# How do I fix this?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-this/255000
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 14, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-this/255000 "2004-07-14T01:53:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-this/255000/1 "2004-07-14T01:53:47Z")
I have a hinge that the screws have worked out of, leaving holes too big for any new screws to be attached. What is the most effective way of fixing this? I imagine I should fill the holes with something and then rescrew. What should I fill them with? Or is there another method altogether?
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-this/255000/2 "2004-07-14T01:59:19Z")
I’ve fixed this problem using both toothpicks and matchsticks (snip the heads off first!) and it works just fine.
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### Author:  [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-this/255000/3 "2004-07-14T02:01:15Z")
Thicker and/or longer screws.
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### Author:  [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-this/255000/4 "2004-07-14T02:02:32Z")
I’d drill a 1/2" hole in each stripped out hole, stick in a hardwood dowel covered with glue, then redrill and screw in the hinge. I’ve never had any luck just filling the existing holes with glue or putty.
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### Author:  [@Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Beekeeper)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-this/255000/5 "2004-07-14T02:39:22Z")
Pack the holes full of steel wool. Put the screws back in.
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### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-this/255000/6 "2004-07-14T02:44:34Z")
What type of door is it and how heavily is it used?
E.g., if a hollow core closet door you can get by with toothpicks and glue. But a frequently used solid/exterior door needs a fix like **Finagle** says.
Also, what caused the stripping in the first place? If the original screws weren’t long enough, then you also need longer screws.
So, everybodys’ posts are right, just depends on the situation.
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### Author:  [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-this/255000/7 "2004-07-14T12:46:00Z")
It’s not really a door. It’s the lid to a vanity. Larger screws won’t work because they won’t fit through the holes in the hinge. They worked loose from solid teak lid which is 1/2 inch thick.
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### Author:  [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-this/255000/8 "2004-07-14T12:54:02Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#):
>
> I’ve fixed this problem using both toothpicks and matchsticks (snip the heads off first!) and it works just fine.
Same here.
For each hole:
1. Grab 2 or 3 toothpicks.
2. Insert all the toothpicks into the hole at once.
3. Use a hammer to further pound the toothpicks into the hole.
4. If the ends of the toothpicks are protruding out from the hole, use a pair of wire cutters to cut them off so it’s flush.
You’re now ready to re-mount the lid with woodscrews.
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### Author:  [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-this/255000/9 "2004-07-14T12:59:42Z")
There are **fillers** that harden and attach themselves like the devil…they might be **epoxy based**. They are fairly easy to spread and smooth and will harden tougher than the wood itself.
Check out a hardware store…home center or wood crafting place. Someone should be able to point something out for you. Directions are usually easy and reliable.
(Normally in a door jamb or such you can drive in other wood with some wood filler to fill up the hole, but in a part like you describe, you want to fill the void, make it smooth and put the screw back pretty much as it was -size and location- so consider what I’m telling you)
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-this/255000/10 "2004-07-14T13:09:12Z")
Strictly speaking (in _principle_, that is), pushing matchsticks into the hole _shouldn’t_ work properly, as you are then reinserting the screw into endgrain (or something like it) and the thread will tend to shear straight through the fibres and pull out. You can buy crossgrain dowel plugs for this purpose (they even have a pilot hole down the middle so your screw doesn’t slip off to one side) - crossgrain dowels are usually too big for cabinet work though - they are a joinery thing.
In practice, matchsticks and glue are usually adequate.
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### Author:  [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-this/255000/11 "2004-07-14T13:22:37Z")
Depending on how big the holes are, small wallplugs might work too. They’re meant for masonry, but they should expand and grip wood reasonably well, too, if it’s doesn’t need to be a load-bearing join.
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### Author:  [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-this/255000/12 "2004-07-14T14:31:54Z")
Buy a bag of 100 hardwood golf tees. These are the best thing for fixing bad screw holes!
Squeeze some yellow glue into the hole, hammer in the slightly-tapered tee, let dry, clip off with diagonal cutters, and then use a chisel to clean up the little nub left over.
Then you can center punch and redrill a new hole.
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### Author:  [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-this/255000/13 "2004-07-14T23:58:17Z")
Gold tees I have lots of. And that sounds quite clever. I will give it a go when I get the top back. Did I mention the mirror was broken, too. I would have just junked it but my daughter is dying to have it.