Vent filters

[GeorgiaHybrid]

If the blocks are glued in, just drill a larger 1/4" hole and then insert a 1/4" dowel covered with wood glue into the hole and cut it flush. After an hour, drill your new pilot hole and insert the screw.


A quick fix out in the boonies is to take a wooden golf tee, sand the finish off and get it close to the right diameter, cover with wood glue and drive it into the hole. After an hour, put your screw in place. That trick will also work for hinges on cabinet doors and regular doors as well.

[Cummins12V98]

I am confused, if you have the blocks already glued in why would you drill out and glue in a dowel?

[Cummins12V98]

Originally Posted by Terry and Jo

I don't know about your floor plan, but if one of the knurled nuts comes off while going down the road, it is going to land on top of one of the slides in the case of three of the vents, and onto the bed in the case of the fourth vent. At least, that is what would happen in our coach.

My issue with reusing the wood screw is that one is inserting and removing the screws over time, one could ream out the screw hole, possibly requiring a new block in the ceiling. Even though I decided on the hanger bolt instead of screws, I still screwed the wood blocks into place, just in case I ever had to change one for any reason. With them glued into place, what would get torn up if one had to remove the block?

Terry

Not worried about the nut it's self I would be more worried about the cover falling off and causing damage. I think the option you did was a great idea. I personally like the clean look of just the white screw.

If "screwing" the grill on I would advise getting #8 oval head sheet metal screws and paint them white. They will not strip out the wood unless you over torque them and in that case you will be distorting the grill cover.

I am sure some are thinking why would you use a sheet metal screw instead of a wood screw? All I can say without going into a long speel the SM screws are truly the way to go. 35 years of being a Carpenter and installing thousands of cabinet and doing many wood working projects.

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Cummins, they had asked what would you do if the block was glued in and the screw holes stripped out. Putting in a dowel is a lot easier than replacing the glued in block.

[Cummins12V98]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaHybrid

Cummins, they had asked what would you do if the block was glued in and the screw holes stripped out. Putting in a dowel is a lot easier than replacing the glued in block.

Got it! I always used a tapered pc of wood with glue on it to fix a stripped hole similar to the golf tee you mentioned.

[Maverick]

I've used springs in place of lock washers. The spring keeps a positive pressure on the nut (in this case) and you don't have to tighten up as with a lock washer. A spring washer would also work, also known a 'wavy washers'.