Repairing hinge that has ripped out of laminated chipboard

Nov 05, 2024 5 Replies

A cupboard door is held on by two hinges: the sort that are recessed into a blind circular hole in the door, so moving the hinge is a major exercise.



The hinges are screwed into 10 mm laminated chipboard on the cupboard itself by parallel (ie not tapered) grub screws which are a few mm in diameter. Both screws for one of the hinges have pulled out of the chipboard and so the hinge cannot be screwed firmly so it is flush with the board, making the door hang crooked.



What is the best way to fill the ragged edge of the ripped-out holes so the existing screws, with the hinge still in its original position, can be used to fasten the hinge in place?



Wood glue? No More Nails?



Ideally I need to be able to unscrew the hinge again if it ever becomes necessary, as opposed to gluing the screws in permanently.


Remove the door, remove the hinge, clean-out the screw holes and fill them with epoxy resin. Once resin has cured: refit hinge (drill pilot holes for the screws) and door. Alternatively (and better, but needs a little more skill) drill the screw holes oversize and glue-in suitable inserts.

Car body filler, applied with some pressure. Or any other polyester resin + filler. Liquid metal etc.

Useless

In which case, glob the ragged holes with filler, and put soap or grease on the screws and put them in whilst the body filler is still soft. Let it set around them

In extremis, remove all the crumbled chipboard, fill with resin filler, and drill new holes. CBF is drillable and tappable or will take self taps brilliantly.

I've kept more kitchen cupboards going years past their sell by date with CBF than I can shake a stick at.

What about a kitchen hinge repair kit:

formatting link

Crikey. Way more expensive than a squirt of car body filler or liquid metal. (Epoxy isn't as good, it doesn't set so hard)

Try these.

formatting link
These simply screw onto the chipboard then remount your hinge using a couple of self tappers into the dished holes. All these Blum type hinges share the same hole centres and the same distance in from the front edge.

Richard

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required