Door/screws problem

[TopJob]

I'm trying to fix the handle mechanism on an internal door. The door is an oldish, cheapo one, not made of solid wood and so, over the course of time has started to crumble at the handle area.

The door handles can't be screwed tightly into the wood because there is nothing much left for the screws to grip.

I tried some good old pollyfilla but, clearly, it just crumbled under the strain. I can't use dowel either because there's no where for it go as the hole is just so knackered.

Rather than replacing the door (so as to avoid having to refit/repaint etc) I'm hoping that there is a decent strong filler of some sort that I could use to basically refill the entire hole and start again. Something expandable, maybe, so that it would fill into all the little cracks and crevices, but that would then allow me to fit screws into it.

Any help/advice appreciated.
Thanks

Untitled

• TopJob
• 17 Feb 2009
• 1

Untitled

• TopJob
• 17 Feb 2009
• 1

 

[xerxes]

I often find that pieces of matchstick, or wood slivers chiseled off to suit, are good for getting screws to hold in enlarged holes. I would try this, in conjunction with some gap-filling adhesive such as Gripfill.

I don't understand why you say that you can't fit pieces of dowel. That would be a better way of dealing with the problem, usually, but it takes just a little more time.

However, if these approaches don't suit then perhaps you have to consider chiseling a recess and gluing in a block of wood, then mortising that to refit the catch.

 

[xerxes]

Er, I've just reread your question properly, and see that you say the handle can't be fixed, rather than the catch.

It looks like you may have a hollow door with a narrow piece of timber at the edge, and the fixing screws are going into the void. You may have to consider chopping out part of the door skin behind the handle and gluing in a block of wood, redrilling for the spindle and fixing the handle to that.

 

[TopJob]

Thanks for the replies. I think the door is, as you say, hollow with timber at the edge so gluing in a block of wood to fill it sounds like the best option.

Thanks

 

[squowse]

if you change the handles for one with a larger plate, then the screws will be in different places and problem solved if i understood you correctly.

 

[HandyHands]

Alternatively, rotate the handle back plate (which is usually independant of the spindle) until the screw holes are in a different location.

 

[TopJob]

@Squowse & HandyHands - thanks. Both, great suggestions. I think I will have to go for larger base plates, just keep balking at the cost of a pack of them!

 

[Bilioustrumpstaine]

Get some very small rawl plugs.

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/n...ndid=9290625&ecamp=trf-005&CAWELAID=266917140

You can get these from any electical wholesaler, they are plugs used for cable clips allowing them to be fitted to hard surfaces. You will need to find some suitable screws as well.

If there is not enough material to fit the plug then use some epoxy resin (Araldite type) to get a solid fix. good idea to take the mechanism out so you don't get any glue on it.

 

[Symptoms]

Top - you have a flush door (basic wooden frame skinned with probably hardboard each side). First, try using small plastic wall plugs in door edge to enable the tubular latch to be screw fixed. Ditto existing handle plates (consider plasterboard type plugs here as they'll expand when the screws are inserted). If this cheap fix doesn't work then consider the larger plates ... you say "I think I will have to go for larger base plates, just keep balking at the cost of a pack of them!" ... cost = £4.99 for a pair of Victorian Straights from Screwfix.