Dunlop Strap Lock Situation

[youngthrasher9]

I'm trying to transfer the stap buttons from one guitar to the other. The problem is that the screws on both buttons heads are stripped, and they are way down inside the buttons. I don't want to destroy the buttons, because I want to reuse them on my new guitar. I can get new screws. I just need a way of getting these fricken' buttons off the guitar. Any ideas?

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Dunlop Strap Lock Situation

Have you tried using a slightly bigger screwdriver with a sharper tip, really pushing it into the screw, and then turning it while the screwdriver is in the new indent you made?

 

[youngthrasher9]

Re: Dunlop Strap Lock Situation

Have you tried using a slightly bigger screwdriver with a sharper tip, really pushing it into the screw, and then turning it while the screwdriver is in the new indent you made?

No, but I'm not quite sure that a bigger one would even fit in the hole.




(that's what she said)

 

[youngthrasher9]

Re: Dunlop Strap Lock Situation

I'll try that next.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Dunlop Strap Lock Situation

Just leave 'em on.

Allparts sells just the body pieces w/screws for about $5.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Dunlop Strap Lock Situation

A pair of Vise-Grips and a few good pulls will rip the screws out of the wood (assuming it's not maple).

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Dunlop Strap Lock Situation

Something else you could do but would be trickier would to drill a hole into the screw until the screw no longer can hold the button, take the button off, and then use a vise grip to grab onto the screw and turn it out.

Or if you can, just get it loose enough that you have a few millimeters between the button and wood, so the screw is exposed alone. Clip the screw with heavy duty wire cutters, and with the remaining part of the screw sticking out, vise grip it and turn it out. If there isn't enough to grip, you can drill a hole slightly bigger than the screw right where the screw it, basically drilling out the screw with the wood, and then fill it with wood filler + toothpicks so you can get the same size screw and it'll be snug, or even tighter.

 

[youngthrasher9]

Re: Dunlop Strap Lock Situation

Just leave 'em on.

Allparts sells just the body pieces w/screws for about $5.

Sheeiit, really? That's awesome. Thanks man!

 

[youngthrasher9]

Re: Dunlop Strap Lock Situation

A pair of Vise-Grips and a few good pulls will rip the screws out of the wood (assuming it's not maple).

I knew this was an option but I didn't want to fudge up the body that much.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Dunlop Strap Lock Situation

Sheeiit, really? That's awesome. Thanks man!

Yeah man!!!
http://www.allparts.com/AP-6582-001-Nickel-Strap-Buttons_p_471.html

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Dunlop Strap Lock Situation

Have you ever heard of screw extracters?

First you drill a hole into the screw (about half the diameter of the screw. Then screw in the appropriately sized extracter (it has a reverse thread so you will be turning it to the left, as if you were unscrewing the screw). You can use a tap and die handle or vice grips to hold and turn the extracter. The screw will easily come right out without damaging the strap lock or the guitar (just the screw).

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Dunlop Strap Lock Situation

There is the rubber band trick. Slice a little square off of a fat rubber band and lay it over the stripped cross on the screw. Then try unscrewing it again. You only have to loosen it a few turns – enough so that you can fit a hack saw blade, a razor saw, or a Dremel cut-off wheel under the strap peg to cut off the screw. Then you can unscrew the rest with pliers.

But if it is really, really stuck beyond all hope, the best way to get it out is to drill down the center of the screw, and then use a screw/bolt puller.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Dunlop Strap Lock Situation

I concur with the rec to get replacements.