What is best way to fill holes in riser?

[Wudstix]

What is considered the best, most effective way to fill in holes drilled in a wood riser?
 

[J. Cook]

I've done it two ways depending on depth / size of hole.  I've the appropriate size dowel before and placed it with epoxy, then stained it as best I could to match.  This was part of a complete refinish, so it matched up very well.  I've also mixed sawdust and epoxy and filled a smaller hole and it worked well enough. 

[Archie]

Recently I saw people on the internet (YIKES!) using super glue and ashes or baking soda to create a hard compound for making repairs.  I have no experience with it, nor have I seen anyone using it on a riser.  But when I first saw it I wondered immediately if it would be a good fix for riser holes.

[Pat B]

I've used super glue and fine saw dust to fill small holes like knots in selfbows. Depending on the size and depth doing it in layers works best. Add a little saw dust, preferably the same color of the riser, then some super glue. Once the glue sets do this again and so on til the hole is slightly overfilled than sand smooth.

[Wudstix]

Thanks folks.
 

[Wudstix]

Top hole is @1/8" and bottom is @3/16" and both are about 1/2" deep.  Might see about some "dowel" and then saw dust with super glue to top it off.
 

[Archie]

I tend to mess things up the first time.  If it were me, I'd drill a couple holes in something else and practice my method first. 

[Wudstix]

Excellent idea!!!
 

[Horsey]

I have used 5-minute epoxy with sawdust very successfully.  I don't think super glue would provide the right consistency and it would set too quickly. 

--Mike Dunnaway

[Pat B]

Like Archie said do a practice run trying out each method and each glue to see which one works best for you.

[Wudstix]

Thanks, Mike that is a good idea.
 

[Hud]

check with a home improvement center, lumber or cabinet shop for small wood plugs to hide screws. The wood grain may be similar, but will look better than a filler. I would use a wood glue that accepts a stain, and check Minwax stain markers that resemble a fat pencil.  They have a variety of colors. Good luck.

[Wudstix]

Thanks Hud.
 

[Captain*Kirk]

I recently had to fill some holes in a Super Kodiak in the phenolic portion. I used 2 part epoxy mixed with black mica powder (available on Amazon and others) and it blended quite nicely. This works well when filling holes drilled into colored glass.