Got a screw loose?

Do loose screws drive you nuts? Here are a couple of tips for fixing them.

If the screw is in wood, remove the screw. Depending on the size, take one or more wooden toothpicks, insert them in the hole. Break the toothpicks even with the wood. Screw the screw back into the hole. If the object gets a lot of wear (like a wooden drawer pull), a touch of glue on the wooden toothpicks before you insert them in the hole makes the repair stronger.

If the screw is metal, the challenge is tougher. One method: remove the screw, wrap sewing thread around the threads of the screw. Put the screw back and screw it into the hole. A second method, remove the screw. Tear a couple of small strips of paper no wider than the diameter of the screw hole but longer than the depth of the hole. Put two or more strips of paper into the hole. Place the screw in the middle of the hole between the pieces of paper. Screw the screw back into the hole. Tear off any extra paper even with the head of the screw.

I have used these on many of occasions with success. But, if these do not work, sometimes necessity requires a larger screw.