HELP: Woodworking tragedy...Need to fill and re-drill holes!

[MNW]

This is my first build and my first time working with wood since 9th grade "advanced" woodworking.  My cabinet is complete and I am installing the controls on my CP.  All has gone well, for the most part - until I tried to screw in my Ultimarc U-trak spinner.  Note, this is complete operator error (on my part).

Anyway, I drilled the four holes under my panel and tapped in the four expanding inserts.  When I went to screw in the track-ball, the inserts did not line up with the holes.  I think the trackball must have moved when I was marking the location of the holes.

So, I need to remove 3 of the inserts, fill in the holes, and re-drill the holes.  Unfortunately, I only need to move the holes by about 1 millimeter, which means I will need to drill on the wood filler.  Will this work?  What product should I use and how should I go about it?  I have attached a picture.

Thanks!

[Vigo]

Every cabinet encounters at least one screw up.  Just be sure to get wood filler that is the hardening. The epoxy style stuff works the best, IMO. It should state that it is drillable. You still will want to drill more slowly though.

This stuff is good:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM199565871P?sid=IDx20070921x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=SPM199565871

[MNW]

Thanks Vigo, this is perfect.  I wasn't sure if there was such a thing as wood filler that can be drilled.

This is by no means my only screw up.  The others I have been able to fix, it is where the project gets really creative.

[drventure]

Another trick that I've used on more than one occasion 

is to widen the hole to accommodate the new necessary position, the stick a bunch of toothpicks into it, and then screw the insert nut in.

There should be enough toothpicks that the insert nut bites into them pretty hard.

Squirting some woodglue on the toothpicks before putting them will help hold them in place and strengthen things too.

Once everythings dry, snap or cut off the toothpick ends and, presto, done.

[Sparkolicious]

I see you have a couple solutions, but this is what I use... 5 min two part epoxy FTW!  Depending on how bad it is I will also fill the whole with wood (toothpicks )

http://www.amazon.com/Devcon-Minute-Epoxy-Ml-Syringe/dp/B001QFGTHG

[Woodshop Flunky]

Another trick that I've used on more than one occasion 

is to widen the hole to accommodate the new necessary position, the stick a bunch of toothpicks into it, and then screw the insert nut in.

There should be enough toothpicks that the insert nut bites into them pretty hard.

Squirting some woodglue on the toothpicks before putting them will help hold them in place and strengthen things too.

Once everythings dry, snap or cut off the toothpick ends and, presto, done.

I've used the toothpick trick with GREAT success. 

[yaksplat]

Any chance that you can enlarge the holes on the trackball?  I've done thsi when mounting joysticks.  Add a 1/16" to the hole diameter and that give enough slop to allow all of the screws to go in.

If not I'd go the epoxy route.  Or, If you have a plug cutter, cut a plug and then drill the bad hole to the plug size and glue it in.

[MNW]

Thanks to everyone for their advice.  I went the epoxy route with GREAT success.  My only problem now is that I broke one of the expanding inserts when I pulled it out of the panel.  Home depot doesn't have it, so hopefully they will have it at Ace Hardware.  If not, it is back to Andy at Ultimarc to see what he can do for me.

[yaksplat]

one of these inserts?

[MNW]

Nope.  The ones I have are smaller than that.  I drill a 1/4" hole and tap them in.  Here is a picture of the one I broke (2 pieces) - sorry it's a bad picture.

[yaksplat]

check grainger