Fix Stripped Screw Holes - 3 MINUTE FIX!

Ever try tightening a screw and it just keeps turning and doesn't grab? This is the fix. This applies to holes drilled in wood and isn't meant for sheetrock/walls.

Check out my channel to see other helpful DIY tutorials for around the house. Be sure to subscribe!

[LRNDIY]

As some viewers have pointed out, running a much longer screw (3" screw, for example) will often remedy this. It drives deeper into the actual framing rather than just the door casing.

[jrh]

Can’t tell you how many times this has saved me from having to buy a new house.

[TonySanchez-mkxd]

10 years ago this guy posted this. 10 years later it helps another fix his bedroom door. Thanks man

[janetmosby]

Watched your video, because grandson put a car through hole between casing and door then tried to forcibly close door. He stripped all three screws holding hinge. I didn’t have wood glue, but I did have floor adhesive and toothpicks. I’m a 66 year old grandma and totally impressed my husband, lol. (He was talking about replacing the whole door) Thank you!

[macsloan]

Nice video. My uncle showed me this 50 years ago when I was a teenager. We used it on furniture, doors, anything with wood screws. I often used wooden match sticks- especially on larger voids. If no glue is available, it will work anyhow. Glue just makes it a more permanent event.

[lucyswannsunsafespace]

Great video! I’ve been using tiny wood dowels in the same manner since I inherited my grandmother’s house 15 years ago. Extremely difficult to find boards to make a whole new frame in this type wood and not everyone has tiny dowels laying around. Most have toothpicks and maybe even some Elmer’s school glue (which works also, if given time to dry). I’ve also found that one shouldn’t use a drill on hinge holes, as it will strip them faster. Also, I have found that opening the wood glue container makes a world of difference! 😂

[yrr]

We bought my daughter a little princess table it’s wooden. One of the chairs the back got loose, my husband said the screw was stripped and he would fix it “later”. The chair has been out of commission for a couple months now until I found your channel!!!
Thank you!!! Now my daughter can resume using her table and chairs 👏🏼
It was easy I didn’t have toothpicks but I had skewer sticks and they worked just fine!

[seahorsenplanners]

I hate having to wait on someone one else to help me out. I did exactly what you said. I was so happy that it worked. Thanks so much for your help.

[Dude]

Didn’t have matches, chopsticks, toothpicks and didn’t want to drive into town. Cut 2 inch long by 1/4 inch pieces off the end of the longer style paint stirrers. Sharpened the end, put some glue on it and drove one in each drilled out hole. Worked great.

[gunnersfan]

Worked like an absolute charm! I'm useless at DIY but even I could manage this, thanks for the tip!

[juliecarson]

I doubt you still read these comments, but i wanted to say thank you because this is how ill fix my glider chair and my closet door hinge.

[kerim.peardon]

This worked for me. I needed to reattach my dishwasher to the underside of the countertop, but it's a cheap countertop made from flake board and the screw holes were stripped out. I used a hot glue gun to glue four toothpicks up into the holes, then cut them off flush with a steak knife. The screws went in beautifully.

Next up, loading the dishwasher.

[nmelkhunter]

Great fix! Growing up I spent a ton of time on my uncle’s ranch, and still do, and fixing things with what you have on hand was very common. My wife says I have a degree in cowboy engineering. Of course not all my fixes using cowboy engineering meet the home inspector’s approval. 🤠

[bugnut]

I used the thicker 12 inch BBQ matchsticks. I had them laying around. Just cut them a bit longer than the hole, broke off the excess with a hammer and screwed the screw back in. Had my heavy door fixed in less than 5 minutes ! Thanks to this video.

[ioodyssey]

I've been doing this for 50 years without the glue...works just fine.

[TheChicagan]

Worked like a charm. The screws started stripping on the door and not frame. Was worried it wouldn’t work but it worked perfectly.

[Jeremiah_Johnson]

I never would have thought of a solution like this. I am extremely appreciative for your Innovative and creative solutions!

[captainkirk]

I have tried other ways longer screws, thicker screws etc they are only temporary fixes. This method is amazing and it would have helped me so many times over over the years. Thanks for a brilliant brilliant fix - simplest ones are always the best :)

[coolnegative]

This is a great trick. I've seen similar with using a wood dowel or sharpened pencil tips, but is a lot more "things around the house" friendly. Another great alternative if you have some handy is canned foam insulation. it dries really hard and holds a strong bond and it is drillable. it's also really great for filling in large drywall holes like behind where a towel rack support hangs. just be sure to have a putty knife handy to level off and remove the excess defore it sets. if you wait to long and it cures, it'll take a hacksaw or dremel cutting tool to remove the excess.

[getreal]

I been doing this for decades. Great to show everyone in a vid. I also use longer screws that will bite into some new wood inside the holes. Between that and the toothpicks, it's every bit as solid and strong as when the original screws were first installed.