I have a question for a carpenter: I have an Earnst Dieter Hilker circa 1950's. It has a door with a piano hinge on the side. The screws came loose and the holes are kind of enlarged...

BebuLamar

I have an Earnst Dieter Hilker circa 1950's. It has a door with a piano hinge on the side. The screws came loose and the holes are kind of enlarged so I can't tighten the screws tight. I wonder what I should do? I do not want to use larger screws nor replace the hinge. Perhaps put super glue in the holes then tighten the screws?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

How enlarged???

I put a toothpick (or two, or three) in the hole, break it off flush with the hinge, replace the screw.
Tighten snugly.
I would NOT use superglue.

Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA

Take a toothpick (round type) dipped in glue and insert into hole and break off even with the surface. Wait for the glue to set and install the screws.

BebuLamar

the holes are not enlarged very much as they can still hold the screws jut not tight.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Dave327 wrote:

Take a toothpick (round type) dipped in glue and insert into hole. Wait for the glue to set and install the screws.

(Wood glue, e.g Elmers)

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

Longshadow wrote:

How enlarged???

I put a toothpick (or two, or three) in the hole, break it off flush with the hinge, replace the screw.
Tighten snugly.
I would NOT use superglue.

Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA

Longshadow wrote:

(Wood glue, e.g Elmers)

Yes, or tight bond

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

BebuLamar wrote:

I have an Earnst Dieter Hilker circa 1950's. It has a door with a piano hinge on the side. The screws came loose and the holes are kind of enlarged so I can't tighten the screws tight. I wonder what I should do? I do not want to use larger screws nor replace the hinge. Perhaps put super glue in the holes then tighten the screws?

Insert a toothpick and a bit of carpenter's glue. Let set and good as new.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

BebuLamar wrote:

I have an Earnst Dieter Hilker circa 1950's. It has a door with a piano hinge on the side. The screws came loose and the holes are kind of enlarged so I can't tighten the screws tight. I wonder what I should do? I do not want to use larger screws nor replace the hinge. Perhaps put super glue in the holes then tighten the screws?

You need a Cabinet Maker not a Carpenter
If you do a search for screws of one size larger with the same sized head you may find something I have used screws like this years ago or maybe not
Example: #10 screw with a #8 head.
Otherwise the old tooth pick and a good wood glue will work nicely but keeping the screws centers can be a bitch!!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Manglesphoto wrote:

...
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Otherwise the old tooth pick and a good wood glue will work nicely but keeping the screws centers can be a bitch!!

The chamfer in the hinge screw hole will help mostly center it.

Besides, I never inspect hinges at friends houses to see that they are perfectly set.....

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Longshadow wrote:

The chamfer in the hinge screw hole will help mostly center it.

Besides, I never inspect hinges at friends houses to see that they are perfectly set.....

Missing center can cause a break out depending on the wood thickness and the off center heads can also cause the door tp spring out at the hinge.

I do notice off center screw heads when viewing cabinets, especially antiques!!!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Manglesphoto wrote:

Missing center can cause a break out depending on the wood thickness and the off center heads can also cause the door to spring out at the hinge.

I do notice off center screw heads when viewing cabinets, especially antiques!!!

I don't know how many dozen times over the past 45+ years I've used toothpicks, and never had a problem.
If one toothpick doesn't do the job, I simply back the screw out and add another.
I'll worry about that when it happens, not before.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

Moisten the tooth pick and dip it in a very small amount of Gorilla Glue, push it into the hole and break off fush. Allow to set over night and replace the screw. Gorilla Glue is water proof, sets hard and expands some when setting. If one toothpick does not fill the hole completely the expansion of the glue will probably do so.

terryMc Loc: Arizona's White Mountains

Use wood glue like Tite Bond. Push glue into the hole first, then stuff toothpick/s in to fill the hole and let it set overnight. Then trim flush, use a center punch to just make a dent then drill a starter hole with a very small bit. I Just fixed three cabinet doors this way.

BebuLamar

Manglesphoto wrote:

Missing center can cause a break out depending on the wood thickness and the off center heads can also cause the door tp spring out at the hinge.

I do notice off center screw heads when viewing cabinets, especially antiques!!!

I do want to keep it looks the way it was.