Bridge screw broke off in body.

thedudebrah · #1 12-27-2012, 01:41 AM

I have a parts P that I was re-stringing yesterday and I noticed that the bridge was so rusty that one of the saddles split in half. So in the process of taking the bridge off, the mounting screw right behind the A saddle broke off at the head. Almost the entire length of threads is stuck in the body. What should I do? Drill the hole out and glue a dowel in and then re-drill the hole? Since its a parts bass I'm not really concerned about the finish, and it'll be under the bridge anyway.

As of right now, I put a replacement bridge on and strung it up and it seems sturdy, but the perfectionist in me wants to fix it. Any thoughts?

spaz21387 · #2 12-27-2012, 01:44 AM

can you grab whats left of the screw with vicegrips and carefully un screw it?

thedudebrah · #3 12-27-2012, 01:46 AM

Nah, it's down there in the body maybe 1/16th". Maybe two threads came off with the head of the screw.

fourstringdrums · #4 12-27-2012, 01:51 AM

I'd carefully drill it out, put a dowel or some tooth picks in with glue and redrill.

James Judson · #5 12-27-2012, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstringdrums

I'd carefully drill it out, put a dowel or some tooth picks in with glue and redrill.

This is how I'd do it. Start with a tiny drill cuz that drill will want to go down beside the old screw so you will have to make several holes till you can get the old screw out. Then clean it up with the right size drill that fits the dowel your gonna use.

thedudebrah · #6 12-27-2012, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Judson

This is how I'd do it. Start with a tiny drill cuz that drill will want to go down beside the old screw so you will have to make several holes till you can get the old screw out. Then clean it up with the right size drill that fits the dowel your gonna use.

What about drilling a few small holes around the perimeter of the existin hole just enough so the top of the old screw is sticking out? Maybe then I can twist it out with pliers and clean up the hole and re-drill/fill.

dmusic148 · #7 12-27-2012, 03:58 AM

Screw broke off inside headstock

thedudebrah · #8 12-27-2012, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Screw broke off inside headstock

Thank you! I'll be trying the copper tube idea mentioned in that thread!

jbrooks · #9 12-27-2012, 06:02 AM

This

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Ro...t=3&xsr=321510

If the bridge is secure then leave that one out if it's a beater bass.

96tbird · #10 12-27-2012, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedudebrah

Thank you! I'll be trying the copper tube idea mentioned in that thread!

Brass tube man, copper isn't strong enough! Brass!

thedudebrah · #11 12-27-2012, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrooks

This

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Ro...t=3&xsr=321510

If the bridge is secure then leave that one out if it's a beater bass.

Pricy!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96tbird

Brass tube man, copper isn't strong enough! Brass!

Got it. I was reading that thread on tired eyes lol

walterw · #12 12-28-2012, 10:13 PM

yep, hollow brass tubing, file teeth in the end, set the drill in reverse so it might grab the screw and back it out without having to drill all the way down.

walterw · #13 12-28-2012, 10:15 PM

oh, and what the hell??

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

I just duplicated in huge size what my eye doctor uses to remove rust rings and steel splinters from my eyes.

It's nothing more than a surgical core-bit.

Maz · #14 12-30-2012, 08:35 AM

Easy out

Every man should own a set of these anyway.

96tbird · #15 12-30-2012, 11:33 AM

^

^ of little use on a thin shank bridge mounting screw.

JLS · #16 12-30-2012, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maz

Easy out

Every man should own a set of these anyway.

Except that they work with something that has a hole in the middle, either pre-existing, or drilled. No good for this problem, as described.

Maz · #17 12-31-2012, 05:36 PM

They get down to pretty small diameter if you get a good set. Just saying. It's not worth arguing over I guess but I've pullled machine screws as small as the avg bridge screw. Seems silly to me to jury rig something when there are tools that will do what you need.

96tbird · #18 12-31-2012, 05:48 PM

Well, machine screws= metal
Wood screws = wood

Wood working techniques differ greatly from metal working techniques. The tube method was shown me when i was young by my grandfather whom was a carpenter / cabinet maker since the 1930's. No jury rig, no argument. If you want to drill a center hole in a 1/8 (max) screw shank to use an easy out, go ahead; no argument. Our screws will be removed and you'll still be fiddling with yours. No argument. 8)

walterw · #19 01-01-2013, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96tbird

The tube method was shown me when i was young by my grandfather who was a carpenter/cabinet maker since the 1930's.

awesome!

i know it's the way to do it, but i like that it has real "roots" like that!

georgestrings · #20 01-01-2013, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maz

Easy out

Every man should own a set of these anyway.

Yeah, I do own a good set up them - in *this* case, they're definitely not as effective as the brass tubing deal...

- georgestrings