removing sheered tuning screws?

mcapote · #1 08-14-2010, 04:14 PM

I finished my neck for my PBass and I started putting fender tuners on the neck, well I don't know *** was wrong with the screws for the tuners but on the first tuner i installed a screw and it sheers off without any pressure on the screw. so I am pissed but figure let me get the other 3 in and i will figure out what to do with the other 1. I screw in another 1 no problem. then I go to the 3rd and it sheers off . so im like screw it let me get this thing off and see if i can go buy better screws because abviously I got ripped off by fender with defective screws. well taking off #3 that one sheers off just from basic unscrewing. its like the friggin things are made of paper. well anyways now I have 3 tips in my wood. whats the best way to get em out with minimal damage to my neck?

Hookus · #2 08-14-2010, 08:32 PM

There is a screw extractor that cuts the screw out in a plug, then glue in a dowel, flush cut, and done. You dont go all the way through the headstock.

IIf you can get a pair of vice-grips on the end of it, you may be able to unscrew them. Building decks, we would frequently grip the screw shaft in the chuck of the drill, tighten it, and back it out with the drill. If they broke off flush, look for the plug extractor.

An easy suggestion would be to turn your tuners slightly, and drill new holes.

Turnaround · #3 08-14-2010, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcapote

I finished my neck for my PBass and I started putting fender tuners on the neck, well I don't know *** was wrong with the screws for the tuners but on the first tuner i installed a screw and it sheers off without any pressure on the screw. so I am pissed but figure let me get the other 3 in and i will figure out what to do with the other 1. I screw in another 1 no problem. then I go to the 3rd and it sheers off . so im like screw it let me get this thing off and see if i can go buy better screws because abviously I got ripped off by fender with defective screws. well taking off #3 that one sheers off just from basic unscrewing. its like the friggin things are made of paper. well anyways now I have 3 tips in my wood. whats the best way to get em out with minimal damage to my neck?

Did you pre-drill the pilot hole for the screw? If so, did you use the right size drill bit? Did you lubricate the threads before installing the screw? The tuner screws are pretty small and are going into a hard wood - proper preparation is essential.

Hookus · #4 08-15-2010, 08:50 AM

Yes, you MUST pre-drill. All those screws are doing is keeping your tuners from spinning. They don't really need to be super-tight, they just need to bite well enough to stay, the pressure from the tuners trying to rotate will hold them once the strings are on. Those little screws should not be tight at all. As a general rule, you should be able to drive them with just a couple of fingers on the screwdriver (hopefully you did not use a drill), if you have to crank on them with a closed hand on the screwdriver, they are too tight.

mcapote · #5 08-15-2010, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hookus

Yes, you MUST pre-drill. All those screws are doing is keeping your tuners from spinning. They don't really need to be super-tight, they just need to bite well enough to stay, the pressure from the tuners trying to rotate will hold them once the strings are on. Those little screws should not be tight at all. As a general rule, you should be able to drive them with just a couple of fingers on the screwdriver (hopefully you did not use a drill), if you have to crank on them with a closed hand on the screwdriver, they are too tight.

I barely put any pressure on them, I literally used a glasses mini screwdriver to install. its almost as if they were never tempered when they were made. they crumbled like a cracker. I am going to buy new ones from homedepot of something, I just got to get these old ones out. need to see if I can get em with needlenose pliers or something, cause I cant get a grip with larger ones.

Pilgrim · #6 08-15-2010, 10:56 AM

If the metal is really that crumbly, it's gonna be tough. Even twisting with pliers might break them off.

My normal suggestion is to use a Dremel cut-off wheel to cut a slot across the end and turn it out with a screwdriver, but those wheels are as wide as the screw shafts. No go.

mcapote · #7 08-15-2010, 02:40 PM

yeah, I was not happy. I took weeks finishing this neck, painting, decaling, clearing, sanding, buffing, etc. had everything perfect and this just pissed me off. virtually flawless neck down the tubes on the one part i thought would be a piece of cake compared to everything else haha.

