Filling old tack rail holes.
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Topic author - Posts: 4725
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Filling old tack rail holes.
Has anyone tried using a hot glue gun to fill old tack holes?
It would seem to be much easier & faster.
But would it be as effective as using toothpicks?
It would seem to be much easier & faster.
But would it be as effective as using toothpicks?
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Re: Filling old tack rail holes.
My question would be how well a tack or staple would hold if it was driven into hot glue?
I didn't find gluing in round toothpicks to be that time consuming. On my Flanders, I broke each toothpick in half before gluing so that one toothpick could fill two holes. Once all the toothpicks were in, I let the glue dry overnight, then cut off each one flush with an X-acto hobby saw.
I didn't find gluing in round toothpicks to be that time consuming. On my Flanders, I broke each toothpick in half before gluing so that one toothpick could fill two holes. Once all the toothpicks were in, I let the glue dry overnight, then cut off each one flush with an X-acto hobby saw.

Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)
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Re: Filling old tack rail holes.
Hot glue is not very permanent in most cases. I would not use it for anything I wanted to last on a car. Gluing in toothpicks or wood matches works great for all kinds of things, especially screws that are stripped out in wood.
“The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off.” – Abe Lemons.
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Re: Filling old tack rail holes.
I agree with the other posts. I'd avoid hot glue completely. I also cut my toothpicks in half, glued them in place, let them dry and then cut them off. Finish off with a sander for a smooth surface.
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
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1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
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Re: Filling old tack rail holes.
Toothpicks and Elmer's glue.
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Re: Filling old tack rail holes.
It goes pretty quick. We used a syringe filled with glue in some of the spots to get it back into the voids. Also used a spray bottle of water to dampen the wood as we went. Tape a sheet of plastic onto the body to catch any drips of glue. We broke each toothpick in half.[image]
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Re: Filling old tack rail holes.
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Re: Filling old tack rail holes.
Elmer's is an excellent glue, but it may not resist moisture.
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Re: Filling old tack rail holes.
I can't believe the profligacy of you people! If you dip the toothpick in glue, fill one hole, cut it off with side cutters, dip and glue again, you can fill 3-4 holes with just one toothpick.
Allan from down under.

Allan from down under.
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Re: Filling old tack rail holes.
Dave,
Type III Titebond might be better. It is weather proof
Art Mirtes
Type III Titebond might be better. It is weather proof
Art Mirtes
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Re: Filling old tack rail holes.
Allan, thank you for that new word in my vocabulary!
Miles
1924 Touring “Bonnie”
1925 Express Wagon “Clyde”
1924 Touring “Bonnie”
1925 Express Wagon “Clyde”
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Re: Filling old tack rail holes.
Hey, I just taught my 12-year-old granddaughter a new word. 

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Re: Filling old tack rail holes.
Go to the Chinese food section of your store where they have big packets of long wooden kabob skewer sticks that are slightly larger in diameter than toothpicks (they have several diameters. Get the smallest diameter) that would serve this purpose well. One stick dipped in glue and driven in as deep as it will go and snipped off, will do a multitude of holes. Also, there is an exterior waterproof “Tightbond III Ultimate” glue with a green label that is the best. Jim Patrick
Last edited by jiminbartow on Wed Dec 20, 2023 4:48 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Filling old tack rail holes.
I had to get the dictionary out Doc !!!
Good idea on the skewers !
Good idea on the skewers !