Download Article

Download Article

Chipboard, too known as particle board, is a common fabric in easy-to-assemble article of furniture, countertops, and even cabinets. Since chipboard is fabricated from compressed wood pieces, screws have a trend to come loose or suspension the chipboard. Luckily, there are a few ways you tin fix the holes to hide damage or continue your screws tight. We know you probably have some questions, and so we'll get over the most common repairs you lot can try so your chipboard looks adept equally new!

  1. 1

    Woods glue and sawdust are perfect for a simple repair. Take some leftover sawdust from other structure projects and mix it into a thick paste with some woods glue. Scoop the mixture into the screw hole and press it down firmly with a putty knife. Let the paste dry overnight and so it hardens completely. Then just use some sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges until information technology's flush with the surface.[1]

    • Attempt to use sawdust that'southward similar in color to the wood, or else your repair may be noticeable once you're finished.
    • Since the paste and sawdust hardens to a consistency similar to the remainder of your chipboard, you lot tin screw into information technology again if you need to.

  2. two

    Make full the pigsty with motorcar body filler for the strongest fix. Automobile body fillers usually come as a split hardener and filler, so mix them together with a putty knife beginning. Since the color probably won't match the color of your wood, mix in some sawdust to help it blend in. Push the filler into the hole, simply work apace while it's notwithstanding pliable. Let the filler cure completely, which commonly takes a few hours.[2]

    • Yous can buy car body filler from your local hardware or automotive store.
    • Some fillers come up with color dyes that y'all tin can mix in to friction match the color and finish of the chipboard.
    • If you still want to put the screw in the hole, lubricate the screw with a spray lubricant and button it into the hole while the filler is still wet. Allow the filler harden for 3–four minutes earlier pulling the screw out. That manner, the filler has the shape of the threadings to proceed the screw secure.

    Advert

  1. 1

    Stuff the hole with toothpicks or dowels for a quick, toll-effective gear up. Filling the entire hole with toothpicks or a dowel tightens the hole so your screw gets extra grip. Push the toothpicks or wooden dowel into the screw hole as far as yous tin can. Break or saw off the excess cloth that extends by the hole. Put the screw back in the hole and slowly tighten it back into the chipboard with a screwdriver.[3]

    • You can put a few drops of wood glue into the hole before adding the toothpicks or dowel to help them stay in place, simply it'south not required. If you do, let the glue dry completely before putting the screw back in.[4]
    • If a dowel plugs the entire hole, drill a pilot hole in the dowel earlier driving the spiral in. That mode, you foreclose the woods from splitting.

  2. 2

    Put an anchor in the hole to keep the screw from ripping through wood. Anchors are plastic sleeves that push against the woods so they're less likely to come out. Apply a drill flake that'south the aforementioned diameter as your ballast to widen the screw pigsty. Tap the anchor all the fashion into the hole. Then, set the screw inside of the anchor and tighten it.[five]

    • Yous tin can buy anchors from your local hardware store.
    • The anchors you employ are normally more visible even after you install them.

  3. 3

    Fill up it with wood glue and button the spiral inside for a permanent solution. Kickoff off past coating the spiral's threading with a lubricating wax or oil. Clasp wood glue into the hole so it's well-nigh halfway full. Push the screw into the hole as far as you can. Let the glue dry overnight before removing the spiral. Scrape any of the glue that came out of the hole with a razor blade so it'south flush with the chipboard. Since the glue fix around the screw's threadings, y'all can easily screw information technology back into the hole.[6]

    • This option isn't as strong of a fix as the other options, simply it makes the spiral hole less visible.
    • If you don't coat the screw with wax or oil, then it will get stuck in the glue and won't unscrew easily.

    Ad

  1. one

    Aye, simply push the wood filler into the hole with a putty knife. Look for a wood filler that has the aforementioned colour as your chipboard so it blends in easier. Press the wood filler into the pigsty using a putty knife until it's completely total. Let the wood filler dry out following the instructions on the packaging. Then, sand the filler smooth so it'due south affluent with the surface.[vii]

    • You can paint or stain filler to match the terminate of the wood.
    • Cull a water-based filler for indoor use or a solvent-based filler for outdoor repairs.

  1. 1

    No, wood filler works all-time for corrective repairs. Forest filler doesn't accept the same structural integrity as your actual chipboard, so hardware may still come loose if you lot screw into it. If you need to reattach screws, opt for a more secure filling method instead, such as anchors or auto body filler.[8]

    Advertisement

  1. 1

    Switch to cocky-borer screws that are less likely to come up loose. Since chipboard is made from multiple pieces of compressed woods, it'south a lot easier for standard screws to come undone. Self-tapping screws cut through the wood rather than splitting it so you don't have to pre-drill holes. Pick up a parcel of self-tapping screws whenever you lot demand to attach something to your chipboard.[9]

    • Look for screws that are specifically labeled for chipboard or particle board since they'll be more than secure.

  2. 2

    Try using longer screws for a tighter fit. Longer screws go deeper into the wood, so they get a little more grip than ones that are shorter. If you have a thick piece of chipboard, endeavor to detect a screw that's about i⁄2 inch (1.iii cm) longer. Place the new screw in the hole and tighten it completely until it's secure.[x]

    Advertisement

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

  • Chipboard doesn't hold up to wear and tear over time, and then if you've made multiple repairs on it, you might be improve off replacing information technology instead.[11]

  • Avoid screwing into woods filler since information technology doesn't take the same structural support as the actual chipboard.[12]

Advertisement

References

Most This Article

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 13,347 times.

Did this article help you?