Fixing straplocks on JS100

[Scott 74]

I put Schallers on my JS100 but the screws were to small and when I put the originals in they won't hold! Help!! Can I modify the Schallers and if so how? Or can I put Schallers in but fill the wholes with something first? Thank you!!

One piece of advice to JS owners!! Don't us Schallers!! There great but the screws are to small!!

[jemsite]

This was discussed recently on the old forum.

I don't understand your exact problem though.

Personally i would do this
[*] fill the body holes with 5-minute EPOXY. Let cure overnight (it won't cure in 5-minutes)
[*] redrill a pilot ****
for the new screws of choice. Use a drill bit smaller than the final screws you want to use. [/list]This will make them much more secure as the epoxy/resin is stronger than the wood and the screws will stay fastened basically forever. Good luck... glen

[Scott 74]

Glen,

* * * Do you have a brand name for that 5 minute epoxy? Thank you.

[jemsite]

Not offhand. Any hardware store (many grocery stores) has this. They come what looks like one large plastic syringe (aka clear toothpaste tube) made of of two tubes. One tube holds the the "resin/epoxy" and the "hardner" fills the other.

To use... squirt equal amounts from the tubes (on blank paper or cardboard), mix for a few seconds and use a toothpick to fill the body hole. Very easy.

[Scott 74]

Just wanted to let you all know that I fixed the straplocks on my JS100, and that I found a product called JB WaterWeld that did *an excellent job of filling the holes! I don't know if anyone's ever tried using it but for someone with a similar problem give it a try! Later.......

[Doink]

I just put some Elmers glue in the holes and screw the straplocks in. When it dries, it's bonded to the wood, and perfectly shaped to the screw. Of course, I have yet to try to take the straplocks off, that could be a problem, but the Elmers shouldn't bond to metal.

[jemsite]

Nice work Scott.

Remember Elmers (or any wood glue) is good ONLY for adhering wood-to-wood. It does not fill the cavity like the epoxy does and IMHO you're at risk of the straplocks pulling out. Not a matter of IF but just a matter of when. If you want to use Elmers you need to fill the screw hole with wood or other filler so the screws don't slip and pull right out.

With the epoxy the screws are biting into the fiberglass-like resin that is rock hard. Can't really fail.

[Scott 74]

Thanks Glen!

[Doink]

It's been 2 years on one of my 570's and 7 months on the other, and I haven't had a problem. The way I look at it, the glue bonds to the wood and itself. I don't foresee any problems, but I might try some of that epoxy just to be on the safe side. I think I might have some laying around actually...

[Vaibanez]

Doink,
I think what Glen is trying to say is that you won't have a problem getting the screws out, but you will have a problem keeping them in. Elmer's is not that strong and can't hold the woodscrew threads like epoxy or wood can. They will eventualy strip themselves out and you could run the risk of loosing your fiddle in mid whammage..:biggrin:.

That would suck out loud.

J>

[steve]

A word of advice, while we're at it here: if you're adding something like glue to the screw-holes, to aid in removing those screws in the future, should that be required, you'll want to rub some wax or (my preference) soap (bar, not liquid =]) onto the threads of the screw before you put them in. Otherwise, you'd likely twist the head right off of it.
This is also a very good thing to do when threading any new hole, especially in harder woods - it'll help the screw thread in easier and more cleanly.

[rpmJSnj]

Hi all

I'm a new JS100 owner and brand new to the JEMsite. I want to add straplocks, and came across the problem you all know well on this thread. I bought the Schallers and have the same screw-size issue. I am wondering if there are any other brands of straplocks that might work without any mods? Doesnt Dunlop make something similar?

I am honestly not too comfortable messing with epoxy and/or drill bits, near my new baby. If I screwed it up (no pun intended), I would die! And I sure hate to go to a luthier or repair shop and pay for something so "simple".

Any suggestions or alternatives?