Dealing with a stripped screw hole.

SIGSHR · November 18, 2020, 10:07 PM

Found a stripped screw hole in the trigger guard of a 22 rifle-hardwood stock. Filling the hole with wood putty, then coating the screw with Vaseline and reinserting-is that a good solution?

RKG · November 18, 2020, 10:12 PM

Larry Potterfield has a good video on this subject. Proper repair is to drill out old hole to accept a piece of wood dowel. Epoxy the dowel proud. Let it cure, then trim proud part with fine chisel, sand and finish as needed, and then drill new pilot hole for the original screw.

burrhead · November 18, 2020, 11:54 PM

Wood putty won't hold. The down and dirty, old carpenter method is to whittle a slightly tapered wood plug slightly larger than the hole. Apply some wood glue (Elmer's works) and tap it into place. After the glue dries, trim it and drill a pilot hole the diameter of the screw shank, not the treads. A little wood glue on the screw won't hurt either, kinda like using Loctite

Easy peasy.

SIGSHR · November 19, 2020, 09:46 AM

Many thanks for the answers, and that is what I will do.

Pahoo · November 19, 2020, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Larry Potterfield has a good video on this subject. Proper repair is to drill out old hole to accept a piece of wood dowel. Epoxy the dowel proud. Let it cure, then trim proud part with fine chisel, sand and finish as needed, and then drill new pilot hole for the original screw.

This is basically my approach and can't trust wood putty. I have had to make tapered plugs and you can also buy them in a hardware store.

More often, I have an alternate method and because the contour of a wood screw. I clean out any saw dust, left in the hole, fill in with TiteBond-III or equal and insert round tooth-picks, pointed tips down and break off flush. Usually takes no more than three tips. This way, there is enough voids/room to accommodate the screw. Even has a self-centering effect.

Be Safe !!!

T. O'Heir · November 19, 2020, 01:54 PM

"...can't trust wood putty..." Yep. Too soft when dried.
Fill the hole with regular epoxy bedding material and re-drill.
Vaseline doesn't really do much other than keep rust out. Vaseline being a petroleum jelly brand name just like Cosmoline.

hdbiker · November 20, 2020, 12:30 PM

I've repaired many striped screw holes in wood by breaking off wood toothpicks dipped in Elmer's glue. hdbiker

stinkeypete · November 21, 2020, 08:32 AM

As said above, the proper solution is to plug with a hardwood dowel and redrill.

Since you know that is a problem area, retap the hole the chase the hole with it’s screw a few times... then wax the screw with auto wax (better than Vaseline) because I’m suggesting painting the inside threaded region of your repair with just enough cyanoacrilate glue (CA) to harden your new threads. Obviously, wait long enough before assembly that you don’t glue your screw in to the stock with that CA glue!

That brings to mind another solution- since you can’t match the grain unless you are one of the master repair guys who can... maybe a tasteful delrin dowel (available in white or black) could be made to look like it was built that way... it’s a material that will be more difficult to strip out again in the future.

Use auto wax, not Vaseline. Use quality epoxy with a bit of filler like phenolic beads, not wood putty. Use a plug per above is probably best!

I will just mention that when using a bolt to mold a threaded hole in to an epoxy casting, they make “Oversize” bolts- just a bit larger than the assembly bolt- so when the casting bolt is removed, the resulting threaded hole is “just right” and the mechanical bolt screws right in without cutting or stretching the cast threaded hole. For repairs, simply chasing a cast hole with a tap does the same thing. I was stunned to learn about “Oversize” bolts 30 years ago.

Pahoo · November 21, 2020, 11:51 AM

Quote:

As said above, the proper solution is to plug with a hardwood dowel and redrill.

There is more than one way, to skin this cat. I let the project dictate what is,
"The proper solution". "Most" of the time, tooth-picks and moisture resistant glue works well on wood but not always or on resin or composite stocks.

