How to Repair Stripped Screw Holes in Antique Furniture

Loose hinges and fittings are often caused by crushed fibres around a screw hole. Installing a larger screw may split the wood or alter historic hardware.

Assess before treatment

Remove the fitting carefully and check the screw against neighbouring originals. Look for previous matchsticks, filler, plugs, glue or offset holes. Confirm the fitting's correct historic position.

Record the present condition in clear photographs. Work in good natural or neutral light and choose a small, inconspicuous test area. Stop immediately if colour, gloss, coating or fibres move onto a cloth or brush.

A conservative method

Clean only loose material. Fit a close-grained wooden insert or tapered plug aligned with the surrounding grain, bonded with compatible adhesive. Once cured, trim locally, reposition the hardware accurately, and drill a pilot hole sized for the screw's core.

Proceed gradually and reassess after each pass. More treatment is not always better: stable age, wear and patina can be more important than achieving a uniformly new appearance.

What to avoid

Do not pack the hole with soft filler, sawdust paste or loose matchsticks. Avoid longer screws unless safe depth has been measured. Never move a hinge merely to find fresh wood without considering alignment and evidence.

Keep products away from adjacent materials unless their compatibility is known. Labels such as “natural,” “gentle” or “antique safe” do not prove that a product suits a particular historic coating.

Aftercare

Wax the screw threads lightly if appropriate, tighten until the fitting is secure rather than crushing the fibres, and check movement through its full range.

Record what was used, where and when. Stable temperature, moderate humidity, careful handling and protection from spills usually do more for long-term preservation than frequent polishing or cleaning.

When specialist help is needed

Consult a conservator if the surface is flaking, sticky, severely stained, decorated, gilded, structurally cracked or associated with a documented maker or important provenance. Testing and restraint protect both appearance and historical evidence.