The Steel Guitar Forum

I have a couple of these screws (circled below) that are stripped on my guitar. Can this be fixed with wood glue and toothpicks directly into the hole without disassembling the guitar? Or would it be advisable to take the endplates off and drill the hole out and glue a dowel in and re-drill the hole. Or something else entirely?

I defer to the Emmons experts among us, but I believe I'd try the toothpick/glue method first. That looks like a left endplate which has nothing attached, so pulling it off wouldn't require any disassembly....but, those end plates fit really snug requiring use of a dead blow hammer in most cases to remove/install.

I guess there is the issue of the stripped screw allowing it to drift out of alignment, but I believe that they fit so tight, a stripped screw won't matter much long as it's in place. But I would go ahead with the toothpick/glue repair if it's me.

I'm quite sure the experts in the field will correct and reprimand me in the event this is unadvisable.

you might try glue and wood filler mixed ,then fill the hole and then,put the screws in before the filler dry's.it might work.

JB weld will work

Tooth picks and wood glue is easiest and best fix. Dip a few tooth picks in Elmers, cut to proper length to depth of screw hole, insert and let glue dry. It’ll hold.

Henry Matthews wrote:Tooth picks and wood glue is easiest and best fix. Dip a few tooth picks in Elmers, cut to proper length to depth of screw hole, insert and let glue dry. It’ll hold.

Agreed.. Once the glue dries, the new material[glue and toothpicks] is harder than the original wood.. Plain old Elmers is fine, but Titebond or Elmers Wood Glue is actually stronger....

I use JB quick weld with no plug on smaller holes, on larger holes I use a piece of hardwood dowel. A pilot hole can be drilled easily after the JB sets up.

The toothpick and glue method seems to have worked out pretty well. Thanks for the responses.