Stripped screw holes

BurbMan wrote:
An old trick my Dad taught me years ago: if the screw is going into wood, put a toothpick in the hole, break it off flush, then thread in the screw. If the screw is going into metal, loop a piece of safety wire in half, put it in the hole, and bend flush with the surface. Thread in the screw and clip off the excess. A paperclip also works well in a pinch.

Best way is to fill the hole with either wood putty or JB Weld, then re-drill, but not always an option if you're in a pinch or don't have time wait for a filler to cure.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for sharing the tips! I'm a JB Weld guy, but now I try something else before the JB.

Wood glue and wooden matchsticks works well.

I had a stripped lag screw in my steps, I bought a hard wood dowel 7/16", wood glued it over night and went up one size bigger on the lag screw(drilled a small pilot hole) and it's still holding strong.

If it is a screw that is used from time to time, I would recommend using a Rivnut. These are installed like a pop rivit but have internal metal threads that can use a machine screw. They come in various sizes. Rivnut tool

The problem with any Solvent based product is they can and will destroy Styrofoam products. That will cause delamination to the body panels.
I have been using the wood glue with wood, but that does not seem to last.

All of the above or....Stripped Screw Hole Repair Kit

Another vote for J B Weld

Made me go look up Marine Tex.. Sounds like good stuff to use...

Marine Tex® epoxy systems repair, bond and fill fiberglass, aluminum, plastics such as PVC, ABS, polyethylene (Starboard® Marine Building Sheet), inflatables, glass, masonry, ceramics, wood, dissimilar materials and more! Dependable high-strength epoxy products, coupled with a knowledgeable technical staff provide the confidence to tackle almost any project.

Roy Ken

To make a quick repair in the outside surface of the FG body with foam and luan I cut a triangular tapered piece of soft wood like pine that is slightly larger than the hole. I hammer or push this in so it is flush with outside surface. The triangle shape bites into the undersized hole. I us a harder wood like oak for wood or the solid laminate end caps.

When I couldn't go with a bigger screw I used Marine Tex

Stefonius wrote:
Apply Carpenter's glue liberally to wooden toothpicks. Shove toothpicks into the hole until you can't fit any more. When the glue dries (24 hours), cut flush with the panel. Insert screw to make new threads.

+1
Glue is a nice addition, but I've just crammed toothpicks in the hole
then snap 'em off,,,, works great