problem with strap lock button.

On my strat the strap lock button on the upper horn is very loose and I believe that the wood in the hole is stripped. If i try to tighten the screw it just doesnt catch. Im afraid to use the strap, because if i add pressure to it while standing im afraid it will rip out. So I've been only playing sitting down now. What should i do to fix this problem? Its very annoying.

Dip some toothpicks in glue and shove em in the hole! Let it dry, and then re-install the screw.*edit* T4D is still a pretty cool guy, for being as old as my Dad.

piece o' cake, young gothamite ...

get some toothpicks and wood glue ... take the screw / button out ... coat a few toothpicks (in a little bundle) with the glue .. squeeze a copious amount of glue into the hole ... jam the toothpicks into the hole and wipe up the excess glue with a damp papertowel ... let em dry over night ... snap off the toothpick ends that are stickin' out ... rescrew the screw/button into the restored hole

i know it might sound kludgy .. but if you take it to a guitar tech, its exactly what he'll do

good luck
t4d

edit: DSS beat me to it .. glad i am as smart as him

I do the same, but put the screw in while the glue is still wet (holds better that way).

or stuff the hole with woodfiller. wait for it to dry and screw away!

Woodfiller takes forever to dry if it's thick though...


Originally Posted by mnbaseball91Woodfiller takes forever to dry if it's thick though...

i left mine for a day with water-bsed filler. wood around the filler will absorb the moisture. can't say the same for oil-based filler. they take forever to dry!

touche!


Originally Posted by JB_From_HellI do the same, but put the screw in while the glue is still wet (holds better that way).

The reason you don't want to put in the screw with the glue wet is that it can get into the threads of the screw.

The idea is that you bond the toothpicks to the body of the guitar, and the screw bites into the toothpicks- just as solid as if it were into the wood of the guitar.

get a piece of dowel about the size of the hole or a tiny bit bigger.

Put it in the chuck of a cordless drill.

Spin it in the hole so that the the wood fibres are compressed. Go easy, not too fast.

Measure the depth of the hole and trim the dowel (which will now have a slight taper) by rolling a craft knife blade over it to score the outside then snapping it.

Gently tap it in with a light hammer and a drop of superglue.

Centre spot the end of the dowel with a brad and redrill the hole with a drill slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the screw but larger than the thread's core diameter.

Put some dry soap or candlewax on the thread and refit the strap button.

That's the professional way...