How can I fix bolts stripping the wood in cedar stair stringers?

Question

I have 3 bolts securing the railing that are bolted into the cedar stair stringer. problem is 3 of the bolts aren't in the holes that well. when I go to tighten them they just keep turning but don't go anywhere. Is there a quick fix I can do to make the bolts bite into the wood or secure them better? epoxy?

Answer 1

I would drill all he way through and instead of using lag bolts, get carriage bolts and nuts with washers. Cedar is a soft wood, and seems likely to strip around lag threads.

Answer 2

Cedar is a relatively soft wood, and particularly in an exterior setting, can expand and contract seasonally with the humidity changes. You mention using an epoxy to fill the hole, usually, this would only be used to set a bolt in concrete, mortar, etc, not wood, because of the seasonal changes in dimension of the lumber.

Whenever possible, I like to run a bolt all the way thru the board in a case like this, with large washers on both sides of the wood. Zinc plated nuts, bolts, and washers, are a good choice to prevent rust.

If for some reason you just cannot run a bolt all the way thru the board, then you can relocate the hole, or partially fill the existing one. Matchsticks (snap the tip off first, of course, hehe) work well in this case. Other choices might be toothpick for smaller holes, or even popsickle sticks, sliced lenghtwise (tin snips). In this case you want to use a good exterior glue - Titebond III (a water based glue, but water proof once dry), Liquid Nails (construction adhesive), or even a polyurethane adhesive, like Gorilla Glue will work. Dry fit your wood sliver, you want it to be flush with the surface, so mark it, and cut it off, as needed. Squirt some glue into the hole, insert the wood, and let it dry. Depending on which glue you chose, this may take up to a day, or two. Then drive the new lag bolt in.

One more option is to actually fill the hole (glue in a dowel for instance), and then re-drill a pilot hole for the lag bolt.

Have Fun

Answer 3

Bolts or wood screws? Sometimes you can put a sliver of wood into the hole and put some wood glue on it then let it dry. After it dries you can tighten the screw down into it again. Or you can just use a bigger screw.