Strap Button Repair

DeivoxCarnal · #1 09-26-2010, 04:58 PM

My most recent craigslist acquisition did not come with strap buttons, but it did come with screws. When I put some old strap buttons on I found out that the top screw is just sitting in this hole, you can literally just pull it straight out.

I'm thinking my three options are to:

1. get a bigger screw, which might require a slight modification to a strap button, maybe not.

2. fill the hole with something and drill a new hole.
My concerns with this method are that it might get messy, and this is such a nice looking bass I don't want scratches all over it.

3. Take it to a pro. I don't like this idea, because it seems like such a simple fix that I should be able to do it myself and save the 30-50 bucks it might cost me.

experiences? thoughts?
If I go the path of filling the hole can anyone recommend a material that will hold up in the long run?

Big chicken · #2 09-26-2010, 05:01 PM

get a bigger screw and new buttons.

Slowgypsy · #3 09-26-2010, 05:02 PM

Take a few toothpicks.
Dip them in some white glue.
Stuff them into the hole.
Let it dry overnight.
Install strap button using existing screw.

LarkinLondon · #4 09-26-2010, 05:04 PM

My local guitar shop has strap buttons with screws for like a dollar and some change a piece.
Go get some.
If the holes too big break some toothpicks off in there.

walterw · #5 09-26-2010, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slowgypsy

Take a few toothpicks.
Dip them in some white glue.
Stuff them into the hole.
Let it dry overnight.
Install strap button using existing screw.

that's 4/5ths right.

after stuffing wood glue-slathered toothpicks into the hole, crank the button in right away. this compresses the new wood against the old hole, providing the clamping pressure wood glue needs to dry strong.

Floyd Eye · #6 09-26-2010, 08:47 PM

Toothpicks are fine if it is just a little too big. If it were me, and I cared about the bass, I would drill a 1/4" hole and fill it with a piece of an oak dowel. Glue the dowel, cut it flush, redrill it and install the button.

walterw · #7 09-26-2010, 08:54 PM

this subject has been well-trod around here.

typical hardware store end-grain dowel will actually make for a weaker button than the toothpick-and-glue method.

a 1/4" diameter of end-grain wood, glued into a smoothly drilled-out hole, then drilled out itself for the screw, leaves very little wood to hold things together.

now a half-inch wide, 2 inch long cross-grain plug of some really hard wood would be plenty strong, but so will toothpicks and wood glue in the original hole, and for a lot less work.

mongo2 · #8 09-27-2010, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

this subject has been well-trod around here.

typical hardware store end-grain dowel will actually make for a weaker button than the toothpick-and-glue method.

I used "hardware store end-grain" dowels for decades and never had one fail.

Now, if the hole isn't too wallowed out, I just use a screw twice as long as the original screw to bite into fresh wood at the bottom of the original hole. So far that repair has never failed either. If the hole is too damaged for that method then I dowel.

Jim Campbell · #9 09-27-2010, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeivoxCarnal

My most recent craigslist acquisition did not come with strap buttons, but it did come with screws. When I put some old strap buttons on I found out that the top screw is just sitting in this hole, you can literally just pull it straight out.

I'm thinking my three options are to:

1. get a bigger screw, which might require a slight modification to a strap button, maybe not.

2. fill the hole with something and drill a new hole.
My concerns with this method are that it might get messy, and this is such a nice looking bass I don't want scratches all over it.

3. Take it to a pro. I don't like this idea, because it seems like such a simple fix that I should be able to do it myself and save the 30-50 bucks it might cost me.

experiences? thoughts?
If I go the path of filling the hole can anyone recommend a material that will hold up in the long run?

i would replace the buttons with straplocks,and the toothpick glue method or a slightly larger screw ......if you have to widen the hole on a button,no big deal.........depends how loose the hole is......i wouldn't use a dowel until i had to......

Zooberwerx · #10 09-27-2010, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Campbell

i would replace the buttons with straplocks,and the toothpick glue method or a slightly larger screw ......if you have to widen the hole on a button,no big deal.........depends how loose the hole is......i wouldn't use a dowel until i had to......

The standard screws are #6's. IIRC, a #8 will fit through a Dunlop strap button threadwise. The "shoulders" on both a #6 and #8 will have to be ground down so as to fit within the recess.

The Mrs. has some super-fine dowel in her studio which may fit a stripped-out #6 screwhole. However, by the time you're done, you'd be better off going with the toothpick / glue method.

Riis

DeivoxCarnal · #11 09-28-2010, 07:54 AM

Thanks for the replies guys, lot of helpful tidbits.

I had read about the toothpick method, I just worried about the longevity of a repair like that, I plan on letting this bass go on CL, but I don't want to pass on a problem to the buyer.
But everyone seems to be pretty confident in this method so I may just dive in.

thanks walterw for the woodglue tip, and props to Zoob for the specific screw numbers!

MasterBass! · #12 10-05-2010, 07:38 PM

All you need is a 1/2" longer screw.

**bassman_al** · #13 02-08-2011, 12:06 PM

toothpick and wood glue worked great for me today! Thanks guys!

brotherbassj · #14 02-08-2011, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

that's 4/5ths right.

after stuffing wood glue-slathered toothpicks into the hole, crank the button in right away. this compresses the new wood against the old hole, providing the clamping pressure wood glue needs to dry strong.

I agree with this method and it has worked for me for many years. I have used superglue, gorilla, glue and elmers wood glue as a bonding agent! But do it immediately!!!

georgestrings · #15 02-08-2011, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

that's 4/5ths right.

after stuffing wood glue-slathered toothpicks into the hole, crank the button in right away. this compresses the new wood against the old hole, providing the clamping pressure wood glue needs to dry strong.

Yup - I've used this method many times over the years, and never had it fail me...

- georgestrings

chadhargis · #16 02-08-2011, 08:32 PM

Toothpick trick works. But you can use a two part epoxy like JB Weld and fill the hole with it. Let it dry. Drill a pilot hole and put your screw in.

I've used JB Weld to do the following:

Hold the door handle on a car door which I used for 3 years and was still holding when I sold it.
Hold a radiator fitting on my race bike which held to the day I sold it
Glue together a door stop which is still hold today

It sticks to ANYTHING.

If you put the screw in while it was still curing, you'd probably strip the screw before you got it out.