How to Fix a stripped hole? URGENT!!

strat_master

New member
hi guys my strap button on my strat keeps comming loose, so here is what i did. I broke a toothpick into the right size and added glue into the hole then i placed the tooth pck inside. right now its drying so did i do everything ok? Will there be any problems i should know about? Right now its drying so i have to wait till the enxt day to rescrew the screw into the hole. I used white glue btw.

Thanks guys for the help in advance.
 
Re: How to Fix a stripped hole? URGENT!!

Carpenter's glue is the better choice.

However the way you did it seems to be the same as the method I was told about
 
Re: How to Fix a stripped hole? URGENT!!

superglue and baking powder, or elmers glue and a toothpick.
 
Re: How to Fix a stripped hole? URGENT!!

Gearjoneser said:
Just don't do the punkrock duct tape cliche'.

Dont wrry i won;t do that. BUT out of curiousity how do they do that? And i noticed alot of bands tape the selector switch on their les pauls too? Is it because they dont plan on switcing pick ups and dont wanna accidently hit it?

So what i did was fine right? when it dries i should be able to rescrew it by hand with no problem right? The tooth pick almost fill the entire hole. is that good or bad?
 
Re: How to Fix a stripped hole? URGENT!!

When mine came out the second time I got serious and filled the hole with pieces of shim and then put JB Weld in it and then put in the screw and let it dry. I dont think it will ever come out now!
 
Re: How to Fix a stripped hole? URGENT!!

ive used the toothpick method (without a drop of super glue, or a drop of elemers wood glue) with 0 problems so far with 3-4 screws on the pickgaurd
 
Re: How to Fix a stripped hole? URGENT!!

on the pick gaurd? Well im talking about the strap botton screw. same idea i guess. How long would it take for the glue to fully dry before i start to rescrew it back in?
 
Re: How to Fix a stripped hole? URGENT!!

screw it in before it dries, so that the glue is made into a "thread". I prefer fillin it with as many toothpick peices as I can, the superglue.
 
Re: How to Fix a stripped hole? URGENT!!

well i just rescrewed it in and it fits extremly snug! it feels aot sturdier, and i hope it will keep the strap button in place. It took alot of muscle to screw them in too. Thanks for the help guys.
 
Re: How to Fix a stripped hole? URGENT!!

strat_master said:
Dont wrry i won;t do that. BUT out of curiousity how do they do that? And i noticed alot of bands tape the selector switch on their les pauls too? Is it because they dont plan on switcing pick ups and dont wanna accidently hit it?
Glad to hear that your fix worked out alright, lets hope the strap does not wear out!!

Taping the selector switch on Les Pauls & also 3 way switches on strats is to make sure that you don't accidentally move the switch. On one of my old strats which had a 3 way switch, I had to put toothpicks (for position 4) as well as tape just so that it held there. Also you will notice that some guys will also put tape over their leads to hold it to the guitar, Springsteen is a good example so that it does not accidentally fall out. I just make sure that the lead is held and looped through my strap with just enough give so that it is not easily pulled out of the socket.
 
Re: How to Fix a stripped hole? URGENT!!

beandip said:
superglue and baking powder, or elmers glue and a toothpick.

Do NOT use super-glue anywhere near your finish. Once some splatters on where it's not supposed to be, it's permanent.
I never used glue for the 'ol toothpick trick. I just insert the end of the toothpick in the hole in question, break it off cleanly, and screw in my woodscrew. Done, and it works great..
 
Re: How to Fix a stripped hole? URGENT!!

strat_master said:
on the pick gaurd? Well im talking about the strap botton screw. same idea i guess. How long would it take for the glue to fully dry before i start to rescrew it back in?

Same method applies to any stripped out wood hole. I've used it in the strap-button hole myself, with no glue. You don't need it.
And I wouldn't screw in a screw into wet glue. You want to be able to remove the screw when needed, with the screw glued in you might crack the wood around the hole when trying to take it back out after drying.
This isn't like putting a car-motor together with bolts and "Lock-Tight" or something like that, you're dealing with a wooden instrument.
 
Last edited:
Re: How to Fix a stripped hole? URGENT!!

1) Break off some matchsticks or toothpicks in the hole and pop the screw back in.

2) See (1) and use a longer screw.

3) Pop some wood filler in the hole and put the screw back in.

4) See (3) and use a longer screw.

Option number (4) was used on one of my axes about 7 and a half years ago, and the strap button hasn't moved since.
 
Back
Top