Carpentry and Woodworking - Cracked wood door not closing!!

The wood on my exterior door cracked real bad where the top hinge screws attach to it (not the jamb, but the actual door). So right now, the door is only got the middle and lower hinge supporting it. Considering its real cold now in Chicago, any ideas on how to band-aid this door till spring when I can replace it entirely? Its sagging and not closing now.

If you fill the holes with yellow wood glue and toothpicks, it will give you a new base to be able to screw into. You can find some at Home Depot, Lowes, or your local woodworking store. I recommend Titebond II glue. Any titebond will work. Let the glue dry for 24 hours, seeing how cold we have it here. Break off toothpicks, only after the 24 hours, then re screw them in.

Thank you for the reply, Mike! The area where the top hinge goes is cracked pretty bad and wide, with some wood missing from there now. At this point, clamping the door and gluing it may not be an option. Any other ideas would be appreciated.

If it's split, clamping and gluing it will work. To fill any voided out parts, use Car Bondo. You will also be able to screw into that too.

George2002,

If whatever you end up doing as a repair involves the use of aliphatic resin glue, such as Titebond II which is, by the way, a very fine product, please be aware that you must do it with temperatures above 55 deg F while it cures. I think the new Titebond III can withstand slightly colder temperatures...47F, I think. I mention this since you stated that it "real cold" in Chicago right now.

These are the chalk temperatures of these products. You will be able to tell if the cure has "chalked" if the joint shows white residue instead of yellow. If this happens, the joint will fail.

Good luck,