Filling screw holes - will epoxy putty work OK?

[PamlicoTraveler]

I just removed a dorade box for varnishing. I want to fill the screw holes to prevent moisture from getting in. Will epoxy putty work?

I do not have any of the West 2-part epoxy and am wondering if the putty is OK. Any thoughts?

[Cheechako]

no wood plugs covering the screws?

[biltong]

If you have the means, drill out old screw holes to take wood plugs and glue in wood plugs with matching grain direction.

[PamlicoTraveler]

I must not have explained the issue well. I am talking about the holes in the deck where the dorade box has been screwed into the deck.

The box is not screwed in with bungs, it is screwed into the deck via a small support inside the dorade box. I can post a picture, but the holes in question are in the deck and I will be screwing down the dorade box but I need to fill the holes to prevent moisture gaps when I put the screws back in.

Make sense?

[Cheechako]

OK, you're trying to fill the old screw holes in the deck, which are probably 1/8" max right? Not used pre-fab epoxy putty so cant help you much. I always mix my own epoxy and whatever filler I think I need. If you need epoxy, the $6 tubes at the hardware store work well. Get the one with two plungers that self measure, clean the tip well and you can reuse it on another project later. for small holes you should be able to just use straight epoxy. If they are not going to show, you could just use 5200.

[MarkSF]

I think you want a flexible sealant. That means either butyl tape, or one of the liquid sealants, of which there are many. I have been using life caulk recently.

[Ziggy]

Epoxy works very well to seal screw holes. If you really want to do it right, you should leave a bit of an indentation and fill that with color matched gelcoat. That can become quite a project if you also want to match the nonskid pattern. If you're too lazy (or not anal enough) to fill them with gelcoat, put a dab of paint over the epoxy to protect it from UV.

[MarkSF]

Well I'm not clear whether the OP wants to permanently fill these holes, or put the screws back into them. If the former, epoxy - if the latter, sealant.

[captain58sailin]

Sounds like he wants to reuse the holes after the repairs, just shoot some silicone into the holes and be done with it.

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by MarkSF

Well I'm not clear whether the OP wants to permanently fill these holes, or put the screws back into them. If the former, epoxy - if the latter, sealant.

Oh, he definitely did say the screws are going back in the holes. In that case, sealant. I prefer a non-silicone one, or modified silicone.

[Idylles15.5]

Sounds like you just want a temporary leak solutuon. If the screw holes aren't wiped out from removal just put a dab of ge silicone over the holes until you replace the dorade. When you bed it back in, again if the screw threads are ok from removal just put a little 4800 Deck & Hardware grade 3m on the threads and you'll be fine. I'm in charge of all the painting/ fiberglass work and marine carpentry at our marina so I do this crap all day. If the threads are wiped out, do not put in a wood plug, this will still hold moisture. Get a little 2oz matt fiberglass, shred or chop up fine a few little pieces, mix them in with some West System fasr cure and fill the holes. When it hardens, pre drill a size down, meaning use a #8 drill for a#10 screw. Then bed in screw the way I mentioned before. Finito

[Tony B]

For a temporary leak solution to your problem, do not use epoxy. Any sealant will work. Just make it mound up to a cone shape of sorts and you will be able to remove the entire thing easily and rebed the dorade boxes appropraitely when you are ready to replace them.

[captain58sailin]

I like the last part of the method from post #11, that way when you reattach, the threads will be fresh and less likely to strip out.

[Idylles15.5]

If you go this way, here are a few steps I left out. I'm not thinking because this step would be automatic to me. Drill out the wiped out threads completely to get the contaminates out. Then twist up a piece of 80 grit sand paper as tight as you can and spin in the hole to put a bite in the existing fiberglass. Then clean with a little acetone. Blow out the left over dust, then proceed with West 2 oz matt mixture. Sorry

[PamlicoTraveler]

Thanks all.... I am going to be reusing the holes when I put the dorades back on. And actually I have remove d the handrails also today, so I have a bunch of holes to "fix" or fill. I thought that before reusing the holes I needed to fill and redrill to protect the deck core from water Intrusion. These holes will not be seen once the dorade is put back on, so the look isn't a concern. I was planning on rebedding with butyl tape, but I have assumed I need to fill the hole before

So is the epoxy good if I am redrilling and using the hole?

Great response here.... Appreciated even though as always with carpentry, I remain in my confused state...