Hood end fastenings

[1937rogerdon]

Eleanor my Vertue restoration project has sprung two planks at the stem. Have managed to remove several screws on one plank, but the heads have sheared on the other screws. How to proceed is the problem..Do I bore out the screws with a hollow screw extractor and fill the holes with a an epoxy covered dowel, then refasten. suggestions very welcome.

 

[Peterduck]

Yes, that would work. A plug, where the grain runs across the axis, would be better, because a screw run into end-grain is a weak holding, but through across-grain wood is much stronger. How is the condition of the planking at the hood ends? The screws are often put in right at the end of the plank, and the little bit of plank that is holding them in often breaks out.
Peter.

 

[joliette]

I have faced this problem and found it extremely difficult (impossible to apply the text book solution!) to drill a hole in the remains of a bronze screw shaft to take an extractor. Fortunately I had room to drill new holes for new screws. If a couple of planks have sprung then others could follow, so providing the condition of the plank ends and stem is sound, I'd leave the old screws in place and insert some additional screws in every plank along the stem. Alternatively, if you do extract an old screw, then instead of dowelling and drilling it can be replaced with a screw that is the next gauge up, providing everything is sound.

 

[1937rogerdon]

Many thanks, the two planks ends are in good condition,The other planks appear to be sound and well fastened, I have raked out the cauking to allow the ends to pull in and will progress with care.I agree that drilling down the end of the screw is next to impossible.

 

[Tranona]

If that is the case, I would go with taking the screws out and plugging with a dowel. I have used the fluted sort such as those in flat pack furniture well soaked in epoxy, set about 6mm below the surface and then counterbore for a 9mm cross grain plug. Using the right size pilot hole should provide holding at least as good if not better than the original. Allows you to use the same holes in the planks rather than making new holes and plugging the originals.

 

[absit_omen]

Do you know the cause of the planks springing? Was it the fastenings being in brass (considering the vintage of Eleanor) I wonder - in which case there could be de-zincification going on in the other fastenings and is it worth replacing all of them with silicone bronze?

Another idea, perhaps overkill, is to fashion a second apron (in iroko) and fasten this with 4" silicone bronze screws to the existing apron and then add a new series of plank screws to the second apron abaft of the old ones.

 

[1937rogerdon]

It would seem that she has had a knock on the stem in this area. One plank had 5 screws of which 4 came out and appear to be OK,(well not good enough to replace)they also are S.B. the next plank down which is teak,the planks above the waterline are mahogany all three screws sheared the heads. The bottom was replanked around 1977.