Filling pickguard screw wood

[MKR]

I got a problem with a pickguard screw on my hollowbody gretsch. The wood is "stripped" in that the screw will not tighten anymore.... just spins around without tightening. Not a big deal and an easy fix on a solid body guitar. Just add some toothpick wood, wood glue and you're good to go.

Not so easy on a gretsch hollowbody. since it's hollow the toothpick wood just falls in the cavity. The thckness of the body is like 1/4 inch. Then there’s the hollow cavernous pit. FYI, this is one of the little screws on the side of the body. (there are 2).

I think i know how to fix it, but i just want ask here to make sure i do it right.

I plan on getting some toothpick wood
1. split wood into thinner little strips - but longer than the hole in question.
2. add a bit of wood glue around the stripped hole
3. place the little wood strips into the hole with ends sticking out.
4. after it all dries, cut off excess wood strips so it's flush with guitar body.
5. Place pickguard back on.

That should work right?

[B.T.]

I’ve never cut them up. I’ll just get a little glue in the hole with the toothpick and a little more on the tp. I’ll push it in, let it dry, then cut with some dikes or fret cutters. Aka something that can get right up on the surface without marring it. Usually if you slowly pilot the screw back in you won’t need to redrill. Toothpick wood is really soft will splay out and fill the hole.

[JSett]

Use a slightly bigger screw?

[andy_tchp]

Matches > toothpicks.

[MKR]

Cool. Thanks for the replies.

I think I have some wooden matches too. Will use those.

Just making sure… my steps are good , right?

[andy_tchp]

Some thoughts:

I'm not sure what splitting the match stick/toothpick/whatever into 'little strips' achieves.

I prefer superglue (or whatever cyanoacrylate is sold as where you are) for this as it adds some hardness to the whole thing and cures rapidly.


My process:

First do a quick test fit: Put match stick (non-burny end) into hole to ensure it fits with a decent amount of interference (it should hold itself in there and not fall out).

Remove and apply tiny amount of superglue to match stick. The aim is no excess glue squeezing out - the amount required to bond it to the surrounding wood is miniscule.

Jam in hole, cut flush. Screw fastener in being careful not to over-tighten.

End.

[Guppy]

I got a problem with a pickguard screw on my hollowbody gretsch. The wood is "stripped" in that the screw will not tighten anymore.... just spins around without tightening. Not a big deal and an easy fix on a solid body guitar. Just add some toothpick wood, wood glue and you're good to go.

Not so easy on a gretsch hollowbody. since it's hollow the toothpick wood just falls in the cavity. The thckness of the body is like 1/4 inch. Then there’s the hollow cavernous pit. FYI, this is one of the little screws on the side of the body. (there are 2).

I think i know how to fix it, but i just want ask here to make sure i do it right.

I plan on getting some toothpick wood
1. split wood into thinner little strips - but longer than the hole in question.
2. add a bit of wood glue around the stripped hole
3. place the little wood strips into the hole with ends sticking out.
4. after it all dries, cut off excess wood strips so it's flush with guitar body.
5. Place pickguard back on.

That should work right?

Just jam/wedge a few tooth picks in there with some wood glue. Cut off excess wood and drill a small pilot hole before you screw in the screw.

[HNB]

I normally use skewers with a bit of wood glue on them and either snap them off at the top of the stock hole or cut them with snips or carefully with a chisel when dry and then do the redrill.

Hard to tell, but all the holes in this one are filled. Once the new guard is in I will redrill the holes. I am pretty sure the body is basswood or something and several screws were stripped out and had oversized ones installed so I figured I will fill and redrill.

20240116_171355 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

[MKR]

Thanks for the tips.


I got it done earlier. Turned out fine.