Rigging, Tree repair

[D.A. Kabatoff]

Hoping I can get some opinions about the rigging screw holes in a tree. A friend recently brought me a pretty decent, handmade saddle for some repairs which included replacing the rigging. When I got the rigging off I discovered the holes were in slightly different places on the left and right side of the saddle... I put the old rigging back on and discovered that it was actually off by about 3/16ths in height and 3/16ths front to back on one side.

Since I'm replacing the rigging, I wondered if it's possible to fill the old screw holes with some sort of epoxy and drill new ones very close to the old holes? Anyone ever try this? The new holes would be slightly above and to the side of the old ones, so the pull would be towards where the old holes were filled.

thanks,

Darc

[greg gomersall]

Darcy you could fill the holes with carpenters glue and the drive a tapered large sliver of wood into each hole to fill them. I would then replace the screws in a completely different pattern so they are not close to the old holes. The old holes in the rigging from the first screws would not be visable after the saddle was back together. Greg

[kseidel]

Is it practical to adjust the holes in the new rigging to match the holes in the tree and make the riggings the same? I would still plug the original holes even when using them again. Helps to keep the screws tight.

Keith

[gtwister09]

Darcy,

The epoxy is not as good as a solution as the glue (Titebond glue or even Gorilla glue) and a wooden plug. The glue and plug will move naturally with the wood rather than the epoxy. On some other things like hanes and double trees we have tried epoxy in holes and to repair chunks missing. These tended not to expand well with the wood as we used them. My suggestion is to do just like Greg said.

Regards,

Ben

[mulefool]

I keep a supply of small wood dtowels on hand for filling screw holes. I just taper the end a bit dip in glue and then pound into the hole. Then cut it off flush. The dowels are nice since I always have something just the right size.

[D.A. Kabatoff]

Thanks for the ideas guys... Greg and Keith, I would probably do as either of you suggested but I made the new riggings and drilled small pilot holes in them using the right side rigging as a guide. I had eyeballed the old riggings quickly and assumed they were symmetrical before drilling my holes in the new ones and now I'm just trying to avoid making a second set.

I talked to my treemaker and although the tree isn't one of his, he mentioned on his own trees he would be perfectly comfortable using a Bondo product called fiberglass resin.

thanks again,

Darc

Incidentally Keith, that idea I had using the paper pattern for marking the rigging screw holes to be predrilled on the tree is working out quite nicely. I have used it as a guide on four saddles now and the holes have been perfectly positioned on all four. Will probably use it as a guide on several more saddles before I begin to rely on it.