Marketplace dresser repair question

[4th Knocks]

I bought a 6 drawer maple dresser off Facebook Marketplace for $40 and it's a good score except for a few loose joints hidden under wood plugs. Some plugs are flush while others are sunk too deep to grab. I'd rather not refinish the whole thing. Any smart ways to remove the plugs without tearing them up?

 

[w0odshap3r]

Nice score on the maple dresser! That's a steal for $40!
Trying to pry out those deeply sunk wood plugs will likely damage the surrounding finish.
The cleanest method is to drill them out carefully.
Try using a drill bit the same size or slightly smaller than the plug diameter.
The key is to drill just deep enough to chew out the center material. This weakens the plug significantly.
Once the center is gone, the thin remaining ring of wood is usually much easier to chip or pry out without tearing up the surrounding finish.
Go slow and you'll keep that great marketplace find looking good!

 

[f0ndu]

You can drill a small pilot hole in the center of the plug and thread in a screw just enough to grab it, then pull it out gently with pliers. If it’s glued solid, carefully drill it out with a bit slightly smaller than the plug diameter and pop in a new one afterward

 

[4th Knocks]

I appreciate the two different methods either drilling the center to weaken it or using a screw to pull it.

Once the joints are reglued, would you recommend using new plugs or is wood filler a better route for a dresser that will be stained?

 

[IamTony]

New plugs if you're staining and wood filler never takes stain the same way and it'll show. If it's going to be painted then filler is fine, but for stain you'll regret it, by the way, what wood is the dresser?