Mend a stripped screw hole in wood

Question

We have an arnoire with a sagging door because the hinge screw hole is augered out. How can we fix it?

Adrianne C · Answer

Wooden matchstick inserted in the hole and broken or snipped to be flush and gorilla glue.

Jonnie Hammon · Answer

Break some toothpicks, put them in the hole, then put the screw back in.

Melanie Fowler Gross · Answer

They actually have metal screw hole inserts at Home Depot for this reason. Just tell them what you need. I had a couch that had a leg that the screw hole was stripped out. This product fixed it right up. It just glues in the previous hole.

Theresaloren · Answer

I used wood filler and drilled a tiny hole before adding screw. It has been holding up for years now.

Dana Rogers Spear · Answer

I don't know if it would work for this project, but I just fixed the holes in a door frame by drilling a hole slightly larger than the existing one, inserting a dowel about the size of the drilled hole. I marked the dowel, cut it  on my miter saw, and with some wood glue, inserted the dowel piece into the drilled hole. I also bought some wood Bondo off amazon to make everything flush (the door jamb was pretty damaged, so depending on how flush the dowel is, this step may not be necessary.) After everything was dry I sanded and painted. The door hinge is nice and sturdy.

Amy Auclair Pickerell · Answer

I take a wooden dowel that fits snugly in the hole.  Put a thin coat of wood glue on the dowel then insert it into the hole.  Let it dry then cut it off even with the wood.  Make a small pilot hole then screw hinge back in.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

The easiest way to repair this is just use wood filler and let dry before you put the screw back in.

Gary Stenzel · Answer

Toothpicks dipped in glue, jam in as many as you can. Give it a good whack with a hammer. Let the glue dry. Cut them all off with a razor blade. Reassemble. Done.

Gary Kerbein · Answer

Another way to a tight fit is to use a wood golf tee, glue to hold it and lubricate as well. Tap it in, give it maybe an hour to set, trim to surface, drill a pilot hole for new screw and this will be a tight fit. Here I use sawdust mixed with wood glue and fill too, sand and it is sturdy and stainable.

Tammy Gibson · Answer

Take a heavy duty rubber band and put it over rge end of your screwdriver and your screw will twist right out! GUARANTEED!:)

John Buster · Answer

yes....just put a sliver of wood, I often use just a toothpick into the hole....work the screw back into the hole, and break or cut off any toothpick that is sticking out....works every time, like a charm...no glue or anything else, is needed

Crystal · Answer

Its more trouble but you could move your hinge up or down and make a new hole!

Joanie · Answer

Put glue all the way around a wood dowel that is the closest diameter to the screw hole. push in as far as it will go and allow to completely dry.(24 hours would be great). Now you can reinsert your screws.

Duv310660 · Answer

stuff in toothpicks, breaking them off level with the wood, until firmly packed. When you screw in your screw, it will force the wood picks to expand even further, against the too-big hole edges. It's quick, works great, and once you know it you can adapt it to other repair-challenges.

Christine · Answer

II do the same thing as @duvall.26. When I pick up furniture, often they have signs that someone made many attempts to get the hinges right, or changed them, whatever. I fill them with toothpicks. Break one in half, put the broken end in. Gently hammer the remaining pointy one in beside it, then break them both off. I don't bother with glue because a squirt of water swells them up. Not only do they fix a hole, if you drill beside them that hole won't tear out from weakness.

Roxanne · Answer

I fill mine with Durham wood fill comes in powder form easy  1-3 ratio  Take off hinge and mix until gooey but firm.  Fill holes with putty knife  sand excess when dry and you can drill new holes. Drys harder than wood. You can also tape around area so not to hurt stain

Jeanette S · Answer

We have found that filling the hole with glue and inserting toothpicks is the easiest and best method. Let it drive good and reinsert screws! And the good thing is you probably have both of these on hand! We just use whatever Elmer's glue that we have around at the time of need! Good luck.

Lauren365 · Answer

you could also move the hinge up a few inches. Since they're not seen form the outside, it doesn't matter if it's not in the original position. And its a good exercise in checking your OCD!!! ;)

Allan · Answer

Golf tees work as well

Lori Johansen · Answer

http://www.ronhazelton.com/projects/how_to_fix_stripped_screw_holes_in_wood

Pam1521664 · Answer

A little bit of sawdust and elders glue work great let dry and it's ready . If you don't have saw dust put in glue and insert a wooden toothpick  and break it off even wait till it drys and put in screw.

Vicky Johnson · Answer

Toothpicks and glue!

Tammy Robertson · Answer

You can take a piece of dowel and push it into the hole. Sand the top down to same level as the wood and then its ready to be drilled for a new hole

Mama Rose · Answer

I have lit a match, put it out and then used the match,. It all depends on the size of the hole. Sometimes a couple of toothpicks or matches glued in, dried up, works beautifully.

Wilhelmina Roberson · Answer

Tooth pics and glue. Put as many as possible, tap in some with hammer. Let dry and replace screw.

Tica · Answer

Elmers has a glue specific to wood. Make a paste of this glue with saw dust. Fill the hole and then clean the overfill so that you have a smooth surface. When dry, redrill the hole and install the wood screw as needed.

Scot_belle · Answer

A small hole...toothpicks and glue work to replace the missing wood, but if the hole is larger then I use either a golf tee (if it is handy) or a wooden dowel. By refilling the stripped hole with wood, no matter the size, this provides a good bite for the screw. If you plan on staining, try not to have any glue visible ...as glue does not take stain well and this can detract from the furniture in question.

Helen Miller · Answer

I keep a small container of dry wood filler (inexpensive from Home Depot), and mix a small amount on an old lid with water. Stir and fill the hole. Level and if possible make a tiny hole in center with a piece of wire or such, when dry just screw a new screw in and it is like new. Use this for most repairs on any wood project. Helen Miller San Antonio, Texas.

Laurie Powell · Answer

If the hole is larger than a toothpick us a piece of wood dowel, the same size as the hole. You might have to use a hammer to pound it in tight. Use wood glue & wait until it dries over night. Then drill your knob back into the correct place so it doesn't sag any more. You can use this technique for any hole! :)

Ginger · Answer

I've always use a wooden match, stick in and then break off. Always worked for me.

Mend a stripped screw hole in wood

Suggested Project Book

Don't Throw Out That Old Cookie Sheet Before You See These Ideas

Other

More

Mend a stripped screw hole in wood

Suggested Project Book