Easily Install A Screw Into A Stripped Hole With A Simple Zip Tie Hack

Woodworking jobs that involve reusing a screw hole are tough. Something as simple as installing a new strike plate or trying to fix a misaligned door latch becomes difficult if the entrance is stripped. When this happens, there's nothing for the metal to grip onto, and the plate remains loose or falls off — annoying! Fortunately, there are many ways to remedy the problem, including store-bought kits. You can also fill the opening with something on hand in a pinch. The key is to find an object that fits the hole and can be pierced by the hardware. One smart option is a zip tie.

Zip ties are cheap, come in multipacks, and are something most people have in their toolboxes already. As far as quick methods for repairing a stripped screw hole, this one is pretty straightforward. If your screwdriver keeps spinning and you don't want to leave the project to go to the store, all you need to apply this method is the tie and a pair of scissors. Check out how to use the hack for yourself.

To start this hole-saving hack, slip the narrow end of a zip tie into the screw hole until it won't go in any further. If the tie is too wide, snip it in half lengthways to accommodate the space. When the tie halts inside the opening, cut it so nothing sticks out. Next, push the hardware into the hole and use your screwdriver to secure it. The plastic is malleable and should easily shape around the twisted rungs on the metal. Don't have any zip ties on hand? No problem. There are other at-home items to make stripped screws a thing of the past.

One alternative to plastic ties is toothpicks. Dip as many as are required to fill the hole (usually two to four) into wood glue, slide them inside, and break them off at the opening. The hardware will grip onto the sticks like new. Another item to try is a matchstick (remember to remove the flammable head). Like the toothpicks, these offer a wood base for the metal to drill into. Alternatively, you can buy a repair tool specifically designed to resolve the issue of stripped holes, like the WOODMATE Strips Repair Kit. However you decide to tackle the problem, there's a simple and affordable fix that'll soon have your project complete and your screw intact.