Issue with Screw quality on supplied hardware

[Sundragon]

I'll just jump straight to it.....

Completing a JB4 Kit, perfectly cut headstock and getting really excited for the finished product.
Pre-drill the holes for the first tuner and mounting screws... driving them in and one sheers off!!!

I thought.. 'Bugger me, that's strange... maybe it was a dodgy screw, or I drilled the hole too shallow and it didn't like it... etc'.
So, I re-drill the remaining 3 holes 1mm deeper and give the bit a slight wobble just to make sure.... then start driving the remaining 3 screws in 1/3 at a time each to hold things steady.. they are all now 2/3 in and I'm just starting to finish one of the 3 and blow me down, it literally twists right off like it was butter as well!!!!!!

At this point, I've got both of the screws on the nut side gone and I'm stunned.

So, out comes a piece of loose wood to test... (granted, it was only pine). drilled hole, insert and happily fully drive screw with no worries at all....


Stunned, I turn back to the bass and say a quick prayer, glance over the remaining screws and they seem to look ok, and begin driving only one of the remaining two screws.

NOPE! Damn thing sheers off at about the same point as the other two did before it!


Now I'm fuming, caus there aint no way the tuner will hold in line now and I'm stuck with 3 practically irremovable, mostly-sunk tiny screws in the back of the headstock.

Guys (and Adam), WTF!!!

Anyone else had issues with the quality of the screws? These are apparently just trash.

[Sonic Mountain]

Hmm, I've been concerned about the screws myself. They all look like they have been manufactured out of Chineseium.

You've done the right thing by pre-drilling the holes, so that's pretty disappointing.

[wokkaboy]

Hey Sundragon what size drill bit did you use ? Were they tight (with some resistance) when you started screwing them in ?
I always use a hand held screwdriver for these, were you using a power drill with attachment ?

I've found most the time the supplied screws are fine, it is often worth wiping the thread with soap or a wax to help lubricate them.

[Andy40]

Always wax the screws ....always....

Sorry to hear, been there before

[chrissyinbkk]

Hi Sundragon,
I know how you feel - had the same problem.
The headstock is maple - harder than pine.
I do the same as Wokka and wax the screws before screwing them in.
You can remove the broken screws by removing a small amount of timber with a small drill bit and then gripping with pointy nosed pliers to slowly unscrew. A little wood filler can be used to patch the holes befor re drilling. Might be worth getting some better quality screws from the local hardware.

Been there done that, had to do exactly what Colin said with a strat i was building and yes, holes drilled and screws waxed.... cannot see the little repair i had to do so was lucky.

[andrewdosborne]

Also been there & done that...

My suggestion and method I used in my circumstance was to drill a very small hole down the side of the screw (in an inconspicuous location) so you can get access to it for removal. Then dowel & redrill holes

[fender3x]

I had this problem, as well as stripping out the Phillips head. Drilling is important. A little wax couldn't hurt. I added to that buying a box of high quality stainless steel screws. I don't think I ended up using any of the screws that came with the kit. I had some old jazz bass pickup screws laying around that I wish I had replaced with stainless. All the others I did replace. I have not regretted it

Besides, what is the point of having a screw you have trouble putting​ it in or the shaft's not hard?

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk

[ILRGuitars]

If you don't have wax, use an old chippy's trick and run the screws (or nails) through your hair first. The natural oil in your hair will help lubricate the metal.

[corsair]

... my old chippies trick was having an old bar of soap handy to grease 'em up!

[Sundragon]

Thanks for all the comments guys.

One thing I think that has not been addressed though.. if it's a common issue, surely we can have the factory improve the quality of the screws they are supplying, right?

It's not like it would even really add to the cost of the kit overall, those tiny 7-12 screws at a better quality might cost a collective $1 more per kit? but at least they would work