Help: DIY Help Needed - Kitchen Cupboard Door Broken :(

Bantocks · 22-10-2007, 5:46 PM

Help needed.

My youngest son decided to use one of the kitchen cupboard doors as a swing.

As a result it came off.

This is an open swinging door below the sink to give you an idea of what type of door it is.

Unfortunately the hinge has come out taking the screws with it.

I can't screw the thing back in as there isn't enough wood left in the side panel to hold the screw.

I can't move the hinge as this would involve cutting a new circular hole in the back of the door (which sounds like a nightmare).

I was thinking of plugging the hole in the side panel with some polyfilla or something more substantial, letting it dry and then re-screwing the door in.

Any advice appreciated.

Let me know if the above doesn't make sense or you need more info.

**IronGiant** · 22-10-2007, 5:56 PM

Baby rawlplugs may do the job, if you drill the screw holes out a bit to take them, or a product like this: if the side panel is badly damaged and you need to drill it out a lot:

http://www.wetnfix.co.uk/

Dave

Bantocks · 22-10-2007, 6:02 PM

Thanks. Might try the baby raw plugs. Sounds like a good idea.

geomuss · 22-10-2007, 6:57 PM

cheaper easy way, suff the hole with matches!

snap match, cut to length, fill hole, re-screw!

GasDad · 22-10-2007, 7:56 PM

It may be possible to hang the door the from the other opposite side - depending on your kitchen units and layout.

Otherwise I'd get some woodfiller and do the job properly - I'm not convinced the 'matchstick trick' will work over such short lengths (especially in chipboard).

If this proves difficult - it is possible to buy (B&Q do them) kitchen cabinet type hinges that don't require the big locating hole - and hence could be positioned above or below the damange.

James

27neth · 22-10-2007, 9:08 PM

If you fill the holes with filler it wont last long, it will fall to bits after a short period of time. Your best bet is to drill a new hole in the door and refit. You can buy the drill bit from B&Q, just drill it slowly and make sure you dont come out the other side of the door

John.

paulyoung666 · 22-10-2007, 9:19 PM

epoxy resin 'may' sort it , any chance of a photo of the damage ????

**johnscarlet** · 22-10-2007, 9:21 PM

My kid did this a few weeks ago , except he did not just pull the crews out , but pulled a chunk of the chip board as well .
So for have tried pollyfila , no use . And Gripfill . No use . They are just not hard enough . And the screw loosen again within a week . Will try a 2 part filler / adhesive next. Araldite or something of that ilk

John

Bantocks · 22-10-2007, 9:39 PM

Pics attached.

Was thinking the wood filler was the way to go until someone mentioned it won't hold long.

I don't have the DIY skills to move the hinge elsewhere on the door as I'd have to cut out an exact shape for the hinge (I'd screw this up I'm sure).

Thanks for all the help and suggestions so far. Keep them coming.

Bantocks · 22-10-2007, 9:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Day

If this proves difficult - it is possible to buy (B&Q do them) kitchen cabinet type hinges that don't require the big locating hole - and hence could be positioned above or below the damange.

James

Just saw the second part of your post. That sounds good.

Think I'll go for that. Drilling a new locating hole was worrying me. If I can get away without this I'd be happy.

27neth · 22-10-2007, 9:53 PM

You could drill right through the cabinet into the next cabinet. Then use long bolts all the way through with washers on the back.
I would fill the broken out parts with filler so that the hinge fits flat and doesnt twist.

John.

**IronGiant** · 22-10-2007, 9:54 PM

Where are you? I have the tools to redrill the holes in your door, but no indemnity insurance, so perhaps not a good idea

Dave

**johnscarlet** · 22-10-2007, 11:06 PM

Exactly the same damage I have suffered

Yandros · 22-10-2007, 11:21 PM

We had the same thing happen to a bathroom cabinet. Filling it proved to be a total waste of time as the screw just pulled straight out as soon as we hung the door. In the end I was so fed up with it that I got medieval, and used a plasterboard fixing. It's hard to drive in, but if the hole is in a mess, it should go in and be flush.

One like this worked a treat, and it is NEVER coming out now

...

http://www.tool-net.co.uk/p-310616/t...rd-fixing.html

bobsplace · 22-10-2007, 11:25 PM

Forget the screws mate,fill the circular hinge hole with gripfill,stick the hinge in and leave for 24 hours,its going nowhere.

John7 · 22-10-2007, 11:53 PM

Easy job - fill the holes with quick setting epoxy - when dry, redrill the screw holes (carefully) and refit the hinge. That should do it.

Bantocks · 23-10-2007, 6:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 27neth

You could drill right through the cabinet into the next cabinet. Then use long bolts all the way through with washers on the back.
I would fill the broken out parts with filler so that the hinge fits flat and doesnt twist.

John.

A good idea but unfortunately the cabinet next door has a dishwasher in it. I'd have to remove it which in itself worries me as I haven't got a clue how it's plumbed in.

The epoxy resin idea mentioned by others sounds good. Will this hold?

John7 · 23-10-2007, 1:42 PM

Yes indeed - it will be stronger than the original chipboard!

For an even stronger fix, you could go into the adjacent cabinet using woodchip screws - they need to be sufficient length to go through the original cabinet and about half way into the adjacent one, allowing for the thickness of the hinge - combined with epoxy filler to repair the broken chipboard, this would provide a permanent fix

nheather · 23-10-2007, 2:50 PM

When you put the epoxy in then you need to cover it with tape or clamp a flat piece of plastic, metal or wood over it (grease the surface slightly so that the epoxy doesn't stick to it) - could also use cling film or polythene instead of grease.

This will stop the epoxy from trickling out and give you a nice flat finish.

You might want to do the epoxy in layers rather than trying to do it all at once - will be more manageable and controllable this way.

When you are ready to fit the hinge drill a small pilot hole first as the epoxy won't compress like wood and any attempt to self tap may cause the epoxy to crack.

Cheers,

Nigel