Hanging a wooden top light

[PhilB65]

Bit of a newbie to DIY so please excuse the lack of knowledge.

My problem is I have a 1930's house where all the original windows (especially the top lights) have the hinges set 1-3mm too far in so the windows don't close fully on the non-hinged side, and most of the screws have been driven in off square. I stripped all the paint off all of them to clean them up thinking the 8 layers of paint!!! wasn't helping, but the fit is still out.

Is there a way to reset the screws as every time I try to drill another pilot in the right place the screws start to go back to the original holes. Is there a foolproof way of centring the screws as have seen self-centring punches that may help with the doors that are having new hinges.

Any help would be most appreciated as it gets very drafty in winter due to the gaps.

Phil

 

[stevethejoiner]

You will have to close up the original screw holes to stop the screws running of alignment into the existing holes. A simple way to do this is tap matchsticks into the old holes, but they need to be a tight fit. So if the holes are too big for matchsticks then cut some tapered strips of wood that will fill the holes.
To make sure the new screws centre correctly in the hinge holes you could invest in a Trend Snappy Centring Guide for your drill, there are 3 sizes depending on screw size.
Steve

 

[PhilB65]

Thanks Steve,

I'll try that when there is a dry day or two.

Phil

 

[leew2]

You can buy a strong 2-part wood filler called 'repair wood for good' stick some of this in the screw holes and maybe stick a matchstick in for good measure, wait for it to fully cure then drill new holes. If that don't work, you could try chiseling out say 8mm more hinge recess to one side or the other of the hinge and move the hinge so the screws are in virgin wood and the use the 'repair wood for good' to fill the reminder of the old recess.