Wood door frame hinge screws

[Hemsley]

A DIY advice request!

 

Having washed my car several times I’m now taking advantage of this warm dry spell to remove and refit my patio french doors because they seize up in the wet winter weather. They jam at the top, bottom and sides of the doors.

 

Now I’ve run into a bit of an issue because they’ve been fitted with STEEL wood screws which have rusted. When trying to gently ease them out 10 out of 12 in one side of one door frame have just sheared off, or cam-out.

 

I’ve several more doors to tackle yet, and my limited thoughts so far on overcoming this - to drill out the heads, then drill new screw holes in the hinges, and refit with either brass or stainless screws.

 

Doors and frames seem to be mostly ok, and I think it is all made from good hardwood.

 

So far the Cobalt 4.1mm and 6.5mm bits which I bought for drilling the Westfield chassis are making easy work of the rusty steel screws...

 

 

[pistonbroke]

The first thing you could have done with the seized screws was to apply heat to each screw head in turn , (I use my 50 yr old Weller soldering gun) ,  any soldering iron will do just that lower wattage jobs take longer to heat the screw up  , the process is just the same as for steel bolts rusted in metal but you find with wood the screws practically fall out , you might try the same method if you can drill a suitable hole then use an "easy out" to get the broken screws out . 

Otherwise its drill them out but then the hole will be too big for a suitable sized screw ( head to big for the countersink ) unless you fill the hole and re drill for the correct size screw . 

HTH. 

 

[pistonbroke]

As an after thought if you dont have an iron you could use a suitable length of steel or brass/ copper  rod and heat that with your blow torch which i am sure every good Westfield owner has 

[kenton]

Looking at your hinges the holes are staggered differently on each side. If so, why not remove the screws from the door and frame, rotate hinge and re fit.

[Hemsley]

Thanks for all the brilliant tips. I do have a couple of soldering irons. Is the idea to sort of get the screw so hot that it effectively scorches where the thread meets the wood?

[wizzer]

Hi Hemsley 

You could try to tighten the screw first before you try to unscrew it , at the same time shock it by using a posi screwdriver and turning it and hitting it at the same time, 

If they snap of take the door off with the hinges still on the door then you can try to get the screws out of the frame i.e. drill them out ,punch them sideways . Then you can plug the hole with a piece of timber make a little peg and hammer it in then chisel  it of flush, 

You could use gold coloured steel screws ,brass screw will be slotted head, the hinges are fitted the right way round on your doors ,dont ask me why thats the way I was told 30 odd years ago it's got three knuckles on the door and two on the frame. 

P.s never tried the heating the screw idea not saying it won't work, never seen a joiner with a soldering iron in his bag😉

Tony 

[Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO]

When you first try the screw if it feels like its going to be hard work not to break it, get either an old screwdriver or a screwdriver bit that fits the screw head put it into the screw head and give it a sharp crack with a hammer, that usually breaks the 'bond' where the screw has rusted to the wood.

Edit to add when you put your new screws in dip them in a bit of grease first it really helps.

ps don't do this on polished timber.

[SootySport]

You won’t get the old screws out. Just relocate the hinges above or below the existing location, then fill the old holes and rebate.

[wizzer]

3 minutes ago, SootySport said:

You won’t get the old screws out. Just relocate the hinges above or below the existing location, then fill the old holes and rebate.

I think if he's struggling with a few broken screws he's not going to be able to re-hang a door😉

[SootySport]

1 hour ago, wizzer said:

I think if he's struggling with a few broken screws he's not going to be able to re-hang a door😉

Why not?  Just de capitate the old screws Or Dremel the existing hinges and use new hinges and screws.

[corsechris]

7 hours ago, kenton said:

Looking at your hinges the holes are staggered differently on each side. If so, why not remove the screws from the door and frame, rotate hinge and re fit.

 

I thought that too...but of you look at it carefully, when you rotate it 180 degrees (or flip it - same result), it ends up the same

 

You could fit the hinge with the the existing countersinks facing the frame and make new ones - that would work to shift the holes, but only if the hinge axis is central. And it assumes there is enough material in the hinge to countersink both sides and still leave some material for the screws to bear on.

 

Great tip on heating the screws @pistonbroke not tried that one before. I have used the 'whack it' @Paul Hurdsfield suggests. Usually works well.

[pistonbroke]

5 hours ago, SootySport said:

You won’t get the old screws out. Just relocate the hinges above or below the existing location, then fill the old holes and rebate.

Oh really , have you ever tried the heat option , it works    and any damage is minimal , clouting the screw head with a driver &  hammer can easily lead to tears , unless of coarse , like Paul Hurdsy above , you are an expert at the job 

[SootySport]

Works with metal on metal ok but not on wooden frames.  The rust from the screws swells and embeds itself into the wood.  Suppose if you have unlimited time then they’ll come out eventually. For me I wouldn’t bother, relocate the hinges, easier and quicker.

[wizzer]

2 minutes ago, SootySport said:

relocate the hinges, easier and quicker.

Ive been a joiner 34 year, thats the last thing I'd do. Just drill them out plug them up, and new screw back in .

Tony 

[SootySport]

2 minutes ago, wizzer said:

Ive been a joiner 34 year, thats the last thing I'd do. Just drill them out plug them up, and new screw back in .

Tony 

How do you drill them out?