Screw holding wood putty - or something the likes

[Halgeir Wold]

Not quite sure where to put this.....but here goes....
I own two houses, and one is a fairly old construction, with lots of non standard sizes for doors and windows.
I have a problem with some of the interior doors, where the handles are fastened by small discs, about 2.5" i diameter, on each side of the door.
The lever bolt is free in the handles and goes through the door. However, the wood around the bolt holes is rather soft and porous, and somewhat "abused" over time, so there is too little bite for the screws to hold the discs. The wood thickness left on each side is sllightly less than 0.5".
I'd rather not change the doors, as they are out of size compared to modern modulus techniques.
I was thinking about thinned epoxy, or an epoxy based putty of some kind....... anyone in for ideas or thoughts on this????
BTW - fitting a hardwood disc may not work, as I have no guidance for making a fitting recess...
TIA...

EDIT: I'm in Europe, so US hardware store stuff from the US is probably NOT available here in my corner...DIY is is...... :rolleyes:

[Sam Puhalovich]

Halgeir ... if I am reading you note right ... the small screws are loose in the wood.
If that is the situation ... I use a wooden tooth-pick as a filler.
Snip-off about 3mm of the sharp point ... apply some glue to about 8mm of the 'body'.
Insert in the hole and break-off the toothpick flush to the door.
After about 20 minutes dry time: replace the screw.

[Dave Richards]

If the wood is generally soft and porous as you describe, I think your idea of epoxy is good. I would take the doors off so you can lay them down flat. Then mix up some thin, slow-setting epoxy and work it into the wood. If the holes are large enough, stir in some wood flour (sanding dust, not saw dust) to make a putty. Use that to fill the remaining holes. Once cured, you can sand it flat if needed and, of course drill it for holes for the screws. If you haven't got sanding dust, you can raid the kitchen for some white flour. It works nicely as a filler.

Ha det bra.

[Halgeir Wold]

Thanks - I've used that toothpick or splinter trick, too :-) problem is that this trick has apparently been used several times, also before I became the owner of the problem....
I was looking towards something that might reinforce the rather porous old wood around the lock boxes. That's why I thought of something like dernching with thinned epoxy and some epoxy or similar filler or spackle, but that would also give some bite for the rather tiny screws.....

[Halgeir Wold]

Dave - takk skal du ha! Det var det jeg trodde... :)

[Dave Richards]

;)

I used up most of my Norsk already. :D Except for lutefisk, lefse and some other Norwegian delicacies. :D I miss Norway, though. We might make a trip again next summer.

[Halgeir Wold]

Norwegian delicacies..... Ahem.....yes, - but some of them are better not disclosed to the rest of the world.. :)
( like Smalahove - grilled sheeps head..... )

[Dave Richards]

Ooh! I'll have to try it. I was thinking gammelost. :D

[Lee Schierer]

Minwax makes a wood hardener and a 2 part wood putty that works well for filling large holes and repairing this tye of damage in wood. I recently used it to repair a wood door for my daughter needing repair work similar to what you described.293604293605

[Dave Richards]

I expect that would be difficult to get in Norway, though.

[Grant Wilkinson]

Halgeir: Shipping to Norway may kill this idea, but you may be able to find something similar closer to home. I've used this with great success.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=20057&cat=1,190,42997

[Dave Zellers]

What would the shelf life on that be? Interesting stuff.

[Matt Krusen]

Dang it guys, now I want lefse. Going home in a few weeks and looking forward to lefse and krumkake from my bestemor!

[Halgeir Wold]

Huh.... ?? Even more Norgies around here...? :) BTW - maybe this forum should have a food branch.....:rolleyes:

Thanks guys..... I think I'll try the epoxy idea. Unfortunately, Minwax products are not available over here..... pity, as I could have several uses for the wood hardener on that house, and elsewhere too.... I don't know for sure, but I think I might get in customs trouble trying to import it myself. We used to have products like that available locally, but environmental regulations have killed that and a lot of other usefull products. Can't get decent laquers either, and a lot of the special paints are gone, too..... I can understand some of the environmental concerns, to a degree, but healthwise, proper protection products have been available for years. Seems more proper to save the dummies from themselves, these days.....

BTW - anyone have any ideas of the composition of the wood hardener?

[Peter Kelly]

There's actually a whole article on this subject in the most recent issue of FWW: http://www.finewoodworking.com/how-to/article/how-to-toughen-wood-with-epoxy.aspx

Could sign up for the free trial to get the article and then cancel.

[Jay Jolliffe]

How about drilling where the abused wood is & glue a dowel to screw into...

[scott vroom]

Norwegian delicacies..... Ahem.....yes, - but some of them are better not disclosed to the rest of the world.. :)
( like Smalahove - grilled sheeps head..... )

I made the mistake of Google Imaging "smalahove".

[Dave Richards]

I made the mistake of Google Imaging "smalahove".

:eek::D

I'll bet if you could get past the appearance, you'd find some good eating.

[scott vroom]

:eek::D

I'll bet if you could get past the appearance, you'd find some good eating.

I'll stick with steak and potatoes, thank you.

[Yonak Hawkins]

Here's a product that was recommended to me recently.. I got some but I haven't used it yet to give a review.

http://www.systemthree.com/store/pc/SculpWood-c21.htm

Another option could be Bondo. I'm certain both are readily available on the Internet.

[Halgeir Wold]

I made the mistake of Google Imaging "smalahove".

Sorry - my bad.... I shouldn't have revealed it....:D
have never eaten it myself, either.... I'll stick to lutefisk or boknafisk....

[Dave Richards]

Save some for me. ;)

[Peter Kelly]

As objectionable foods I've had go, Smalahove cannot compare to Surströmming.

[Rick Potter]

If the Minwax putty is unavailable, look in an auto parts store for body filler. The most popular here is called Bondo, and it works great on wood. I repaired a window sill that a dog had literally eaten the corner off of. Over 20 years ago, and still holding. It is a two part filler, and as long as you don't add the hardener, it has a very long shelf life. I know this because the same can of Bondo I used on that window sill is still in my shop. I used some a year ago, and it still was good.

Rick Potter

[Halgeir Wold]

FWIW - the actual meat off the smalahove is said to be very good, but the presentation.. OMG - not for the faint of heart, nor the Michelin guys, that's for sure!

Thanks guys, for your replies. Bondo is also not available here, but similar stuff is. Just hadn't thought of automotive stuff in this context....

[Grant Wilkinson]

Dave Zeller: I don't really know, but I've had a roll for a couple of years, wrapped in cling wrap and it worked fine about a month ago.

[Dave Zellers]

Dave Zeller: I don't really know, but I've had a roll for a couple of years, wrapped in cling wrap and it worked fine about a month ago.

Thanks! A couple years is plenty. Looks like a very useful thing to have on hand.