What is the primary purpose of counterboring a hole for a plug screw?

• A. To Receive Screws That Will Be Plugged
• B. To Create Decorative Holes
• C. To Widen For Clearance
• D. To Chamfer The Edge

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to create a recess large enough to seat the screw head so a wood plug can hide the fastener. A counterbored hole is cylindrical with a larger diameter at the surface than at the bottom, so the screw head sits below or flush with the surface and a matching plug can be glued in to fill the recess for a seamless finish. This is exactly what the purpose of counterboring a hole for a plug screw is: to receive screws that will be plugged. The other options don’t fit because decorative holes don’t serve a fastening concealment purpose, widening for clearance is about allowing the screw shaft to pass or move freely rather than hiding the head, and chamfering the edge is about beveling the edge for entry, not creating a dedicated seat for a plug.