PhiDeck · #8 08-15-2010, 02:57 PM

Did the screws come with the tuners? If so, are you sure the latter are authentic?

You didn't answer the question whether you drilled pilot holes, or not.

(FYI: it's sheared, not sheered. Sheer, as a verb, pertains to changing course.)

mulchor · #9 08-15-2010, 03:30 PM

As a farm kid, I'd have said "shorn."

Good luck with it. Remember a flaw that's completely covered up isn't really a flaw.

Caca de Kick · #10 08-15-2010, 03:35 PM

Every bass I had to remove sheared tuner screws from, I took the tuner off and had enough of a stub sticking up for me to get a set of good needle nose pliers on.

If you're worrying about scratching the finish with pliers, then lay down a piece of masking tape and poke it over the stub.

walterw · #11 08-15-2010, 09:48 PM

the right way to remove them if pliers won't grab?

go to the hobby shop and get a little piece of hollow brass tubing that's just big enough to go around the screw shaft in question. cut off about an inch or two of the tubing, and file little teeth into one end with a sharp jeweler's file.

chuck the tube into your drill, set to unscrew, mark the side of the tube so you don't go too deep, and carefully (slowly!) drill around the screw with the extractor tube. by drilling counter-clockwise, the tube will often grab the screw shaft and back it out without having to drill all the way down.

either way, plug the hole, pre-drill properly, and try again.

mcapote · #12 08-20-2010, 03:18 PM

pliers wouldnt grab, I tried the dremel a screw slit and use a screwdriver bit too and the screw just crumbled. Im going to homedepot after work to buy a drill bit im gonna try and drill em out with my press.

JLS · #13 08-20-2010, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcapote

pliers wouldnt grab, I tried the dremel a screw slit and use a screwdriver bit too and the screw just crumbled. Im going to homedepot after work to buy a drill bit im gonna try and drill em out with my press.

This, already stated, is the right way:"go to the hobby shop and get a little piece of hollow brass tubing that's just big enough to go around the screw shaft in question. cut off about an inch or two of the tubing, and file little teeth into one end with a sharp jeweler's file.

chuck the tube into your drill, set to unscrew, mark the side of the tube so you don't go too deep, and carefully (slowly!) drill around the screw with the extractor tube. by drilling counter-clockwise, the tube will often grab the screw shaft and back it out without having to drill all the way down"

Hookus · #14 08-20-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcapote

pliers wouldnt grab, I tried the dremel a screw slit and use a screwdriver bit too and the screw just crumbled. Im going to homedepot after work to buy a drill bit im gonna try and drill em out with my press.

Won't work. The bit will deflect and go into the wood on the side of the screw.

Pilgrim · #15 08-20-2010, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hookus

Won't work. The bit will deflect and go into the wood on the side of the screw.

I agree - that's going to be the outcome.

But then, all you'll need to do is get a slightly bigger piece of brass tubing to remove the screw and the hole next to it.

delta7fred · #16 08-20-2010, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcapote

whats the best way to get em out with minimal damage to my neck?

Take some notice of the experienced guys on here who are trying to help you.

Oh, and don't be so hasty, the only thing made in haste is a baby!

mech · #17 08-21-2010, 09:17 AM

WalterW stated the absolute best method.

mech

TGLbass · #18 08-21-2010, 09:23 PM

Get a candle and scrape the screws across it before you screw them into the hole ( that you pre-drill. )

I don't know if anyone mentioned that yet. I put wax on all the screws when I'm building an axe.

Jazzdogg · #19 08-21-2010, 09:29 PM

Forget the brass tubing:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=2354

Munjibunga · #20 08-21-2010, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulchor

As a farm kid, I'd have said "shorn."

Good luck with it. Remember a flaw that's completely covered up isn't really a flaw.

As an engineer, I'd've said "sheared." (not sheered)