Can you use wood glue to fix a stripped screw hole?

Yes, you can fix a stripped screw hole with wood glue when the job is light-duty. The reliable approach is to add wood back into the hole (toothpicks, matchsticks, or a dowel) with glue, let it cure fully, then drill a fresh pilot and reinstall the screw. For heavier or safety-critical connections, use a stronger mechanical fix instead.

What a stripped screw hole is

Wood fibers around the screw have crushed or torn so the threads can’t bite. The fix is to replace or reinforce those fibers, then give the screw a proper pilot hole so it can cut fresh threads.

When wood-glue fixes make sense (and when they don’t)

• Good fit: interior trim, light furniture parts, drawer fronts, or low-stress hinge screws. Filling the hole with wood plus glue and re-drilling a pilot often restores a secure hold (TNTTT forum; NAWCC forum).
• Avoid for: exterior exposure, repeated heavy loads, or anything safety-critical. In those cases, use a larger glued plug/dowel or a hardware solution like a threaded insert (FineWoodworking forum).

Proven repair methods

1) Toothpicks or matchsticks with wood glue (quick, light-duty)

Coat several plain wood toothpicks or an uncoated wooden match with wood glue and pack them snugly into the hole. Cut them flush, let the glue cure, drill a correct-size pilot, then reinstall the screw. Community tips also mention golf tees for larger holes (TNTTT forum).

2) Sawdust + wood glue paste (fills small voids)

Mix clean sawdust with wood glue into a paste, pack it tightly into the hole, allow it to harden fully, then drill a pilot and drive the screw. Clock repairers report success with this for minor damage (NAWCC forum).

3) Glued wood plug or dowel, then re-drill (stronger and repeatable)

Drill the damaged hole round, glue in a tight-fitting hardwood dowel or a cross-grain plug, let it cure, then drill a fresh pilot in the plug. Woodworkers commonly recommend this for larger or repeatedly stripped holes (NAWCC forum; FineWoodworking forum). Some prefer cross-grain plugs over end-grain dowels for better thread bite, especially under higher loads (FineWoodworking forum).

4) Fast-set cyanoacrylate (CA) glue trick

For small, light-duty fixes, some repairers wet the fibers with CA glue, or use CA gel with a dust like baking soda to set quickly, then re-pilot and screw. It’s a speedy method used on small wooden cases and trim (NAWCC forum).

Note on expanding polyurethane: woodworkers caution that foaming fills can be weak as a thread-bearing repair. Solid wood plugs or packed fibers with glue are more predictable (FineWoodworking forum).

Quick checklist before you start

• Decide the fix by load: light trim/furniture (toothpicks or sawdust), larger or stressed joints (dowel/plug)
• Match the pilot bit to the screw’s core diameter before reinstalling
• Let the glue cure fully per label before driving the screw
• Stop if the joint bears heavy or safety loads and plan a plug, insert or replacement part

Troubleshooting and stronger options

• If the screw still spins: the pilot may be oversized, or the fill wasn’t dense. Step up to a larger glued plug/dowel and re-drill.
• For parts that see frequent stress: consider a threaded insert or through-bolt solution suggested by woodworkers for benches, vises and fixtures (FineWoodworking forum).
• If the component is small and replaceable: replacing the damaged piece can be quickest long-term fix.

Related guides from Home by Doing

• How do you fix an interior door that rubs?
• Mount a headboard to the wall: studs, fixings and height

Short FAQ

Will toothpicks and wood glue hold a door hinge?

Often for light interior doors, yes. Pack the hole with glued toothpicks, cure fully, re-pilot and reinstall. For heavier doors or repeated failures, use a glued plug/dowel or a threaded insert for durability (TNTTT forum; FineWoodworking forum).

Is epoxy better than wood glue for filling holes?

Some woodworkers use epoxy (sometimes with sawdust) for fills, while many prefer solid wood plugs or dowels for screw thread bite. Choose based on load and the precision you need (FineWoodworking forum).

How long should I wait before reinstalling the screw?

Let the adhesive cure fully according to the product label before drilling a pilot and driving the screw. Premature loading often leads to another failure.