In this article (part one of a two part series) we will discuss the easiest way to fix the common household problem of loose door and cabinet hinges.
Kitchen and bathroom cabinets are notorious for failing to attach hinges. After much repetitive use, often the cabinet hinge becomes loose and the door sags and is unable to function properly.
Typically, standard cabinet hinges, including “self-closing” hinges, may require moderate screw tightening and the problem is resolved. More often than not, the screws have loosened, wearing away at the wood they are embedded in, and no amount of tightening will keep the screw in place.
An easy solution to this problem is to inject some wood glue directly into the original screw pocket, then tamp as many toothpicks (wooden matches work well for this too) as you can force into the pocket. Allow the glue to set before trimming the toothpick inserts flush with the face of the cabinet door or trim. Do not break the extended part of the toothpick, cut it with a serrated knife or a fine-toothed saw. Once this is accomplished, you can screw the screw back into the repaired pocket and it will hold just as tight and secure as when the cabinet was new. This repair technique is especially effective for repairs to particle board, laminate, and solid wood cabinet materials.
Loose hinges on passage or entry doors can be a bit more difficult to repair due to the weight of most doors.
Usually a problem occurs when the hinge screw wears away into the wood of the door jamb where it is attached and again, repairing the screw pocket is a good first option. Most door jambs are only ¾” thick, and while there will be a 2″x4″ structural stud mounted directly behind the jamb, often this 2″x4″ is not flush with the hinge location. Door hinge screws are typically only 5/8″ or ¾” long, and will only penetrate the jamb. This accessory may not be enough to hold a heavy door properly, and the weight of the door it will eventually pull the hinge out of the jamb.Use the same technique to repair the hinge -Screw pocket, as we’ve discussed above, may work well.Another option would be to replace the most central hinge screw with a screw sufficiently long to penetrate both the jamb and the 2″x4″ stud behind it.
Using a hand or power drill, drill a pilot hole (1/2 the diameter of the screw) in the screw pocket, penetrating the 2″x4″. Door hinge screws are often made of brass and simply won’t hold up to being stepped on in hardened wood, so a pilot hole is recommended to prevent the screw from binding or stripping while driving. Apply some beeswax (candle wax or crayons work well too) along the threads of the screws before driving them in to ensure they drive easily.