Oh No! I just broke a screw

[dingobass]

It was bound to happen sooner or later.... Today I broke my first screw.

So, whats the work around?

Easy, screw remover and a plug cutter!

Step one, attack screw with screw remover.
Step two, cut plug.
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[dingobass]

Once I got the broken screw out, it is time for step three.. Fill hole with Titebond

Step four. Gently tap plug into hole and clean up any glue that is squeezed out.

All this was done under the supervision of the Man Cave Supervisor..... Albeit sleeping on the job :P
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[dingobass]

Step Five. Carefully pare plug with chisel

Step Six. Sand it

Step Seven. Re drill hole.

Fortunately this is under the bridge, so I was not worried about trying to match the timber.
If this happens anywhere it may be seen it is best to use the same timber as the patient :)
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[lawry]

Surely step one would be 'use highest level of profanity currently known'.

[dingobass]

/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from lawry on April 20, 2014, 17:52
Surely step one would be 'use highest level of profanity currently known'.

that requires its own thread... and I am afraid I would have to censor it substantially :)

[DanMade]

Step one. Always use an appropriate size pilot hole. ;)

[dingobass]

Had the right sized bit, it was a case of forgetting to dip the screw in linseed oil before driving it... D'OH!

Also when I had a close look at the screw it looks like it may have been faulty judging by the way it had broken.
It didn't have that classic twisted look, it had basically snapped!

[gavinturner]

Great thread DB. This is the worst - thanks for the fix!

cheers,
Gav.

[robin]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge Phil. I guess sooner or later we will all have to find this Thread again to see how the professionals do it.

cheers
rob

[dingobass]

I should have mentioned that you can get the screw remover kit from stewmac.....
It aint cheap but after lurking in my tool chest for the past six months it has finally paid for its keep :)

[wokkaboy]

nice workaround DB, glad the supervisor was hard at it !
Tele coming along nicely, is this one a keeper ?
I bet half of Mount Richon heard the swearing in step 1 !

[Tweaky]

One small problem, you don't mention the Bit size needed to drill the hole around the broken screw, or the drill bit to core a piece of maple plug to fill the hole you just drilled.

I know it's available at stewert Mac...but do people know the price?....currently US $65

[dingobass]

Well, when you build a lot of Guitars, $65 is bugger all in the grand scheme of things.
Especially when the Guitars I build are worth in excess of 3k....

[Gavin1393]

One small problem, you don't mention the Bit size needed to drill the hole around the broken screw, or the drill bit to core a piece of maple plug to fill the hole you just drilled.

I know it's available at stewert Mac...but do people know the price?....currently US $65

Hey Tweaky, appreciate the concern there, however I think DB set up the thread more to help folk to understand that it wasnt the end of the world if a screw broke and that it is always advisable to consider available options before stuffing up the headstock with an over-the-top reaction to the broken screw.
We also appreciate the concern over the price. A while back the Aussie dollar was parity to the US dollar so things have become a bit more expensive if considering buying now as opposed to in April 2014 when DB posted this.
Hope you understand.