I need help with a door.

[Lunabell]

The screws in the hinges have come loose and the door is dragging on the ground. The screw holes are stripped and I need to know the best way to fill them so the screws will hold. Do I need a specific epoxy and use toothpicks like some internet sites suggested? Please help and talk to me like I'm a 5th grader so I can understand.

Thank you! 😊

[Rorey]

1. Is it a hollow door or a solid core door?

I've always used the toothpicks with glue method, but never with something heavier than a cabinet door. I'm not sure it would hold a heavy door.

[Lunabell]

4. hollow, I think.

Bedroom door, I don't think it's real wood.

[Rorey]

2. This looks like a better method

[Lunabell]

7. Looks fairly easy. I have the tools.

Wish me luck!

[marble falls]

3. You could drill it out and glue in a piece of dowell rod. If you have faith in your skills, you ...

... could move the hinge up or down an inch. If the jamb is dry rotted, you could replace the jamb. You could also add another hinge between the the hinges.

[Lunabell]

8. I think the dowel route is the best.

I have zero faith in my skills to move the holes! 😆

[marble falls]

10. It is the best. But I have a chisel and I'd move the hinge and probably add the third hinge ...

... and I'd catch the kid who's riding that door!

[Lunabell]

11. Lol, just a misused door. No kids in this house.

And it's just builder grade. A cheapo door to begin with. There are a few in my house that need some TLC, but this one is really dragging. Thanks for the help, I can do this.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. You're on the right track

Depends on how heavy the door? Is it an exterior door that needs to be fixed on the fly?

There are epoxies that drill just like wood. There are slow dry, and quick dry epoxies. Some you mix from 2 tubes, some you cut off a piece that has an outer layer and a core, and knead it.

I occasionally use exterior TiteBond III glue mixed with wood chips to fill a hole, but epoxy and wood is probably better.

I think you need thin dowels, like 1/8" or so because they're good wood. Toothpicks today can be bamboo, which would not be my favorite wood for glue or epoxy because it's not very porous.

I think you have 2 choices. Epoxy and wood and let it dry, then redrill to accept screws, or pack with epoxy and wood and tighten all in one throw. But you would need to prop up the door to relieve the weight until the epoxy hardens.

If they make a quick dry epoxy that might be best. Mix, pack the hole with wood and epoxy and tighten soon after.

[Lunabell]

6. Sounds like the plan.

Is JB weld epoxy good? I'm going to try to do it this weekend. Thanks for your help.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. Yes, JB Weld is good, and other brands might be hard to find

I've also used PCWoody, but it took several days to dry.

Lowes, Depot, or Harbor Freight will have a selection of epoxies.

[gibraltar72]

12. a new trick I've found successful

is to put a plastic zip tie in the hole. I've used this simple fix several times with good results. Put zip tie in hole start screw cut zip tie then tighten screw. On really bad holes I have used two zip ties.