How to Fix Stripped Hinge and Strike Screw Holes With Oversized Repair Screws
Every locksmith has seen it. The top hinge screw spins forever, the door sags, and the latch starts dragging on the strike. Someone has already tried toothpicks and glue. The fix you need is fast, clean and won’t come back.
That’s what oversized repair screws are for.
Why Oversized Repair Screws Work
Here’s the problem with just using a bigger screw: a bigger screw usually means a bigger head. Then it won’t sit flush in the hinge leaf or the strike plate, and the door binds.
Oversized repair screws get around that. The thread is one size larger than the head, so you get something like a #12 flat head on a #14 thread. The threads bite into fresh material, and the head still drops into the existing countersink.
Wood Doors and Frames
For wood, the Major LS-35, LS-36 and LS-37 special wood screws are built exactly for this job. Each one has a #12 flat head on a #14 body and an overall length of 1-3/8”. Major makes a whole line of these specialty screws, and we stock the ones locksmiths reach for most. Pick the finish that matches the hardware:
If the wood is really chewed up, an oversized screw alone may not be enough. In that case, drill the holes clean, set hardwood dowels in epoxy, let it cure, and re-drill your pilot holes. Then the new screws have solid wood to grab.
On the top hinge, it also helps to run a longer screw that reaches the stud behind the jamb. If you go that way, make sure the head still sits flush.
Steel and Aluminum Doors and Frames
Metal needs machine-thread screws:
- LS-31, black: a #12 undercut flat head with a 14-24 thread and a Tek point, for steel doors and frames. Its Tek point lets you drive it with a screw gun.
- LS-29, black and LS-28, zinc: a #10 undercut flat head with a 12-24 thread and a thread-cutting point, for steel or aluminum, used where a 10-24 has stripped
Other Screws Worth Keeping in the Van
While you’re restocking, grab the cylinder screws that always seem to go missing:
- Medeco: LS-1, LS-2 and LS-3
- ASSA: LS-4 for mortise and LS-5 for rim
- LS-8 for Schlage Primus mortise cylinders
- Extra-long face plate screws: LS-17 in zinc and LS-18 in black
Stripping set screw threads on mortise cylinders is a related headache. We covered it in how to avoid stripping threads on a mortise cylinder.
FAQ
What screw do I use for a stripped hinge hole in a wood door? An oversized wood screw with a standard head and a larger body. The Major LS-35/36/37 have a #12 head on a #14 body.
What about steel frames? Use an oversized machine screw, such as the LS-31 (#12 head with a 14-24 thread).
Will a bigger screw head fit the hinge? Usually not flush. That’s why oversized repair screws keep the original head size.
See the whole lineup in Locksmith Replacement Screws. A few 25-packs in the van can save you a parts run.