In a nutshell
- 🔧 Paper shims stop squeaks by interrupting metal-on-metal contact, taming stick–slip friction with compressibility and added damping.
- 📰 Roll a strip of newspaper around the hinge pin, optionally wick with a drop of light mineral oil; refit and trim—don’t over-thicken or obstruct the latch.
- 🧪 Paper acts as a simple bearing liner and oil reservoir via capillary action, delivering thin-film boundary lubrication exactly where it’s needed.
- đź“Ź Material choices matter: porous newsprint for temporary fixes, PTFE tape for cleaner lining, card for packing; avoid cooking oils and manage thickness wrap by wrap.
- 🛠️ If noise returns or alignment is off, move to permanent remedies—longer screws, brass shim behind leaves, new pins or hinges with nylon bushings—using the paper test as diagnosis.
It’s the sort of hack whispered across workshops and kitchen tables: roll a strip of yesterday’s paper, tuck it into a door hinge or behind a latch, and the squeak vanishes. The remedy sounds quaint, yet the science is crisp. A paper shim interrupts metal-on-metal contact, calming the tiny vibrations that our ears interpret as a screech. Because newsprint is thin, fibrous, and just compressible enough, it spreads load and adds damping without jamming the mechanism. This is a stopgap, not a structural fix, but as a zero-cost way to silence a nuisance—or diagnose where the noise originates—it’s difficult to beat.
Why Paper Shims Silence Squeaky Hinges
A squeak is usually stick–slip friction: two metal surfaces alternately grip and jump across microscopic peaks, pumping out high-frequency vibration. Insert a tight roll of cellulose fibre and you change the physics. Paper’s slight compressibility increases contact area and dulls the sharp shear events that create that shrill tone. It also adds damping, soaking up micro-movements before they become audible. The result is a smoother transition from static to dynamic friction, which your hinge translates as silence rather than song.
There’s a second effect. Paper behaves as a primitive bearing liner and a reservoir for light oil, creating a thin film of boundary lubrication precisely where metal rubbed. The fibres wick lubricant by capillary action, keeping it where it matters. Paper doesn’t “cure” a worn hinge; it simply interrupts the vibration pathway. That makes it ideal for quick relief and for confirming whether the culprit is the hinge barrel, the pin, or a misaligned strike plate.
Rolling and Fitting a Newspaper Shim: A Quick Method
For hinge barrels, cut a strip of newspaper 10–15 mm wide and the length of the hinge pin. Roll it snugly—not tight enough to tear—and dab a trace of light mineral oil if available. Lift the door slightly to ease load, withdraw the pin, wrap the roll around it, then reinsert. Trim any proud edge. The aim is a neat sleeve that doesn’t bunch. If the door binds or won’t self-close, remove and roll a thinner shim. The silence is usually immediate.
When the squeak seems to come from the leaf against the jamb, slide a small folded strip between the leaf and the mortice where the rub marks show, then retighten the screws. For a rattling latch, place a compact roll behind the strike plate to nudge it closer to the latch bolt. Do not obstruct the bolt throw or the deadlatch function; test the handle, latch, and lock with the door both open and closed to ensure safe operation and reliable latching.
Choosing the Right Paper and Complementary Lubricants
Not all paper behaves equally. Plain newsprint is porous and compliant, ideal for a temporary shim. Coated magazine pages are often clay-filled, too slick when dry yet prone to crumbling once creased. Thin PTFE tape can substitute if you need a cleaner, longer-lasting layer, though it lacks the oil-wicking of cellulose. If you add lubricant, a drop of sewing-machine oil or a dry PTFE spray works well. Avoid cooking oils; they polymerise and gum over time, creating drag and inviting dust. Use lubricant sparingly to prevent migration onto paint or carpet.
Thickness is the critical variable. One wrap of newsprint is roughly 0.05–0.08 mm; two wraps double that quickly, which may misalign a tight door. Start small, test, and adjust. The objective is to stop rubbing, not to force alignment. If the hinge has visible play or the door sags, paper will only mask the symptom; you’ll need a permanent remedy once the mystery squeak has been tamed.
| Material | Typical Thickness/Feel | Where It Works | Pros | Likely Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newspaper strip | ~0.05–0.08 mm per wrap | Hinge pin sleeve; leaf–jamb spacer | Free, compliant, oil-wicking | Weeks to a few months |
| Cereal-box card | ~0.3–0.5 mm | Behind hinge leaf; strike plate packing | Stiffer, easy to cut | Months, if kept dry |
| PTFE thread tape | ~0.075 mm per wrap | Hinge pin wrap; low-friction liner | Clean, non-stick, inert | Several months |
| Brass shim stock | 0.05–0.2 mm | Precision leaf packing | Durable, exact thickness | Years |
| Adhesive felt | 1–3 mm | Latch rattle damping | Fast, quiets rattles | Months; compresses over time |
When to Upgrade: From Paper to Permanent Fixes
If the squeak returns quickly or the door still drags, the underlying geometry needs attention. Sloppy screws or elongated hinge holes let leaves shift and rub. Replace short screws with longer ones that bite into the stud, pack behind a leaf with brass shim, or wrap the pin with PTFE as a neater liner. Where the pin is worn, a new hinge—or a model with a nylon bushing—restores alignment and removes the source of friction. Paper proves where the problem lies; hardware solves it.
Strike-plate squeaks and clicks often trace to misalignment. Reposition the plate a millimetre or two, or use a discreet card shim until you can mortice properly. If the door warps with humidity, a seasonal tweak may be all that’s needed. For period doors, a drop of silicone or light mineral oil on the pin after cleaning old grime can be transformative. The rule of thumb: if silence depends on a thick wad of paper, you’re past the quick-fix stage.
In the battle against domestic din, a rolled newspaper is an elegant truce: cheap, reversible, and guided by sound physics. It damps vibration, cushions harsh contact, and gives you instant feedback about hinge alignment without reaching for a chisel. Use it to buy time, to diagnose, and to restore peace swiftly, then upgrade to a lasting solution when convenient. Faced with your next squeaky offender, will you reach for the toolbox—or will a smart strip of paper be your first, telling test?
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