How To Fix A Stripped Screw Hole In Wood

When a screw hole in wood get stripped, it can be frustrating and annoying to repair. This is usually because the wood fibers around the screw threads have torn away from excessive use or too much weight being placed on the screw. Screwed joints get their strength because of the way the screw threads wedge themselves into the wood fibers. Wear and tear or sudden stress on the joint causes those wood fibers to pull free. This failed joint can happen anywhere but it most commonly happens where hinges are fastened to doors and door frames. Door frames can be used and stressed thousands of times per year and it is quite common for the screws holding the door hinges to lose their hold with time. Fixing the stripped screw hole in wood is easier than you might expect. There are a lot of solution for fixing a stripped screw hole but none are as great as the Screw-It-Again wood anchor.

Method #1 - Screw It Again Wood AnchorThe easiest and most secure way of fixing a stripped screw hole in wood is the Screw It Again wood anchor! The Screw It Again wood anchor can fix stripped screw holes in 4 easy steps which takes less than a minute. The Screw-It-Again anchor is the one and only wood anchor/fastener engineered to fix stripped screw holes in all types of WOOD, MDF, plywood and particle board in less than a minute. In an independent test by a 3rd party, Screw It Again showed it can withstand a pull force of close to 300 pounds for the largest size screw hole. This makes it the most secure and strongest solution on the market! Below are 4 easy steps to fix a stripped screw hole in wood in less than a minute.

Step 1: Match anchor to fit your screw.

Step 3: Snap off anchor... remember to save the rest for another use.

Step 2: Gently screw anchor the into the existing stripped hole.

Step 4: Insert screw into anchor and tighten it securely.

Method #2 - Use a Larger ScrewThe next “easiest” solution would be grabbing larger screw to fit the larger hole you need to screw into. We say “easiest” because there are a lot of variables to think about when selecting a larger screw which could no longer make this a viable option. You will need to make sure the screw will fit through the hinge you are trying to secure. You then need to make sure the threads on the new screw match the threads on the old screw or else the hole will be susceptible to tearing out again. if the screw is too wide then you risk splitting the wood which now just turned your quick fix into a potentially costly repair. Beside finding a wider screw, you can look for a longer screw but this has its own downfalls as well like can you drill a pilot hole in the center of stripped screw hole? If you can’t drill a pilot hole then is the wood going to split? Is there enough wood behind the stripped screw hole to screw into? All these potential issues aren’t worth the risk when you can fix that stripped screw hole in wood with the solution from method #1.

Method #3 - Toothpicks or Scrap WoodThis is a solution we get asked about a lot on our Facebook page and our answer is always the same. It’s not a strong solution and it take a lot more time than what is necessary. For this method to work you need to find wood that will fit into the stripped screw hole and that why a lot of people suggest toothpicks since most households have them readily available. After that you need to dip the wood strips in wood glue and allow it to fully cure which could take anywhere from a couple hours up to 24 hours! This solution already takes a lot longer than most people want to spend on a simple repair project. It's also best to cut the strips of wood from the same type of wood as the wood with the stripped holes. If you use hardwood filler in softwoods, the hardwood might split the softwood as it expands when the screw is driven in which couple once again lead to an expensive repair job. Or, if you use a softwood filler in hardwood, the filler may not be durable enough to hold the screw and will be more susceptible to tearing out again..


There are a lot of other solutions you can try when screws loosen or tears out of the wood they are supposed to be holding. As with most repairs, it's best to start with the easiest solution first and move to the more elaborate and time consuming repairs. One of the most frustrating experiences in woodworking is figuring out how to to fix a screw hole when it becomes stripped out and will no longer support the fixture, hinge or accent what it was designed to hold. Until now, to fix a stripped screw hole has been challenging as there never was a "one-size-fits-all" solution to the problem until Screw It Again. Screw It Again wood anchors are available online in our store or through local hardware stores like True Value, Ace Hardware, and Do It Best Hardware. 
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