Loose Strap button...toothpick, plumbers tape, wood glue? best recommended fix?

[ZeroFivefour]

I have a Luke 1 with a strap button that likes to ease its way out every so often. It is not stripped. It just needs to be screwed in every few days. It is currently sporting schaller strap lock buttons.

Wondering which way to address this is recommended by the resident luthiers.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[vlnbow]

If it is truley not stripped - it is because the schaller lock acts in a ratchet type fashion when you move around. I don't know what a Luke is made of..but this only works marginally on basswood or similar soft woods. ready? Locktight or Ca glue. Loosen the screw 3/4 of the way out and put one drop of LT or medium CA -not too much. Then screw it back in, dabbing any excess that travels out until the button reaches the body. Once the screw is in and the glue sets, it will hold in place while still being able to unscrew it at a latter time if need be.

 

[DrKev]

because the schaller lock acts in a ratchet type fashion when you move around.

Really? Not any Schallers I have used.

Alas, this is stripped. (It doesn't have to pull out in one go to be called 'stripped', though one of these days it will!)

Best fix is to drill out the hole, glue in a wooden dowel, when the glue has set drill a new pilot hole for the screw. For the pilot hole use a drill bit that matches the inner 'shaft' diameter of the screw, not the outer thread diameter.

Another option is to glue wooden toothpicks into the hole (or even better, slivers of toothpick). You might not need to drill a new pilot hole unless the screw goes in really tight. (The risk is that a weak screw head could snap off and then you have a new problem).

 

[Spudmurphy]

Yup I'd go the slivers of wood and glue trick too - that's what I have done in the past.

 

[FantasyMetal]

I usually just stick a toothpick in there and screw it back in and it works like a charm. I've never used any adhesive, but then again I've only had to do this a few times.

 

[beej]

I've done both over the years. Personally I like over-drilling and gluing a dowel in there, just as Dr Kev suggested. Then it's like new.

 

[ZeroFivefour]

Thanks guys for all of the replies and feedback. It is all greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[Larry]

I've done both over the years. Personally I like over-drilling and gluing a dowel in there, just as Dr Kev suggested. Then it's like new.

+1

 

[KEOKI]

I have fixed a couple with the toothpick/splinter method without any subsequent issues. A LOT easier and no danger of me doing something stupid with a power tool on my guitar. Plus I reasoned I could always take it to a qualified repair person if the toothpick failed again. It didn't.

 

[SBMM]

Toothpicks are fine, but if you have access to any chopsticks or BBQ skewers that are made of Bamboo, that is the way to go, and it will never split again. Bamboo is far stronger than birch, which is pretty common for toothpicks.
The BBQ skewers made of Bamboo work the best.

 

[koogie2k]

I did the toothpick thing before. Then did what SBMM said and never had an issue after that.