Strap Lock Repair Help

[ThomasTronics]

Hey Tb'ers

Can't believe this just happened while I was playing. My Strap lock just ripped out of the hole. Good thing I was holding my bass or i would've dropped it. Guess I'll add this chip to all the others.... Blasted! This poor 60ths anniversary jazz bass has just had a rough life. Seems to break and fall apart every couple years.

Its a shaller strap lock with where the screw and strap lock is one piece, a hex. How do I repair hole so that when I screw the strap lock back in it has actual threads to dig into.

I only have crude tools but I was thinking wood and toothpicks then screw it back in?

 

[bholder]

The "formally correct" answer is to drill out it to a slightly larger size, then dowel glue and redrill. The expedient answer is toothpicks and elmers.

"In Theory, Theory and Practice are identical. In Practice, however, they are not."

 

[Killing Floor]

You could also look at the recessed Dunlop locks. Bigger hole = more surface area.

 

[DaDo625]

Sub'd - 'Cause this could happen to any of us..

Do you know if this blew out because it was loose or did the connection fail? (screw to wood)

The toothpick trick is dangerous in that you can create a wedge effect (making a relatively small problem much larger in more ways that one)

The Luthiers will be here shortly for more/better....

I have had to mod the strap lock in the past to take the larger screw from the original anchor point, they seem to be larger than the screw that comes with the strap locks.
I did that rather than the toothpick trick when my Luthier told me it would only be a short term fix "unless you want to pay me more more money to fix that...and I have all the work I need thank you very much"

And it could have been worse...now take a deep breath...

 

[Reedt2000]

Toothpicks and wood glue will work just fine (IME). Fill the hole with as many glue-covered Toothpicks as it takes, gently tapping them in when it gets tight. Cut them off flush and put the screw in while the glue is wet, allow to cure fully before hanging it on a strap again.

The finish damage is rough.... not exactly sure what the best option is there.

 

[TinIndian]

I switched from Schallers to Dunlops because the screws kept backing out and once one of the nuts came off the strap end. Yours just pulling out is a new one on me though but it seems to mean that the screw was never biting into the wood enough. But yes, the quick fix is some Elmer's and a couple tooth picks.

Do you have the chunk of paint that came off? Maybe able to glue it back on somehow.

 

[bholder]

I switched from Schallers to Dunlops because the screws kept backing out and once one of the nuts came off the strap end. Yours just pulling out is a new one on me though but it seems to mean that the screw was never biting into the wood enough. But yes, the quick fix is some Elmer's and a couple tooth picks.

Do you have the chunk of paint that came off? Maybe able to glue it back on somehow.

I've glued paint chips back, that can work if you have them. Otherwise, it's in a dark area, so a small bottle of black CA filler and some 1500 sandpaper then buffing ought to do it well enough. Won't be invisible, but you'll have to look for it to see it.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Hey Tb'ers

Can't believe this just happened while I was playing. My Strap lock just ripped out of the hole. Good thing I was holding my bass or i would've dropped it. Guess I'll add this chip to all the others.... Blasted! This poor 60ths anniversary jazz bass has just had a rough life. Seems to break and fall apart every couple years.

Its a shaller strap lock with where the screw and strap lock is one piece, a hex. How do I repair hole so that when I screw the strap lock back in it has actual threads to dig into.

I only have crude tools but I was thinking wood and toothpicks then screw it back in?

View attachment 4132131

Break off a toothpick in the hole. Or, mix up some jb weld, and shove it in there. Thread the screw before it dries. Or, do both.

 

[ThomasTronics]

It just failed. I was playing and just ploop. I found the paint chip, can i just super glue it back?

I dont have the tools to drill and dowel. Although I don't have enough confidence to be drilling my bass anyways.

Yea it looks like the screw it self wasn't bitting into enough wood. You think all the strap screws would be uniform in size. From what I gather here, other than bring it to a luthier for repair.

Tooth picks, wood glue. Screw the screw in with the toothpicks and glue and they will all set together?

A friend of mine thats a Carpenter told me to epoxy the screw in? Bu tI feel like this wouldn't work?

 

[bholder]

It just failed. I was playing and just ploop. I found the paint chip, can i just super glue it back?

I dont have the tools to drill and dowel. Although I don't have enough confidence to be drilling my bass anyways.

Yea it looks like the screw it self wasn't bitting into enough wood. You think all the strap screws would be uniform in size. From what I gather here, other than bring it to a luthier for repair.

Tooth picks, wood glue. Screw the screw in with the toothpicks and glue and they will all set together?

A friend of mine thats a Carpenter told me to epoxy the screw in? Bu tI feel like this wouldn't work?

Epoxy will work too, but the toothpicks and woodglue is reversible fairly easily. Epoxy may be permanently in there if you ever need to replace it in the future...

