I was hanging a ceiling fan in this room when I discovered that the mounting screw holes in the electrical box are stripped. My dad has suggested using JB Weld putty, letting it cure, drilling it out with a small bit and then using wood screws. First time homeowner and have neither the confidence nor the expertise to completely replace the box. Is my dad’s route the best course of action or is it a waste of time and/or dangerous to go that route?

  • @JemmyEnglish
    3•1 year ago

    Edit: never mind, I misunderstood the question - thought you were talking about a stripped screw head, not that the hole threads were stripped

    ~~ I can’t see the stripped screws very well in that photo. But I’ve had some previous success with stripped screws by using a pliers to grip the outside of the head to turn it.

    Sometimes an alternative bit can help (eg: using a hex bit for a stripped torx screw).

    Putting a rubber band or other elastic material in between contacting surfaces (ie: in the stripped hole or around the head) can also help with these approaches sometimes.

    You might also be able to deform/reshape the head (eg: dremel or grind flat sides onto the circumference of the head) to get a better trip with the pliers. Can take while, but might be the best option in some cases. ~~

    • GristleOPEnglish
      2•1 year ago

      Haha thanks for the reply either way. This issue being on the ceiling is what’s new to me. Hanging something on the ceiling is way scarier than on the wall.