>>Sparky,
I don't have the volume in my library but am anxious to know techniques and
philosophical implications for plugging woodpecker holes. Please elaborate.
Shaman>>

Shaman:

Well, you got yer columns right out here along the edge a the portch. Those
holes up there are no good. Lets in the rain & snow. Lets out
the.....well,...I'll leave it up to you waht you let out the holes in yer
column. But you don't want it, so you fill 'em up. The holes, not the
columns. In Chattanooga they thought I was arrivin' with some 55 gal drums
of stuff to pour in their columns to fill 'em up. Well I said 55 gals was
beyond my capacity, but I could only handle one or two gals at a time, and
all you really need is 'bout 2 qts just to fill the holes. The holes in the
columns. So, you got to prep the holes real good, with lots of rubbin, the
100 grit seems rough, but they like it rough, so 80 grit might be betta,
then they said grits is mo betta with butta and I agreed. So, the hole is
gettin' smooth like and your plug slides right, but maybe not all the way
in. You might hafta take it in an out a couple times to adust the fit. Slide
it on the side ya know, cause the side grain hasta be out so you got
expansion along wtih the hole. If you got expansion along wtih the hole,
that plugs gonna stay in there a long time, and thats real good. Even wtih a
little shrinkage its OK cause the hole in the column shrinks along wtih it.
But you dont want excessive shrinkage, no excessive shrinkage whitch comes
from dryin out. Watch it. Keep your shrinkage under control. With shrinkage
comes the gaps in the side of the hole, right next to the plug an the result
is seepage. Well, now you got shrinkage and seepage. Now ya hafta start over
wtih a fresh plug. We better take a break til tomorrow and then see what's
up.

Whats the moral of this story? Doncha remember what I toldya before?
Remember: when you're talkin columns you've gotta keep your woodpecker holes
plugged.

Sparky