Submitted by elpuppetmaster t3_zzb79x in DIY

I’m working on relocating a Rainbow swing set and I noticed some of the 3/8 lag bolts that drive into the 4x4 cedar posts are stripped and do not tighten like the rest. What’s the proper and safe way of addressing these? Go up a size or replace the posts or something else? https://ibb.co/PjVmvnp

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ThisIsJustForPornog t1_j2ajjg6 wrote

Drill it through and put a long carriage bolt with a nut on the other end in its place?

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AlderMaggotbone t1_j2akidd wrote

I would take some wooden bbq skewers and wood glue and put a few of them in the holes. This will effectively make the hole smaller.

Alternative is to drill the hole out enough so it can tightly accommodate a wooden dowal. Once that is glued in place, you can drill the proper size hole for your lagbolt.

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MafiosoStyle t1_j2amiej wrote

A stripped lag bolt is a pilot hole for a larger lag bolt!

Kidding sort of… It would work but a carriage bolt would be better.

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kleinisfijn t1_j2ann37 wrote

First, give a good tug at those posts. If the holes are stripped out, there might be rot in those holes, making the post weak.

If it's still strong, then go with what ThisIsJustForPornog suggested.

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03223 t1_j2apnuy wrote

Or at least cut the bolts flush with the nuts. And washers under the nuts, but not under the head of carriage bolts, which have a square shank to resist turning in the wood, so you can tighten the nuts.

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Blackoutsmackout t1_j2bgjna wrote

Ok well they need something to grip maybe drill a 1/4" hole alongside the lag then hammer in a 1/4 dowel so the lag can grip and pull itself out.

That or try to find out where they would come out the backside, use a forstner or something to find the tips and push them out while spinning them.

Drill and tap the head for a 10-24 2" bolt. throw a tack weld on them cut the head off the bolt, close a drill chuck on it and spin it in reverse and pull.

Drilling things out like this is a PITA, you'll never get it right and by the time you are through the hole will be 3/4" from the drill wandering all over.

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linkuphost t1_j2bztcd wrote

Whenever I had wood stripped out, like a door striker plate, etc., the solution was wood glue and toothpicks. Suspect the same concept on a larger scale would work.

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Yummy-Beetle-Juice t1_j2cnz2h wrote

Easy way... Get a stick, or shim and glue it in the hole with CA glue. Do not fill up the whole with the shim. Screw in the lag bolts back in. The CA glue will strengthen the wood, the stick or shim will make the hole a little smaller so that the lag bolt will be tight. Look up CA glue with activator on Amazon. I use this glue quite often.

Video on CA glue. https://youtu.be/V23s-VQETBs

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Bbeck4x4 t1_j2dli0a wrote

Cedar is a very soft wood, lag screws will easily pull out, best way is to put a eye bolt with a large square washer at the top to support the weight from the swing.

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