Fix a Stripped Screw Hole in Wood With Glue and Toothpicks
The Problem
Screw holes in wood wear out. A door hinge sags, a cabinet handle wiggles, a chair joint loosens — and when you go to tighten the screw, it spins in place because the threads have chewed the hole oversize. You can't always move up a screw size: hardware holes only accept one diameter, and a fatter screw can split the wood anyway.
The Technique
- Take the hardware off and clear any debris out of the hole.
- Put a dab of wood glue into the hole.
- Push in as many toothpicks as will fit snug — don't be shy, pack the hole. Tap them home with a hammer if they resist.
- Snap or cut the toothpicks off flush with the surface.
- Let the glue set, then reinstall the screw. It cuts fresh threads into the packed wood and pulls tight again.
The toothpicks and glue turn the oversized hole back into solid material. The fix is invisible once the hardware is back on.
Pro tip: For a badly wallowed-out hole, toothpicks aren't enough — drill the hole out clean, glue in a section of hardwood dowel, cut it flush, and drill a fresh pilot hole into it. Same idea, full-strength version.
Safety note: On anything that carries real load — an entry door hinge, a gate — check that the wood around the hole is still sound. If the material itself is split or rotted, packing the hole won't hold; the repair needs to reach solid wood.