Stripped screw has me stuck with a kitchen cabinet that won't close

Pat Jackson · 2026-02-26T03:05:28.617589+00:00

I was tightening up a loose hinge on my old cabinet when the screw head stripped out completely. Now the door hangs open and rattles every time I walk by. I tried the rubber band trick, but it just snapped and made a mess. My drill with a reverse bit didn't grab anything either. I'm thinking about using a screw extractor, but I've heard they can break off and make things worse. Has anyone had success with a different method? I'm open to any tips before I resort to filling the hole and starting over. This is turning into a bigger headache than I expected.

mason.stella6mo ago

It's just a cabinet door, right? Like how bad can it really be if it doesn't close all the way.

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john_dixon616mo ago

Oh man, stripped screws are my specialty. I'm so good at them I should charge for lessons. Last time I tried to fix one I made it look like a cartoon character attacked it with a hammer.

9

hunt.rowan6mo ago

The rubber band trick snapped and made a mess? @john_dixon61's cartoon attack might be your only hope now!

1