A little wood rot around screw holes
 

The wood is slightly rotted around some of the screw holes in my car. The previous owner solved the problem by putting in slightly larger screws and it seems to have worked for a while. The problem is they seem to have been over tightened and partially stripped. Several of the screws are losing their grip and I guess I could replace them with yet another size bigger, but in this modern day I was wondering if there was some sort of wood putty I could put into the holes and then re-drill them back to their original size and use the original size screw.

Re: A little wood rot around screw holes
 

Good wood glue with hardwood plugs like match stick size or a good 2 part epoxy.

Re: A little wood rot around screw holes
 

Find something like "Git Rot" and soak the area to stop the rot. If possible drill out the hole after treatment and insert (glue) in a dowel. Once everything dries drill a pilot hole and insert the proper size screw.

Re: A little wood rot around screw holes
 

If you have access, drill out screw hole to a dowel size, insert & glue dowel and redrill hole to proper size screw.

Re: A little wood rot around screw holes
 

This is what we do. Hardwood dowels are available at most local hardware or lumber stores.

Re: A little wood rot around screw holes
 

Get out your pocket knife and whittle up some pre cut Maple or other hard wood sticks, tap in with a good wood glue, cut off and drill with a Vix-Bit or other centering drill.
Larger or longer screws might not have the correct head.

Re: A little wood rot around screw holes
 

Did you solve the cause of the rot first, or will the new plug rot too?

Re: A little wood rot around screw holes
 

I use pieces of split oak firewood from my woodpile. There are always slivers of oak loose on the logs to be pulled off in various sizes or trimmed with a pocket knife for gluing into oversize holes And good wood glue will do the job! Titebond is available her locally at Lowes.

Re: A little wood rot around screw holes
 

I would try this first. No need in drilling out oversize. You more than likely can find a scrap of wood laying around cut the corner off with a knife and use that as a plug. Being this will be subject to the weather (maybe) I would use tightbond III glue, which is good for outdoor use. By your description it doesn't sound like the area is rotted, if it is, then you need to go to plan B.

Re: A little wood rot around screw holes
 

If you are gluing a plug into the hole DON"T use PVA glue. It will cause the screws to rust in short time.
I believe it is to do with the acetic cure of PVA but stand to be corrected on that.

Re: A little wood rot around screw holes
 

If you decide to drill and plug with a dowl, check out Rockler Woodworkers Hardware for SCREW EXTRACTORS. Also handy to have around if you break a screw.