Posted: 5/26/2005 2:11:41 PM EDT
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Can I use standard wood filler to patch a screw hole in a particle board desk? I was moving it and the keyboard holder was ripped out of the underside of the desk. It's held in place by wood screws screwed directly into particle board (great construction). When the screws were ripped out, a chunk of particle board was ripped out along with them. I need to fill the holes, redrill into the filler, and put in new screws of the same size as the old screws. So, I need a wood filler that will fill the holes (1/4" diameter max) and have enough strength to be drilled and accept the old wood screws. I cannot use larger screws. Will this work? 
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Thats what I would use. That stuff is stronger than the particle board. |
Use this way, that stuff won't hold a screw. |
Sounds like a great idea. But I don't think I have the tools to do it. I was hoping that wood filler would be strong enough to hold the screws. |
1/4" dowel, 1/4" drill bit. Epoxy in a short chunk of dowel. (Use 30 minute epoxy, then drill/mount the next day). That would be the Proper Way of fixing it. Otherwise thee glue you posted will work for a while, then rip out, and you will do it all over again... |
I run into this quite often on the job. Do as DD said except my preference would be for yellow carpenters glue insted of Liquid Nails. Glue in the dowel, let it set overnight, then pre-drill the screw hole. FWIW YMMV DFB |
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For a stripped out screw hole in wood or particle board the quickest fix and a good fix is to glue match sticks into the hole with white or yellow glue. But as I understand what you described happened is a chunk of the particle board has ripped out along with the screws. For this situation I would use JBWeld. It is a two part epoxy with filler added. It is great for filling in missing pieces, filling screw holes and is a great cement. It can be drilled and tapped, and is way stronger than particle board. Use it to glue the bracket back under the desk or fill in the missing area with the JBWeld and after it hardens drill pilot holes and screw the bracket back on. You can buy JBWeld anywhere that glue or epoxy is sold. The wood filler that you have in the picture is for woodworking when you need to fill a small void in the surface of a piece of wood that will have a finish applied to it. The wood filler can be sanded and made to conceal a defect but is not for cementing pieces together or for repair work. |
I was trying to think of a nice way to say this. We call it "shitboard."  Is there any chance you can move the screws a bit? |
Ask Lee about the time he got a bookshelf unit from IKEA that was 10 inches too wide and had to trim it. All IKEA uses is particle board. Neither of us were aware of this. |
I've heard it called "taint board" too--cuz it tain't no good. 
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| Eh I hate particle board but I had a somewhat similar problem with a computer desk a while back. With me it was the screws for the hinges on a door that I couldn't get to stay in place. They were small screws and that's a horrible combination with particle board. I just put some epoxy into the holes, then put the screws in (no need to screw them in since the holes were stripped) and lightly clamped the whole hinge/screws on there for a few hours. Now the problem is solved and it's held up fine. |
You're the man. Ain't purty, but worked perfectly. Why didn't I think of that? 
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Few people are aware of it, but you are exactly right. I know a bunch of people in the Ikea cult, and I just laugh at them everytime they buy a "nice piece of furniture" (read: particle board with veneer coatings and fancy pull-handles). I'm amazed at how many people believe they are buying actual wood. -Troy |
Relocate the screws to an undamaged portion of the wood. Or bond a pair of 1x2s as new attachment points for the tray brackets. |
It took you TWO MONTHS? 
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+1 |