Too many holes in heel of bolt-on neck

[bassrique]

My FrankenStrat came in today. I took off the neck for closer inspection and noticed there are eight holes back there, and a couple of them are so close as to make one hole. I think i need to do some hole filling, but with what?

Thank you in advance.

[Rocky McD]

Drill out and glue in hard maple dowels. Grind them down level and then drill new holes in the proper location. Be sure you use hardwood dowels. You may have to go to a hardwood store or a Woodcraft style store to find them. Most box stores only have soft wood dowels.

[bassrique]

Damn, I was hoping for more of a Jaco Plastic Wood type solution. I don't know if I'm up for your solution.

[walterw]

do not use end-grain "dowels". you need cross-grain "plugs", or the screw holes will not be very strong.

[mongo2]

I have a piece of particularly hard maple I keep around for such repairs. I cut a slightly oversized cross grain plug using a plug cutter and drill the hole in the neck to fit.

[Webtroll]

Originally Posted by walterw

do not use end-grain "dowels". you need cross-grain "plugs", or the screw holes will not be very strong.

Why is that? Aside from lining up the grain to match the grain on the neck wood I don't see a reason for them to be stronger; if anything having them go length-wise into the hole seems to make more sense to me. Not saying you're wrong, just wondering why you're right.

[202dy]

Screws tend to pull out when installed in end grain. The screw is in line with the fibers. The threads sever the fibers. The screw is free to move. When installed in side or cross grain, the fibers act as "ridges" to help hold the fastener.

Try this: Insert your index finger of your weaker hand between the index and middle fingers of the stronger hand. It will look like a nail that has completely penetrated a board. Apply as much pressure as you can with the strong hand and pull the weak hand index finger out. Obviously you can do it. But it's pretty hard. Now do the same thing but this time form the strong hand fingers with all the finger (and thumb) tips touching. Insert the index finger again. Repeat. You get the idea.

The same thing applies to nails. It's easy to pull a stud off the bottom plate. You can pull with one hand or give it a couple of quick raps with a hammer and it comes apart. If the studs are nailed together through side grain it will take a pry bar and some cussing to perform the task.

You can invent other experiments on your own.

Cut side grain plugs. Install them in the neck holes with white or yellow glue. When the glue cures, mark the new holes and bore. That's the best way to do it.

[Webtroll]

thanks!

[bassrique]

So there isn't a simpler solution utilizing some sort of super hard drying putty?

[draftsmann]

I've used two part epoxy to fill an old hole on a tele-a-like partscaster heel (yes, a six string) that was too close to my new hole for comfort - but yours sounds like a bit of a pin cushion, and the maple plug method is really the way to go for a proper fix.

[202dy]

Originally Posted by bassrique

So there isn't a simpler solution utilizing some sort of super hard drying putty?

Super hard drying putty is just that: Super Hard. Unfortunately, that doesn't make it Super Bonding. It will pull out of the hole faster than an end grain dowel.

Plug, bore, thread, assemble, setup, play.

Do it right. Do it once.