I recently had a similar problem with a forearm wood. Seems the spring that keeps tension on the "J" spring fastener was broken; and rather than repair the spring, Mr. Fixit drilled (wallowed-out)about a 5/16" hole thru the base of the forearm and on thru the iron to accommodate a stove bolt (he actually drilled two holes, as he wasn't paying attention and drilled thru the J spring itself on his first attempt). The repair worked like a charm, as regards holding the fore iron in place; but looked like H#*!. I had a friend in AL fix these holes to invisible condition. He used a walnut dowel to plug the hole just below the surface of the wood; then cut and glued a piece of veneer with matching grain to cover the dowel repair and bring flush with the forearm surface. When completed and checkered (only a portion was checkered), the repair was invisible (except for the hole still in the iron that remains to be repaired).
