Repairing Repairing Stripped HolesStripped Holes

in Furniturein Furniture

The Toothpick The Toothpick EscapadesEscapades

The IKEA The IKEA AnaBodaAnaBoda

72” tall72” tall Four screws hold Four screws hold

top to sidestop to sides Four screws secure Four screws secure

bottom to sidesbottom to sides Non-glued pegs Non-glued pegs

add a little stabilityadd a little stability Thin fiberboard Thin fiberboard

back is nailed on to back is nailed on to retain shaperetain shape

Damaged Screw HolesDamaged Screw Holes

IKEA-style cabinetry relies on IKEA-style cabinetry relies on factory drilled screw holes and factory drilled screw holes and engineered screws, often in engineered screws, often in particle boardparticle board

The outcome could be The outcome could be disastrous if screw holes strip disastrous if screw holes strip outout

The fix is simpleThe fix is simple

11 Test each screw Test each screw Back one out, Back one out,

then turn slowly then turn slowly in. If the screw in. If the screw spins but does spins but does not back out, or not back out, or fails to cinch up, fails to cinch up, the hole needs the hole needs repair.repair.

22 33 toothpicks inserted toothpicks inserted into empty 2" deep into empty 2" deep hole, big end firsthole, big end first

Jamming the hole full Jamming the hole full with toothpicks will with toothpicks will cause board to splitcause board to split

33

TTurn the urn the screw in, screw in, begin to begin to feel it feel it grab as it grab as it passes passes the the halfway halfway pointpoint

No grab? No grab? Add one or two extra

Add one or two extra

toothpicks and try

toothpicks and try againagain

44 Continue to Continue to slowlyslowly turn the turn the screw until it's screw until it's snugsnug

Overtighten and Overtighten and you’ll crack you’ll crack the woodthe wood

55

Fully Fully seatedseated

Remove Remove tails with tails with utility utility knifeknife

66

Repeat for each Repeat for each screwscrew

Read a more comprehensive version at Google Knol

http://knol.google.com/k/murry-shohat/fix-screw-holes-in-ikea-style-furniture/2srzofgvr8kjr/8#http://knol.google.com/k/murry-shohat/fix-screw-holes-in-ikea-style-furniture/2srzofgvr8kjr/8#