Hardware question-- any special products for this?

[fromish]

Threaded inserts should work here.

Bring the screw to a hardware store and get machine screws of the same length and thread diameter. Get threaded inserts to match the thread and size of the machine screws. The threaded inserts have coarse outside threads to bite into the wood and inside threads to match your machine screws. Screw the threaded inserts into the holes in the wood making sure to get them tight but flush with the surface of the wood. Then you can screw the brass plates and knob through the existing holes in the brass plate into the threaded inserts.

Here are threaded inserts on Rockler's site:
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=363&site=ROCKLER

This .pdf illustrates and explain how to use the inserts:
http://go.rockler.com/tech/33183.pdf

[JoeH]

Since the gate is wrought iron, the wood insert fix is not suitable. But there are various inserts for fixing holes in metal, the kind to use will depend on how thick the metal the hole is on and whether there is something behind the hole or not.

[Black]

JoeH wrote:
Since the gate is wrought iron, the wood insert fix is not suitable. But there are various inserts for fixing holes in metal, the kind to use will depend on how thick the metal the hole is on and whether there is something behind the hole or not.

There is nothing behind the hole, and the metal is not particularly thick (1/8"?)

[artie67]

Black,
Is this a "condo/apartment" gate made of 1" box material?
If so, you have stripped out the hole and maybe with a longer screw and drilling a correct size hole in the other side get a proper metal screw to hold the latch. Just that easy.
You need to give the forum some clues as to the material where the latch is located.

[Black]

artie67 wrote:
Black,
Is this a "condo/apartment" gate made of 1" box material?
If so, you have stripped out the hole and maybe with a longer screw and drilling a correct size hole in the other side get a proper metal screw to hold the latch. Just that easy.
You need to give the forum some clues as to the material where the latch is located.

I tried to explain that the hole had already been mangled when the handle was smashed off before.
I don't quite understand what it is that I have not given adequate cues about.
Here's the best I can do for an image right now- from Google Street View ca. 2011...the handle in the image is the one that was smashed off.

[testcase]

Loctite. Available at hardware stores, home centers etc. Different formulas available depending on how much holding power you need. Add a drop onto the screw threads before screwing assembly together.


http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0...lias%3Daps&field-keywords=loctite&sprefix=Locti%2Caps%2C508&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aloctite

[RAMd®d]

Locktite was the first thing I thought of.

If the screw will tighten, then Locktite will keep it from vibrating loose.

Generally, the Locktite Blue would be used where you need to remove the screws at some later date. Locktite Red is used when you want the screw permanently locked. Since the hole is a little mangled, Red might be the way to go, but there's the chance the screws won't loosen when you need to replace the lock.

I'd start with that Blue.

[Ken Sp.]

To repair stripped out metal threads use a thread insert like helicoil.

https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en&tab=ww#hl=en&q=helicoil

[DRR]

Loctite won't work if the hole itself is too big. If the hole was undamaged and screw was getting loose from daily stress, then sure it would help lock the threads but if the hole and threads themselves are damaged there's little loctite could do.

Without getting a good look at it and how much damage there is, I'd think you'd need something more like JB Weld.

[Black]

The hole is loose enough that the screw can easily be pushed in to seat completely by hand, and then comes loose and prevents the gate from being closed. So just glop the JB weld in there, tighten, and hope for the best?