Filling Holes

Jerryc41

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A member named joakiml did a post about modifying his Kanile'a, and he did a perfect job of filling the holes in the back of the headstock with baowachs wax. That product doesn't seem to be available in this country, so we should try to find a good way to fill those tuner holes when we put Gotoh or Ratio tuners on our ukes. I've used wood filler and colored markers, but the results are less than perfect.

https://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/showthread.php?141030-My-Kanilea-mods

So, without bringing our ukes to a professional woodworker, how do we make those holes disappear?

I found some products on Amazon that might be similar to baowachs -
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000KKRIPA/ref=cm_wl_huc_continue
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B014X6R...olid=1K6S0U4KGY5NH&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00WQ47...olid=1K6S0U4KGY5NH&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0009H5KPO/?coliid=I1TCLF04MC38TD&colid

Ratio 2.jpg
 
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Looks like the product from your last link is the closest to baowachs. I think the trick is to find the colour that matches the wood best. I found that baowachs no# 547 was a pretty close match. The consistency of baowachs is a bit softer than crayons, makes me think if there is a crayon that might work...
 

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There are any number of filler waxes for furniture restoration. They all do the same thing. Liberon is a brand I have used for many types of item. I'm sure it would be more than adequate for musical instruments too.
 
I replaced the open geared tuners on a solid Islander with GOTOHs' leaving eight tiny screw holes (as one would expect!). As a woodworker it wasn't a second thought to head to my woodworking supplier (locally owned) WoodCrafters. Took along the uke, and headed for the finishing section. The shop assistant there took a few pieces of scrap wood, tapped a few nail holes and created new samples. After finding a match he just filled the holes for me.... no charge. I'm an occasional customer and didn't expect the freebee. I still bought a bottle of Titebond even though I didn't need it. Nothing like doing business locally.

FWIW, most local hardware stores (chain or otherwise) or lumber yards have ample supplies of reasonably priced fillers, chauks, waxes. Beats wasting all the shipping waste from overly priced choices at Amazon :)
 
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I have often filled screw holes like that with a round toothpick. Stick the toothpick in glue first, then stick it in the hole. Wipe off the excess, let it dry, then cut it off flush with an exacto knife. I use a wood stain to get it as close to the color as I can. Sometimes, if I think that I need to be tidy, I apply the stain with a Q tip.
 
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