 

[Reedt2000]

It just failed. I was playing and just ploop. I found the paint chip, can i just super glue it back?

I dont have the tools to drill and dowel. Although I don't have enough confidence to be drilling my bass anyways.

Yea it looks like the screw it self wasn't bitting into enough wood. You think all the strap screws would be uniform in size. From what I gather here, other than bring it to a luthier for repair.

Tooth picks, wood glue. Screw the screw in with the toothpicks and glue and they will all set together?

A friend of mine thats a Carpenter told me to epoxy the screw in? Bu tI feel like this wouldn't work?

If you've got the chip, you can glue it in with super glue. As suggested earlier black super glue can be used to fill the crack, a super light sand and buff will make it pretty well hidden.

 

[ThomasTronics]

So I'm thinking in going to use tooth picks and gorilla glue. Ill see how many pieces of toothpick i can get in their snug. Cover them in gorilla glue and tap them in as far as i can. The gorilla glue expands and will make a super snug fit. I'm going to screw the strap lock into the glue and tooth picks.

If its kind of permanent i would be too upset.

Then glue my chip back with some basic super glue.

Do i get a TB seal of approval on this repair. It is a standard fender jazz not a fodera so if it's not the cleanest that's fine.

 

[Swipter]

The "formally correct" answer is to drill out it to a slightly larger size, then dowel glue and redrill. The expedient answer is toothpicks and elmers.

"In Theory, Theory and Practice are identical. In Practice, however, they are not."

What about a golf tee instead of toothpicks.

 

[ThomasTronics]

Golf tees are plastic these days

 

[bherman]

Hard to tell from your picture but that looks like the hole is quite a bit bigger than the screw. I do alot of woodworking, here's what I'd do. Rather than toothpicks, I use wooden match sticks (the kind that you strike on the side of the box). Their sides are straight and you'll get more wood to wood surface, which is what you want. Toothpicks are tapered and could leave voids.Use wood glue, not Gorilla glue (unless its labelled as Gorilla wood glue). Squeeze some glue into the hole, spread some onto the matchstick, and push them down into the hole. You want to fill the hole up with wood. Its ok if the matchsticks stick out above the hole, you'll clean it up when its dry. Let it dry for a few hours or even overnight. Cut the end of the matchsticks flush with the top of the hole, using a small hobby saw or even a utility knife or single edge razor blade (be careful!). Superglue the paint chip back on (use gel superglue, its bold better). Let it dry for an hour. Then use a new screw, slightly longer than the one that pulled out. Drill a pilot hole (somewhat smaller than the screw) before screwing it in. You don't want to glue the screw into the hole, thats not as strong as a properly threaded screw as long as its long enough.

If you don't have the minimal tools to do this, ask around - probably a friend will. All you need is a drill with proper bit.

 

[mikeswals]

Schaller tends to use screws that are smaller diameter than original strap button screws. So many times Ive seen friends rip their screws out. Thats another reason I prefer Dunlops, they use larger than OE button screws.

The correct way is to dowel and drill a new hole. I use maple dowels so I'm working with a harder material then most bodies are made of.
Of course, there's the fix-it-quick crowd that uses toothpicks.

 

[capnjim]

I wouldn't use the yellow expanding Gorilla glue. its messy, it expands all over the place, and you might never get the screw out.
Any good white carpenters glue and toothpicks is the best way.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

The newer Schallers have larger screws (or is it longer?) with more aggressive threads. The original ones were short and had threads that looked like they were made for metal rather than wood. What I did on the older ones was I got drywall screws, grinded the heads down so that they would fit into the strap pins. I also had the enlarge the strap pin holes slightly and I added a little bit of carpenter's glue on the screw threads.

On the strap ends, I use some Loctite on the threads so the not doesn't come loose. So far, those things have worked well for me.

I am not sure I like the newer one-piece design.

 

[wvbass]

The toothpick trick is dangerous in that you can create a wedge effect (making a relatively small problem much larger in more ways that one)

Toothpicks and wood glue will work just fine (IME).

I have filled strap pin holes with toothpicks more times than I can count. I use Titebond along with the toothpicks. I have never had a screw pull back out after this type of repair.

So I'm thinking in going to use tooth picks and gorilla glue.

I would definitely NOT use Gorilla glue. The way it expands as it dries could cause problems, such as it expanding out of the hole and covering the finish around the strap pin.

 

[moon-bass]

+1 on not using Gorilla Glue (unless it is specific wood glue). The expansion will cause issues. Wood glue/carpenter glue works best, regular Elmer's and super glue would be next in line. Use toothpicks or matches. I've done this more than I can count. It.works great and after 30 years on one bass it's still holding fine.