Caution;
One word of caution When working with wood laminate stocks; some of the adhesives used are not the strongest part of the stock and will separate if not worked properly. Even over-tightening an existing threaded fastener "may" separate the bond. May not even be noticeable until after you shoot. .....

Be Safe !!!

SIGSHR · November 21, 2020, 05:50 PM

2 round toothpicks, Gorilla Brand Wood Glue, let it cure for 24 hours, trimmed the extrusions, drilled a pilot hole, the screw is in there nice and snug. Many thanks.

November 18, 2020, 10:07 PM	#1
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	Dealing with a stripped screw hole. Found a stripped screw hole in the trigger guard of a 22 rifle-hardwood stock. Filling the hole with wood putty, then coating the screw with Vaseline and reinserting-is that a good solution?

November 18, 2020, 11:54 PM	#3
burrhead Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Location: Chihuahuan desert, Texas Posts: 1,148	Wood putty won't hold. The down and dirty, old carpenter method is to whittle a slightly tapered wood plug slightly larger than the hole. Apply some wood glue (Elmer's works) and tap it into place. After the glue dries, trim it and drill a pilot hole the diameter of the screw shank, not the treads. A little wood glue on the screw won't hurt either, kinda like using Loctite Easy peasy. __________________ Join the GOA, SAF and the TSRA I'm offended by people that are easily offended.

November 19, 2020, 01:54 PM	#6
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...can't trust wood putty..." Yep. Too soft when dried. Fill the hole with regular epoxy bedding material and re-drill. Vaseline doesn't really do much other than keep rust out. Vaseline being a petroleum jelly brand name just like Cosmoline. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

November 21, 2020, 08:32 AM	#8
stinkeypete Senior Member Join Date: July 22, 2010 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,292	As said above, the proper solution is to plug with a hardwood dowel and redrill. Since you know that is a problem area, retap the hole the chase the hole with it’s screw a few times... then wax the screw with auto wax (better than Vaseline) because I’m suggesting painting the inside threaded region of your repair with just enough cyanoacrilate glue (CA) to harden your new threads. Obviously, wait long enough before assembly that you don’t glue your screw in to the stock with that CA glue! That brings to mind another solution- since you can’t match the grain unless you are one of the master repair guys who can... maybe a tasteful delrin dowel (available in white or black) could be made to look like it was built that way... it’s a material that will be more difficult to strip out again in the future. Use auto wax, not Vaseline. Use quality epoxy with a bit of filler like phenolic beads, not wood putty. Use a plug per above is probably best! I will just mention that when using a bolt to mold a threaded hole in to an epoxy casting, they make “Oversize” bolts- just a bit larger than the assembly bolt- so when the casting bolt is removed, the resulting threaded hole is “just right” and the mechanical bolt screws right in without cutting or stretching the cast threaded hole. For repairs, simply chasing a cast hole with a tap does the same thing. I was stunned to learn about “Oversize” bolts 30 years ago. __________________ My book "The Pheasant Hunter's Action Adventure Cookbook" is now on Amazon. Tall tales, hunting tips, butchering from bird to the freezer, and recipes. Last edited by stinkeypete; November 21, 2020 at 08:42 AM.

November 18, 2020, 10:12 PM	#2
RKG Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: Boston Posts: 562	Larry Potterfield has a good video on this subject. Proper repair is to drill out old hole to accept a piece of wood dowel. Epoxy the dowel proud. Let it cure, then trim proud part with fine chisel, sand and finish as needed, and then drill new pilot hole for the original screw.

November 19, 2020, 09:46 AM	#4
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	Many thanks for the answers, and that is what I will do.

November 20, 2020, 12:30 PM	#7
hdbiker Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2012 Posts: 297	I've repaired many striped screw holes in wood by breaking off wood toothpicks dipped in Elmer's glue. hdbiker

November 21, 2020, 05:50 PM	#10
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	2 round toothpicks, Gorilla Brand Wood Glue, let it cure for 24 hours, trimmed the extrusions, drilled a pilot hole, the screw is in there nice and snug. Many thanks.