Calling all carpenters...

[Markymark]

We have a shelving unit and the bottom section has two wooden doors. The hinges screw into the MDF of the frame. The right door top hinges has come loose and the screws can just be pulled straight out. It looks to me like proper MDF screws were used but its just wear as the kids use that cupboard for games.

My options seem to be to strengthen where the screws go in (with some sort of glue) or move the hinge up. I don't want to move it as it will look uneven. Can anyone recommend what type of glue I should use (permanent is fine with me) or there's an alternative?

 

[cosmicbike]

Drill them out to 10mm diameter and insert dowels, glue in with PVA then reinstall hinges with existing screws

 

[Profpointy]

have you tried stuffing matchsticks in the scre-holes, cutting them off flush, and then re-screwing?

 

[Markymark]

Sorry, it's idiot o'clock here! Do you mean I drill a hole in the MDF big enough to take dowels, then glue to dowels in, the screw the screws into the dowels?

 

[cosmicbike]

Sorry, it's idiot o'clock here! Do you mean I drill a hole in the MDF big enough to take dowels, then glue to dowels in, the screw the screws into the dowels?

Yes

 

[Fnaar]

Or, drill a MASSIVE hole, and put towels in it. :-)

 

[threebikesmcginty]

What's that random picture of?

 

[cosmicbike]

Or, drill a MASSIVE hole, and put towels in it. :-)

Oh come on, I cannot be held responsible for the kindle doing its autocorrect thing

 

[Markymark]

What's that random picture of?

The holes where the screws were...

 

[Cuchilo]

Start off by glueing match sticks in and over the years progress up to dowels

 

[Andy_R]

Today, where appropriate, I am going to answer questions like this with the answer "chop it up into little bits and set fire to it"

I wonder how many times I can do it.

 

[Markymark]

Today, where appropriate, I am going to answer questions like this with the answer "chop it up into little bits and set fire to it"

I wonder how many times I can do it.

Honey, what should I do with your bike as it's blocking the door?

 

[Cuchilo]

What do you think you should do to your willy Andy ?

 

[Rezillo]

Difficult to tell for sure from the picture but it looks as if the MDF has split between the screw holes, which is why the hinge has come loose. Either the screws were too big or there was an inadequate pilot hole for them. If you put dowels or any other packing into the screw holes, the split will just get bigger and the hinge will drop off again.

You might be able to fix it by squeezing copious amounts of PVA glue into the split and using a clamp to close it up while it sets. However, I suspect it might just split again - once it loses its integrity, MDF tends to just break up in damaged areas.

P.S. Apologies to everyone else for boring reply.

[edit] P.P.S Move the hinge above or below the split....zzzzzzzzz

 

[Ludwig]

You need to re drill and if you put a bit of superglue on the screws or in the hole it will lock them. You need to get the right size screw. The wood glue I alway use is resin w by Evo stik who sponsornthe evo stik league. I was brought up in teh town where tthe evo stik factory is and went ion a tour of the factor. I didn't inspire me to go into the glue business. Anyway mdf has a lot to answer for and sometime plywood, chipboard is better although mdf does have its uses