Drawer handle tightening in Exeter
Professional drawer handle tightening services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
20-30 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Wobbly drawer handles tightened and secured. Simple job, but fiddly when there are lots to do or when screws have stripped. I'll tighten what works and repair what doesn't - your handles will be solid again.
That Annoying Wobble
Every time you open the drawer, the handle wobbles. You keep meaning to tighten it. You forget. It gets worse.
Then one day you pull the drawer and the handle comes off in your hand. Screw's gone. Now it's a repair instead of a quick tighten.
💡 Do it before they fall off: Catching loose handles early means quick tightening. Waiting until they fall off means finding screws, repairing holes, faff.
Why Handles Loosen
| Cause | What's Happening | The Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Normal use | Constant pulling gradually loosens screws | Tighten and add threadlock |
| Short screws | Not enough thread engagement | Replace with longer screws |
| Soft material | Particle board doesn't hold screws well | Add washers or use toggle fixings |
| Stripped thread | Hole worn, screw just spins | Fill and redrill or use insert |
The Quick Fix
For handles that just need tightening:
- Remove drawer
- Tighten screws from inside
- Add washers if needed
- Check they're secure
- Job done
For stripped threads:
- Fill hole with wood glue + dowel
- Let dry, redrill
- Refit with new screw
- Now it'll actually stay tight
What You Get
🔧 The Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Check | Test every handle, find which are loose |
| Tighten | Secure the ones that just need tightening |
| Repair | Fix stripped threads that won't hold |
📦 You're Left With
- Solid handles that don't wobble
- Screws that actually grip
- No risk of handles falling off mid-use
- Furniture that feels quality again
Pricing Guide
| What's Needed | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Simple tightening (screws still grip) | 20 mins | £60 |
| Mix of tightening and stripped thread repairs | 30-45 mins | £60 |
| Full chest of drawers (checking and securing all handles) | 30 mins | £60 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after.
This Service Is Perfect If...
✅ Multiple loose handles - worth getting them all done at once
✅ Stripped threads - screw spins but doesn't tighten
✅ Can't reach fixings - awkward drawer construction
✅ Prevention - securing handles before they actually fall off
Why Choose Us for Drawer handle tightening in Exeter?
Handles secure and don't wobble
Screws tightened or replaced
Stripped threads repaired if needed
All handles checked and secured
What to Expect
Step 1: Assessment
Pull out each drawer, test each handle. Work out which just need tightening and which have stripped threads that need proper repair.
Step 2: Tighten What Works
For handles where the screw still grips, straightforward tightening from inside the drawer. Add washers if needed to stop them loosening again.
Step 3: Repair Stripped Threads
For holes that won't hold a screw anymore, fill with dowel/glue, let it cure quickly, redrill, and refit. Now they'll stay tight.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to tighten them yourself? Here's how:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Screwdriver (match the screw head type)
- Drill (if repairing stripped threads)
- Wood glue and cocktail sticks or thin dowel
- Replacement screws (if current ones are damaged)
📐 For simple tightening
- Pull drawer out completely
- Look inside - you'll see screw heads
- Hold handle from front while tightening from inside
- Don't over-tighten (cracks the front)
- Test - handle should be solid, not wobbling
📐 For stripped threads
- Remove handle and screw
- Pack the hole with wood glue and cocktail sticks
- Let glue dry completely (overnight ideally)
- Cut flush and drill new pilot hole
- Refit handle with screw - now it'll grip
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Over-tightening (cracks the drawer front)
- Not holding the handle while tightening (it spins)
- Trying to tighten stripped threads (just makes it worse)
- Using wrong size screwdriver (damages the screw head)
💡 Pro trick: If handles keep loosening, add a tiny dab of threadlock (or even clear nail varnish) to the screw threads before tightening. Creates friction that stops them working loose. Don't use too much or you'll never get them off again.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Doing a full chest of drawers? If some handles are loose, others probably aren't far behind. Worth checking and tightening them all while I'm there - prevents future annoyance.
Kids' furniture: Children absolutely batter drawer handles. If you've got kids' bedroom furniture, worth checking handles every so often and tightening before they fail.
Flat-pack furniture: IKEA and similar use short screws into particle board - notorious for loosening. Sometimes worth upgrading to slightly longer screws when tightening.
Replacement vs repair: If handles are loose because they're cheap, old, or damaged, might be worth replacing rather than constantly tightening. New handles are cheap and transform furniture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do drawer handles work loose?
Constant pulling gradually loosens the screws, especially on cheaper furniture where the screws are short or the material is soft. Kids yanking drawers makes it worse. Eventually the screw just spins in the hole and doesn't hold anymore.
Can't I just tighten them myself?
Often yes - if the screw still grips, just tighten it. But if it spins without tightening (stripped thread), or if it's an awkward fixing you can't reach easily, or if there are lots to do, makes sense to get someone. Also, I'll check if they need washers or better screws to actually stay tight.
What if tightening doesn't work?
If the thread is stripped (screw just spins), I'll fix that - either fill the hole and redrill, use a larger screw, or add a washer/nut to take up the slack. There's always a solution short of replacing the whole handle.
How long do tightened handles stay tight?
Depends on use and quality. If I've just tightened existing screws, they might loosen again eventually. If I've repaired stripped threads or upgraded fixings, should last much longer. I'll tell you what'll hold and what might need watching.
Is it worth doing before they fall off?
Absolutely - once a handle actually falls off, you've usually lost the screw (or it's damaged), and the hole might be damaged too. Catching them while they're just loose means a quick tighten instead of a repair.
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