How to Fix a Stripped Screw Hole (Works with Wood, Plastic, and Metal)

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If you but managed to extract a damaged screw and are wondering what to do next, yous're in the right place.

You could, theoretically, simply take a new spiral and put information technology in the same hole that yous took the damaged one out of. Notwithstanding, I don't recommend doing that, as the screw might non hold as tightly as it should.

Instead, I recommend y'all to fix the stripped screw pigsty first using one of the techniques below.

six Techniques to Prepare Stripped Spiral Holes

While some of the methods described below crave specialized materials, others are "MacGyver-style" quick fixes. Then, there are those that are somewhere in between.

1. Using a Screw Hole Repair Kit

Last but not least, you tin can simply utilize hardware that was designed for the specific purpose – a spiral pigsty repair kit.

While in that location are several products in this category, they are generally either plastic pieces similar to wall plugs or thin pieces of a material that yous employ to create a gripping surface for your new screw.

I of the most popular such products is the Woodmate Mr. Grip Screw Pigsty Repair Kit. It substantially consists of thin metal strips that you cutting to the required size and insert into the hole earlier putting in a new spiral.

If you piece of work with screws ofttimes – especially so if you tend to damage them on a regular basis no thing how hard you try – you might benefit from having such a kit handy at all times.

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2. Using Larger Screws

1 of the easiest means to deal with putting a spiral in an existing screw-hole is to only utilize a larger screw. That can mean either a screw with a larger diameter or a longer spiral.

If you employ a "wider" screw, information technology will be able to grip onto the material effectually it in spite of the existing hole. On the other hand, if you utilize a longer screw, information technology will exist able to grip onto the material that the previous screw didn't reach and thus didn't damage.

This is a adept technique for cases where esthetics don't matter, for applications where the screws volition exist hidden from view in one way or another. The reason for that is that it will look odd to have only one screw larger than all of the other ones in the aforementioned expanse of the workpiece.

iii. Using Toothpicks or Matches

If you don't work with tools and hardware a lot, y'all might not take some of the materials necessary for using the other methods mentioned in this list. However, chances are you volition take some toothpicks or wooden matches lying somewhere around your house.

Y'all can accept those, make full the screw-hole with them, and cutting them off flush with your workpiece. Ideally, yous would likewise add some wood gum. If you are using matches, don't forget to cut their heads off.

While this is a fairly common style of fixing screw holes, you lot should avoid information technology for professional or structural applications. In the case of the old, it looks amateurish. In the example of the latter, information technology might not provide the necessary strength.

Chances are too – in terms of longevity – that the filling volition disintegrate sooner than your workpiece.

Especially so if you lot are using this method in combination with plastic or metal.

Fix a Screw Hole with Toothpicks

four. Using Pieces of Woods

This method is like to the one in a higher place. Only, information technology looks more professional and volition last longer.

Rather than using toothpicks or matches – which tend to exist made out of low-quality wood – to fill the holes, it uses the type of forest you are really working with.

Simply take a spare lath, cut it into thin pieces about equally long as your hole is deep, and make full the pigsty with them. One time again, use wood glue if you have a bottle handy.

Since y'all are using the same material as your workpiece is made out of, you can wait the screw to stay steady for virtually as long as the other screws in your workpiece will.

five. Using Woods Dowels

You tin can as well apply wood dowels – similar those that you would find in a set up of Ikea article of furniture – to set damaged screw holes.

Unlike the previous methods, this method involves drilling a hole into your workpiece that is larger than the diameter of your screw. More specifically, it requires drilling a hole that's roughly the same diameter equally the dowel you plan to use.

Once you drill the hole, you simply accept the dowel, tap it in – with some wood gum applied if possible – and cut it flush with your workpiece.

At present you have a brand new wooden surface to put your spiral into.

Avoid using a dowel with a diameter larger than the bore of the head of the screw you are using if possible. Otherwise, y'all will have the dowel sticking around the screw in one case y'all screw it back in. And so, it will not await too good.

vi. Using Plastic Wall Plugs

If yous are screwing into a piece of concrete, then you are already likely using a plastic wall plug. And and so, you lot but take to take that 1 out and replace it with a new one.

However, you can besides utilise the plastic spiral with other materials.

Just similar when using wood dowels, though, this method volition involve drilling.

The good betoken is, though, that the plastic plug will terminal longer than the woods dowel (if longevity is important for your application).

The plug will likely also have a smaller diameter than a dowel that yous would use. And and then, chances are the result might also be a bit nicer to await at.

Fixing Stripped Screw Holes in Specific Materials

Many of the methods I talked most higher up can be used regardless of the material that you are screwing into. Still, some methods are better for sure applications than others.

Let's take a closer look at that.

How to Fix a Stripped Screw Pigsty in Woods

If you stripped a wood spiral and are trying to fill the hole, your best bet will be either using pieces of the aforementioned wood you lot are working with or drilling in a dowel.

That said, pretty much any of the methods higher up will work fairly well.

One thing to note, though, is that if y'all are working with particle boards or similar (a material that is often used in wood cabinets and other furniture), you want to be careful nigh using screws that are larger than the original one. These boards are fairly prone to breaking, then you will want to stick to the original screw size every bit much as possible.

How to Fix a Stripped Screw Hole in Metal

If yous are trying to repair a stripped screw hole in a slice of metal, so – quite logically – avert using forest if possible.

Instead, use a plastic wall plug if yous can observe a size that volition piece of work for you or go a stripped screw hole repair kit that specifically states information technology volition work with metallic. The Woodmate kit that I talked nearly earlier works well in this situation.

How to Set a Stripped Screw Pigsty in Plastic

Finally, in example your screw got damaged when working with a piece of plastic, avert using woods equally well.

Yous tin can try gluing in a plastic wall plug, but – just as with metal – y'all volition exist amend off using a specialized repair kit.

Summary

All in all, while stripping a spiral can be a frustrating experience, information technology is not something that yous should stress about besides much. The above should exist plenty to get you started, but if you desire to learn more make sure to also check out my article most fixing a screw hole that is also large.

With the correct tools to extract the spiral and the correct techniques to make the spiral pigsty usable once again in your arsenal, yous should be able to deal with the problem fairly easily.

That'southward particularly the case if y'all are working with wood since there are many means to set up a stripped screw hole in a piece of wood. If your workpiece is made out of metal or plastic, and so you lot will be meliorate off getting a specialized stripped screw hole repair kit.