Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

[PushedCrayon]

Hey everyone!

I'm sure this is a simple fix, I just want to double check before doing anything. So one of my strap holes is stripped, and I'm looking into fixing it. I'm thinking about one of two methods.

Method one- take two toothpicks, and dip the ends in wood glue, break them off into the hole, wait for it to try up, and then screw my strap in.

Method two- Take a toothpick and break it off to sit flush in the hole, then drip super glue until the cavity is filled. Let dry, and then screw in strap.

Both of these I saw on YouTube and didn't know if they were the correct method or not. If anyone has any input, or other ideas, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[dominus]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

Either will work, but most people think that wood glue is better than super glue for most guitar applications.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

Id find a screw with the same diameter as the button screw, but 1/2in longer. A little pilot hole at the deep end of your ripped out hole, then put a few drops of regular wood glue in the hole. Not too much, just a bit. Screw the new button on with the longer screw.
The toothpick thing is more for when screw depth is an issue IMO

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

The best way is to dowel and re-drill, and if you have the time, that is what I would do. If you are in a rush, toothpicks (or wooden matches) will work, though. However, I would not let the glue dry first. Reattach the button right after filling the hole with glue and toothpicks. Also, if you have white glue on hand, just use that. It's not worth making a special trip to the store to buy wood glue. It is unnecessary for this application. All it is is white glue with better temperature and moisture resistance – neither of which are needed for this use. I would not suggest super glue. It's a difficult product to work with. It's runny, it dries too fast, it's all crusty looking when it dries, and it's more difficult to clean up the squeezeout cleanly. Besides, it's overkill. AR glues (white glue or wood glue) are plenty strong.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

Hey everyone!

I'm sure this is a simple fix, I just want to double check before doing anything. So one of my strap holes is stripped, and I'm looking into fixing it. I'm thinking about one of two methods.

Method one- take two toothpicks, and dip the ends in wood glue, break them off into the hole, wait for it to try up, and then screw my strap in.

Method two- Take a toothpick and break it off to sit flush in the hole, then drip super glue until the cavity is filled. Let dry, and then screw in strap.

Both of these I saw on YouTube and didn't know if they were the correct method or not. If anyone has any input, or other ideas, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

You could also buy a small dowel, sharpen it to a point using a pencil sharpener, then fill the hole with wood glue(I wouldn't use super glue). Insert the dowl & let it dry, then sand it flush and re-drill a pilot hole insert strap button and screw. Done....

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

Wood glue holds very well, there's no need to expose yourself to toxic superglue fumes!

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

Is there a 'correct' method? I put wood putty in one of mine and gently screwed the strap pin back in while the putty was still soft and let it harden in place. Never had a problem after that. I don't jump around pretending I'm Pete Townshend, though.

 

[EDX]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

i fixed mine usin 3 tooth picks and white glue, didn't wait for them to dry, actually the process i did was first fill the hole with white glue, inside this fit 3 tooth picks as tight and deep as posible, then, bend them outwards ans secrew the strap button, when screwing the pressure generated with 3 tooth picks is enough to auto-cut the exces of pick, gives better result and almost impossible for them to get stripeed again

 

[dominus]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

I would let the glue dry first, just in case you ever plan on changing the strap buttons.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

i havent needed to do it yet but i am going to offer to fix my mates charvel which has the issue. I think the dowel makes sense.

 

[kilphody]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

You could also buy a small dowel, sharpen it to a point using a pencil sharpener, then fill the hole with wood glue(I wouldn't use super glue). Insert the dowl & let it dry, then sand it flush and re-drill a pilot hole insert strap button and screw. Done....

This is the way to do it
I once had to sit on the floor to finish a set.
They loved it.
But that is one connection you don't BS with.
PC

 

[PushedCrayon]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

Thanks for all of the input everyone! I think I will just go buy some white glue (or wood glue if somehow my local grocery store has it) and some toothpicks and fix it really quick.

 

[dominus]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

Well stocked grocery and hardware stores should have wood glue. Even in the middle of nowhere.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

Woodglue,
Used on basswood with stripped hardtail screw, just a little, put it on screw in my case, let it get tacky, like myself, and made sure when screwed in no extra came out to stick to the underside of said hardtail metal.
Fixed screwhole, but gonna get a Gotoh hardtail, recommended from this forum. Bummer though, I don't think they come in nickel. Oh well, great looking hardtail. I just realized the huge potential of making a joke out of that last sentance, but don't wanna get kicked out of Duncanland. Clearly I am too mature for that kind of thing anyway.
Steve Buffington

 

[Brian Griffin]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

**** the toothpick...glue the whole strap button in with a super-strong epoxy adhesive.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

Then the glue plug strips out of the body wood, leaving an even bigger hole, and making the screw unusable because the threads are permanently gummed up with hardened epoxy.

Here's my method, adapted from Dan Erlewine. I believe Dan was discussing neck-mounting screws when I first saw this.

Plug the hole with a small dowel (wooden matchsticks are often the right size, but made of really soft wood). Glue the dowel in place with wood glue (Titebond, Elmer's Carpenter's glue, etc.) After the glue has dried, drill a new pilot hole with a drill that's the same size as the inner core of the screw.

Install the strap button, running the screw in firmly, but not real tight. Then, remove the screw and strap button. You have now used the screw to cut threads in the wood.

Drip some thin superglue down the screw hole, letting it soak into the threads. Use a pipecleaner or bit of twisted-up paper towel to push the superglue down into the hole, and to wick out the excess glue. The idea is to soak the threads, not fill up the hole.

Let the superglue dry completely. We're not gluing the screw in the hole, we're simply reinforcing the threads in the wood by soaking them in superglue and letting it harden.

Once the glue is dry, re-install the screw, starting it by hand to get the threads aligned with the ones in the wood. Then, tighten the screw with a screwdriver, not a power drill.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

Don't over-complicate things: Just put a toothpick in. Make sure it's a good quality toothpick because the material on cheap ones is iffy. Put the tooth pick in, cut it to length and screw the screw back in. That's all you need as long as it's hard to turn when you start driving the screw in and when you get to a point, the screw gets really tight. (it got to the end)..

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

I've done this for god-knows-how-many customers/ friends.

Toothpicks, wood glue. No need for a dowel, pretty overkill IMO but wont do any damage. Using woodglue does not prevent you from taking it out at a later time if need be.

If its not a gaping hole then toothpicks and woodglue are your best bet. Otherwise its like putting stitches on a papercut instead of a band-aid. Same end result.

 

[tc]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

Wood/white glue. I used to swing my Strat around me because I thought I was a badass (ahem, poser). One day my straplocks decided to rip the strap button right off the upper horn of my Stratocaster and slam it headstock first into the ground. I used toothpicks and some white glue and about 8 years later it's still holding on strong.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Fixing Stripped Strap Holes

The first thing I do when I get a new Gibson is remover their crappy strap buttons and replace them with Schaller Strap Locks.

The Gibson screws are much larger than the ones included in with the Schallers. I use a ROUND toothpick, measure the depth of the hole and cut the toothpick accordingly. I'll use either Elmer's standard White Glue or their yellowish wood glue. I cover the toothpick with a small amount of glue and insert the fattest end of the toothpick into the hole first. Then I'll insert the screw into the strap lock mount and I usually add a felt washer. (You can get the felt washers in a package from Fender.) I apply a very light coating of the glue to the screw and then gently screw it in. I use a damp rag or paper towel to wipe off any excess glue.

Then I let it sit for 24 hours.

And that's how I do it.

Bill