Restoration tip

I was cleaning out the kitchen spice cabinet when I found a whole tube of wooden, round toothpicks and it reminded me of a trick I learned. Many times these old pond boats have iron screw eyes, (I use new brass eyes when possible) and removing these old eyes can be difficult. They tend to break leaving the screw part still in the hull. Getting that part out involves plyers or small vice grip tools. When they are removed there is a small hole in the deck and I use a little wood glue and a toothpick cut to length and insert it. Other then that I must cut a splinter that fits and the same drill. After the glue sets a little careful sanding and final spray of bulls eye shellac as that was the finish in the day. Then a new brass screw eye can be inserted.