1. Check for a Loose Hinge

To repair a stripped screw hole under the hinge leaf, Tom plugs the hole and gives the screw something new to bite into. He whittles a ¼-inch-wide, slightly tapered splinter out of a scrap of wood, then squeezes wood glue onto it and into the screw hole. He taps in the plug with his hammer, and glue oozes out of the hole. "You don’t want to have a dry spot," Tom says, as he wipes away the excess, "or you won’t get good adhesion." He snaps the protruding sliver flush with the hinge leaf. With the glue still wet, he refastens the hardware, cinching the screw tight.

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Helpful Info

Gallery: Stylish Hinges

Article: Choosing and Using Hand Planes

Skill Builder: Cutting Mortises With a Drill

 Cutting Hinge Mortises

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