Repairing internal door

L1011

Got an issue with one of my internal doors where it seems that a previous occupant wrenched *both* handles off and then refitted them using much larger gauge screws that cut in to the holes in the handle - and hence the door.

I was able to cope with them in their wobbly state but the spring inside one broke (they're ~40 years old) so I bought replacements for the downstairs one and intend to cascade one of the replaced ones from down there up to that room until I've got the cash to buy another 5 sets..

Any suggestions on how I repair the door itself though? Its a normal 2 lever lock unit and very conventional handles on the outside, 4 screw ones; but the holes they should be going in to are now massive gaps. Its a 1990s (they reused the old handles should anyone notice an obvious time gap there!) hollow core door formed to look like a panelled wood one and I'd really prefer not to have to replace it just yet.

Is there a very strong wood filler or similar?

bozd

If they are just bigger holes then I would get wood shape plugs (make em yourself) , tap them in - put wood glue in if you like and that should do it. If its a hollow door then the effort may far outweigh the cost of replacing the door - look for secondhand one on donedeal - cost you pence as they are such shhyte.

L1011

I intend to put proper wood doors in, soonish. Just got a lot of other dear stuff to pay for first. There are doors for literally a tenner or less on DD but they're not even vaguely similar in pattern.

Might look through the dowels I have in the toolbox to see if any glue in.

dathi

use car body repair paste (isopon) to fill the holes and then drill a new pilot hole for the screw.

jack of all

dathi wrote: »

use car body repair paste (isopon) to fill the holes and then drill a new pilot hole for the screw.

+1
That stuff is great for strong and long lasting repairs to wood. I'd still prefer to use a sliver of wood to plug the large holes as I think it would take the new screws better. A beech dowel pared down would be excellent and I would use some PVA wood glue on the hole before driving it in.

whizbang

A beech dowel pared down would be excellent and I would use some PVA wood glue on the hole before driving it in.

But go right through the door to the corresponding screw hole on the other side.