Found a cheap way to fix stripping screw holes in oak doors

Had a customer with two cabinet doors where the hinges kept pulling out because the screws stripped out the holes. I was about to plug them with dowels and redrill, but my helper suggested using a piece of coathanger wire as a makeshift insert. We cut a small length, dipped it in wood glue, tapped it into the hole, then let it dry overnight. Next morning the screws bit in solid, and it's held up for 3 months now through daily kitchen use. Anyone else try this kind of fix, or do you stick with the dowel method every time?

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olivia_lopez983d ago

Always thought dowels were the only right way to do it. Learned that from my dad and never questioned it. This coathanger trick sounds sketchy at first, but it makes sense. The wire gives the screw something to bite into without having to drill out a bigger hole. Plus it's way faster than messing with dowel sizing. Been doing this for a few weeks on some stubborn drawer pulls and it's held up fine. Changed my whole approach honestly.