Wilkat's Help Tips © 2001
 

Fix those loose screws !:

How many times have you had a problem with a strap button falling off, or your output jack plate coming loose and causing you grief? These are really easy to fix, so why not do it right away?

What works best?:

Well there's always more than one way to do something, but first I want to tell you what you shouldn't do:

1. Don't use a larger screw. Usually this is tempting but can be visible  (unsightly) or result in you using too much force to install it (I've seen finishes cracked or badly scratched  by people doing this -- especially if the screwdriver slips, and it always seems to bury itself into the finish in the most obvious place -- right ?!).

2. Don't stick a piece of paper into the hole and reinstall the screw -- it's a temporary fix at best, since the paper compresses considerably, and soon loosens up again.

Let's do it the professional way:

There are three ways I fix these :

Method 1:  Using a toothpick or similar sliver of wood as an applicator, apply a drop of cyanocrylate glue (Crazy glue, Loctite, Hot Stuff, Super Glue, which ever brand you like or have handy), and carefully apply the adhesive to the edges of the threaded hole, allowing the glue to penetrate into the threads. Don't fill the entire hole, just coat it around the circumference. Now, the most critical step, LET IT CURE !!!

NOTE:  If you don't let the adhesive dry / cure, the screw will be more or less permanently bonded into the hole (along with anything else that touches the glue as it oozes out of the hole when you tighten the screw -- like your pick guard -- and you don't want that headache!!!!).

Always apply a little bit of soap to the threads of the screw before inserting and tightening it. This ensures the screw will not require excessive force to tighten, prevents stripping of the threads and/or the head, making your job easier. Just drag the threads across a bar of hand soap, and wipe off any excess -- you don't need to fill or coat all the threads.

There are accelerators that can be used with these cyanocrylate glues to speed up the curing process, but if you don't have one, simply let it dry for a couple of hours or more.
    Once dried, you can safely reinstall the screw and strap button or what ever the screw is holding, and it will usually be fine.

Method 2: My favorite way is to glue some pieces of hardwood toothpicks (the round kind with the sharp pointy ends) into the hole. Simply cut off the length you need (sometimes more than one piece is required), apply some wood glue and let it dry. The screw will re-tap the hole when it's installed (remember to use some soap on the threads), and it will hold like new!

Method 3:  On rare occasions, when the hole is badly worn, or cracked, it may be necessary to enlarge the hole, install a dowel plug, and re-drill for the screw size you need. This type of work is best left up to a professional, as it can quickly become more involved than most individuals are prepared to handle, since it may involve touch ups to the lacquer finish. If you really need to tackle this type of repair by yourself, here are some tips on how to go about it  :

NOTE: Don't use regular drill bits. Purchase (or borrow) the type that cut clean holes without leaving frayed or chipped edges (e.g. Brad point, or Forstner bit). Use a drill press whenever possible -- hand held drills may be used, but can result in crooked or poorly drilled holes (i.e. oversized). Always wear safety glasses when drilling into any surface -- don't take chances with your eyesight! Setting the depth of the plug is important, and you may prefer to have it a bit shorter than the drilled hole, to be able to tap it flush with the surface, and avoid having to trim off any excess.
 

1.   Determine the size of plug you will need and select a standard diameter (such as 1/8", 1/4", or 3/8").

2.   Select a matching drill size (drill must be same diameter as the plug for a snug fit).

3.   Determine the depth that you need to drill to, and ensure that it will not interfere with anything else.

4.   Wrap a piece of masking tape around the drill bit  to mark the drilling depth.

5.   The dowel / plug must be grooved along its' length to allow air and/or glue to escape when inserted.

6.   Gently tap the plug into place using a block of wood or a slightly larger diameter dowel.

7.   Use wood glue and quickly wipe away excess using a damp cloth., and let dry for 1 hour (minimum).

8.   Select a drill bit suitably smaller than the outside diameter of the screw required.

9.   Again drill only as deep as you need go, to allow the screw to fully penetrate.

10.  Again soap the screw thread before inserting and tightening.

Some Final Comments:

If you decide to repair a hole using method 3 above, first check to determine if the plug will be visible after reinstalling the hardware item involved. You may not want to have an unfinished piece of dowel exposed and not matching the rest of the instrument's surface. Attempting a touch up to the existing finish requires experience, patience, (and plenty of practice), so you may want to entrust this to your favorite luthier, rather than tackling it alone.

Now then, how did that riff go again?