Hi,
I've just changed my Belt hook mount from standard to 'flat'.

When replacing the mount, using the two machine screws provided (both same length, both slightly shorther than the shorter of teh two standard ones) I found that one of them (in the hole where the long screw normally goes) slid in suspicioulsy easily and can't be properlly tightened. The other screw reaches a point where it tightens properly (i.e. starts to provide resistance to reasonable force), but this one gets 'home' then continues to turn with only moderate force.

It's a used Stick (the bamboo) and my guess is that some adjustment of the hook by an earlier owner (it's had an unknown number of owners, at least 3 before me) resulted in the stripping?

The 'other' machine screw seems to hold everything okay, but I imagine that one of our workworkers can think of a way to reform, or improve the threading?

The small third screw on the mount wouldn't tighten either, but that's just an ordinary wood screw, so I was able to solve that by using a slightly larger replacement.

I would use a wood screw to replace the stripped machine screw. Sure, the heads won't match. But who cares.

Those are long screws, if I recall. Find a wood screw that is the same length (or slightly shorter) and possibly the same thickness. Use hand tools (no power tools!).

The pro/proper way would be to fill the hole with dust and glue, re-drill (w/ belt hook pieces on), then re-screw with the original machine screw by hand. But that would be insane. Unless you had a drill press, there's no way to get the angle correct.

OR

Fill the hole with a little bit of wood dust/scrap, then re-screw with the original machine screw and see what happens. It won't hurt.

Indeed, and very few are ever likely to see them!



I make no claims to being a woodworker, but I am 'handy' and have a wide selection of screws & hand tools available.

The machine screw & thus the hole is a tad under 5mm dia.

If it's to be a wood screw I'll probably try slicing a few slim slivers off the edge of a piece of scrap and slide them into the hole before I start the new screw, so there's something to bite into without needing to go for an even thicker screw?

Using mm dimensions I think a 5 x 50 (or maybe 55) looks like it will do the job with the aid of that bit of a plug. Without a plug I think it would need something a bit thicker to 'bite'.

Thanks for your input Roger.

I think a good solution would be to permanently install special metal sockets with threads screwed into the wood. You would only screw the actual screw into these. I don't know the English name for this unfortunately. I often change pickup on my Grand, so I just permanently mounted one there, as the original holes had long since worn out.

I think I know the sort of thing you mean.

I have some "nut intserts" left over from another job (you know the sort of thing, you need 5, but have to but a pack of 50...). They are 13mm deep with a coarse screw thread on the outside to bite into the wood, and an M6 thread on the inside.

They would however require me to drill a 13mm deep (minimum) 8.5mm dia hole in the back of my Stick, so I'll try the wood screw route first.

However thanks for the idea. It's there for later.

PS. My graphite Stick seems to use inserts of some sort. I assume they are original equipment, as I believe that Stick only had one previous owner, and little use.

They are called Heli-Coils and most commonly used for repairing metal threads.

I was going to say jam a few toothpicks in there and swing away.

But then Brian "minister of all things wood" Baggett saved me from making a fool of myself.

Well, almost.

Seriously though, maybe you could share an image for reference?

I was thinking more of a wood solution. The external thread is wider ensures good installation in wood. The internal one fits the screws perfectly. You just have to choose the right size.

Here's another video on stripped out screw repairs.

Actually, after I'd cut a few thin slim shavings (trimmed off the corners of an offcut using a craft knife) I slid a couple & tried the machine screw again, just a few turns. It seemed to be biting, so I re-fitted the hook and now both the standard screws tighten up nicely.

I'll hold both other options in mind for the future.



Image of what? The two holes, 'good' & 'bad', both looked pretty much the same.