I'm dealing with a loose screw on my antique wooden front door doorknob. The screws for the rosette have lost their grip because the surrounding wood seems worn out, leaving the holes too big. I found a suggestion to use toothpicks in the hole, but when I tried that, the screw just pushed the toothpick pieces into the hollow door! I need a simple solution to keep the rosette flush with the door without supporting any weight. Any ideas?
2 Answers
A quick fix is to fill the hole with toothpicks and wood glue. Let it dry, then drill a new hole for the screw. It's an easy method, and it should hold the knob pretty well! Just make sure to let the glue set properly before you screw it back in.
Definitely look out for performance differences though! The dowel method is stronger in the long run, especially if you pre-drill.
You could try using a wood dowel. Stick some wood glue on it and push it into the hole. Once it's set, cut it flush with the surface, drill a new pilot hole, and reinsert the screw. This should give you a solid hold!
If you use enough toothpicks without glue, it'll still hold under normal use, but the glue will make it sturdier. Just pack them in tight!