Repair for Stripped Screws

Family Handyman

Fix a stripped screw

Sometimes the wood surrounding a screw becomes so torn up that it no longer holds the screw securely. Here’s a rock-solid remedy from reader Ken Rosette. Drill a 1/4-in. hole to clear the torn fibers, then glue a short piece of 1/4-in. dowel in the hole. When the glue is dry, saw or sand the dowel flush with the board surface, then drill a pilot hole in the dowel and drive in the screw.