpaper than the adjacent surface of the plank? I have lost my recent issue of Woodenboat where an article on fairing was published. Thanks.

[Dave R]

I won't presume to answer on the fairing issue though it seems to me you should do final fairing after the plugs are installed.

The plugs, though should not have exposed endgrain. You're not inserting dowels here. Plugs are cut with a plug cutter and their ends would have face grain.

[George Roberts]

How much fairing are you planning on doing?

If the planks need a lot of fairing near the screws, you might fair the plugs away.

If you fair the hull without the plugs, you might have tearout at the holes.

[Paul Scheuer]

Dave's right -

The plugs, though should not have exposed endgrain. You're not inserting dowels here. Plugs are cut with a plug cutter and their ends would have face grain - From the same lumber as the planking. (that's what you do with all those odd shaped pieces). Since it's all the same stuff, it wouldn't really matter when you do the final fairing. After installation would mean that you only have to do it once.

[Ken Hutchins]

Put the plugs in first, then rough fair everything. The next step is put the cotton and paying compound in, then do the final fairing. The caulking will upset the edges of the planks somewhat so the final fairing will smooth that and everything else last.