I get to do this with the clocks I repair, for every repairman seems to
mess up the screws that hold the movement into the clock.
The trick I've been using is to (1) gloop a bit of cyanoacrylate glue,
either gel or liquid, onto a toothpick and swish it around in the
afflicted hole, then I (2) remove the toothpick, still wet with glue,
and dip it into a plastic prescription bottle filled with baking soda,
which is an accelerant for this glue.
The toothpick then (3) goes back into the hole where it freezes almost
instantly, and I (4) cut it off with diagonal wire cutters. A poke
with an awl down the axis of the toothpick opens up a pilot hole.
I've been experimenting with variations on this technique, but this has
worked fairly well so far. For larger holes I think the bamboo would
work well.
Mark Kinsler
Lancaster, Ohio, USA
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