This is for load-bearing bronze screws in an oak frame, carrying a heavy oak door.
Four of the screws were removed momentarily for maintenance work. Two of the screw holes may have been stripped slightly when the screws were around 3/4 of their length out of the frame.
A dowel would not be an option at this stage, because that would mean undoing some of the maintenance work. I was thinking of several options:
- Just reuse the screw holes, even if some are partially stripped.
- Apply wood glue alone to reinforce the inner surface of the screw holes.
- The toothpick method. Put in a toothpick with wood glue into the screw holes, leave to dry partially, then reinsert wood screws.
I was unsure what this last method would do to the 3/4 of the threads that are still viable. Does it risk damaging the unstripped threads, or would it tighten and secure the threads in situ?
Which option would be best?
Best Answer
I have used tooth picks and matches with glue for many years. With hard wood I use toothpicks as they are hard, match sticks with the head cut off work will work but I use those on soft wood like pine. I squirt the wood glue in push in however many I think I need then wipe the excess and insert the screws