# Fixing a (stripped screw) hole **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 4, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-a-stripped-screw-hole/667993 "2013-09-04T13:59:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-a-stripped-screw-hole/667993/21 "2013-09-05T15:06:06Z")
An additional vote for nutserts. If there’s one near you, Harbor Freight sells the tool and the inserts. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-a-stripped-screw-hole/667993/22 "2013-09-05T15:24:21Z")
Try a generous application of PTFE tape. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-a-stripped-screw-hole/667993/23 "2013-09-05T21:40:53Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Shove a couple toothpicks in the hole to give the screw something to grip. This is the GoTo fix for stripped screws in wood. However I’ve personally NEVER found this to work effectively. Most toothpicks, IME are just too soft. One solution I’ve had good luck with is to drill out a bigger hole and insert dowel covered in glue. Regarding a drill powerful enough; I doubt that’s true. If you have a good bit; you should be able to drill through what you describe. I also vote for nutserts if possible. ---
**Author:** ![Tideview](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b77776/32.png) [@Tideview](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tideview)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-a-stripped-screw-hole/667993/24 "2020-03-01T23:43:18Z")
This fix works best for a blind hole in steel sheet metal where you do not have access to both sides of the sheet metal. An example is the steel facing of an insulated garage door where a sheet metal screw will not tighten into the door correctly. Start by selecting a twist-on electrical wire nut with a metal coil insert that accepts about 1/3 the length of the sheet metal screw. Remove the coil insert from the wire nut by cutting or grinding away the insulating plastic cap. This was the longest part of the procedure as the plastic is quite tough. Expand the bare coil insert by pulling and twisting on the ends of the insert using two needle nose pliers until the larger top end of the coil insert can fit over the largest diameter thread of the sheet metal screw. Pliers longer than 5” usually won’t work as the tips are too big to fit into the small end of the coil. Once the coil is fit over the largest thread, screw the coil onto the sheet metal screw using the pliers to twist from one end. The assembleb screw with coil can then be driven into the sheet metal. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-a-stripped-screw-hole/667993/25 "2020-03-02T00:51:22Z")
Tideview: Welcome to Straight Dope! Note the thread you responded to is from 7 years ago and the OP (original poster) has probably fixed the problem by now. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-a-stripped-screw-hole/667993/26 "2020-03-02T02:42:40Z")
Still, its a pretty clever solution to a specific kind of annoying stripped thread. A sort of poor man’s Helicoil for a sheet metal hole. Thanks, **Tideview**! (For the record, my go-to solution for stripped _wood_ threads is to fill the hole with glue and pound in a hardwood golf tee. Once cured, clipped, and trimmed flush with a sharp chisel, there is now a new surface to re-drill). ---
**Author:** ![Clarence\_Slydell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90db22/32.png) [@Clarence\_Slydell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarence_Slydell)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-a-stripped-screw-hole/667993/27 "2020-03-02T03:12:00Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > That will work well with wood screws into wood. Not so with metal. A piece or two of mechanics wire will work. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-a-stripped-screw-hole/667993/28 "2020-03-02T06:24:46Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Something else on the market is called a nutsert. It is used for installing machine threaded nut locked on to sheet metal by a crimping process. They probably cost about $20.00 but can be used for ever. They come in quite a few sizes. The proper size drill and crimping tool come in the kit. This is what I was going to suggest. Harbor Freight should have a set. ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-a-stripped-screw-hole/667993/29 "2020-03-03T02:09:59Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Try a generous application of PTFE tape. Just what is Teflon Tape going to do??? Jack Nuts will work if the metal surface is enough to allow for the extra large hole needed. Here is a [Youtube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdnuMrTyXAo) Most fleet stores will have these and the simple tool. ---
**Author:** ![Ricc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@Ricc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ricc)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-a-stripped-screw-hole/667993/30 "2020-03-04T03:49:03Z")
As someone said earlier, a pop rivet is the way to go. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-a-stripped-screw-hole/667993.md?page=1)