I have a plug socket (installed by a previous owner) which is mounted on a wooden panel. Behind the socket the wood has split away and so the socket's screws don't bite into the wood any more.

The socket is coming away from the wall and I need to fix it back to make it safe. If I cut out the split wood, can I use some sort of filler or fibre glass compound to build this area back up? Could this be strong enough to screw into?

Paul, September 2007

get yourself a tube of gripfill its building grade glue squeeze this onto wood and then push on the eletrical box and then leave it for 24hrs to cure...job done....

daveybuc, November 2007

If the wood panel is hollow you may be able to get some small "brolley Bolts" These are available in various sizes and the beauty of them is that once fitted the screws (which would attached the socket face to the wall/panel) can be removed when required without losing the fixings.

I had a similar problem with a stud (hollow lathe and plaster wall) what i did was remove the socket and fixed with no nails -inside of the wall two small pieces of wood - then screwed the socket back to the wall and the screws bit into the wood I fitted....this worked quite well

Good luck!

Nigel, October 2007

Usually the socket is in a metal box that the screws go into
but fiberglass might work ...

bg, October 2007