Screw hole on base plate TOO Big, what now?

[My Guitar Weeps]

:smack: I made a mistake and hopefully someone can give me some personal experience ar point me in a direction to correct this problem.

Brand new sh-llb arrives yesterday(eBay), but no screws or springs(package was open). No big deal right? I'm replacing p/u's in an Epi LP Stand. I put a PG in the neck which did come with screws......anyway, I drilled out the holes in the sh-11 to take the epi pickup screws which were larger. One of the holes works fine, one wallowed out some and is now to big for the epi screw. What the heck do I do now?

I did go to radio shack and buy some nuts. I considererd tacking a nut onto the bottom of the hole on the base plate with some solder, or jb weld. And then the crew would go thru the base plate and into the threads of the nut.

I know someone else has had to have done this, so I stepped away (man that was hard) and decided to come to the forum forst thing this morning and ask for some help.

 

[My Guitar Weeps]

Re: Screw hole on base plate TOO Big, what now?

Well, I couldn't get the search function working to well.....It's workiong good now, think I found my answer.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Screw hole on base plate TOO Big, what now?

Go to sears and buy a set of taps and retap a slightly larger sized hole that fit's your screws

 

[tone4days]

Re: Screw hole on base plate TOO Big, what now?

the nut solution is the one that i've read the most

good luck
t4d

 

[devastone]

Re: Screw hole on base plate TOO Big, what now?

I've done the "nut solution" before with just superglue and it worked fine, JB Weld would be better.

 

[My Guitar Weeps]

Re: Screw hole on base plate TOO Big, what now?

Thanks guys. Anyone know what size the epi screws are? I beleive they are a fine thread 1" 4-40.

What about the seymour screws?

 

[kjrocks]

Re: Screw hole on base plate TOO Big, what now?

The nut trick is the easiest way to go. Just grab a small screw like a 4/40 and you'll never notice the difference once its in.

 

[sstanfield]

Re: Screw hole on base plate TOO Big, what now?

You could also take a small punch and put a little dimple next to the hole, which would force some metal over into the hole area and make it smaller. Does that make sense? It might take a couple of 'em to move enough metal, but I think this would be easier and better than glueing or JB Welding a nut on that might come off later.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Screw hole on base plate TOO Big, what now?

I just made the hole smaller using JB Weld and retapped the JB Weld. You can drill, file, and tap it just like metal once it's set.

 

[My Guitar Weeps]

Re: Screw hole on base plate TOO Big, what now?

Which size tap do I need? That's where I screwed up in the first place. I was using the screw to make the new threads after I drilled the hole out bigger. I can run to the depot and get a tap, I just need to know which size.

Thanks for all the help folks! Really

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Screw hole on base plate TOO Big, what now?

You could also take a small punch and put a little dimple next to the hole, which would force some metal over into the hole area and make it smaller. Does that make sense? It might take a couple of 'em to move enough metal, but I think this would be easier and better than glueing or JB Welding a nut on that might come off later.

Similar idea is to take a hammer and just hammer that ear flat. The hammering should squish some of the metal toward the hole and thus make it smaller.

 

[My Guitar Weeps]

Re: Screw hole on base plate TOO Big, what now?

All is well. I just superglued a nut on the bottom of the base plate after I roughed it up w/ a file and then clamped it for a few minutes. Worked like a charm, not to mention the sh-11 kicks ass with the PG in the neck. If your looking to replace the pickups in your Epi Lester, this is a killer combo!

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Screw hole on base plate TOO Big, what now?

One method not seen here, regardless if the bunged-up pickup adjuster hole is an outrageous 1/4" in diameter....

Drill the oversized hole out to a larger diameter. take a small tab of brass the size of the pickups mounting foot, and solder this new "shingle" on top of the old foot's surface. A new hole can be drilled and tapped.

"Dimpling" the metal toward the loose hole would be my first choice.

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Screw hole on base plate TOO Big, what now?

Similar idea is to take a hammer and just hammer that ear flat. The hammering should squish some of the metal toward the hole and thus make it smaller.

Taking a flat faced punch, with light hammer blows would seem an excellent and effortless idea here,

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Screw hole on base plate TOO Big, what now?

I know that hindsight is 20/20, but in the future, use the Duncan bolts if the stock ones aren't right.

I've dealt with this problem before, mostly from times I FAILED to ask the seller if he drilled out the ends. The nut works fine, if you're lucky enough to locate one. I've also used Zang's solution of smashing the metal till the hole gets smaller.