How do I remove a stripped strap button screw?

[BrianH]

Got a stripped strap button screw.. how do I get her out?

[kirk]

I assume that it is the screw head that is stripped, and my only suggestion is to use a pair of plier and "unscrew" it. Vice grips would probably work best.

Maybe someone else has a better idea.

[oooo]

http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summ...id=00952154000
just a thought

[jem7vwh]

wrap a t-shirt or a washcloth around the screw, and unscrew it with pliers. The washcloth will prevent the strat button from being scratched.

If you can't get at the screw because the strap button's in the way, then I say just jerk it out, and fill the hole before you screw a new one in.

My recipe for perfect hole filler:

1 part superglue
1 part baking soda.

Drop the baking soda in the hole, then pour the superglue in. It gets rock hard and can be pierced, drilled and sanded without shattering.

[yurich]

try the new Damaged Screw Remover...though I think that's only available in Canadian Tire

[musicdr]

If you can get at the screw,use a dremel tool and slot the screw,so you can use a flathead screwdriver.

[Lonely Raven]

Ok, I'm getting really scared reading these suggestions. Most are ok if
your working on your car, or something that's not as fragile and easily
scratched as a guitar. I can't imagine yanking stripped screws out of
wood, or using some sort of a drill kit without "accidentaly" bumping
the guitar or chipping paint.

Which is more expendable, the guitar/finish or the strap button?
I'll give ya a hint, the strap button will cost under $10 generally!

Hopefully you have a Dremel Tool. Every man should have a Dremel Tool,
it has been on of the most usefull tools I've ever owned, and with a router
attachment has even helped me add pickups to guitars and modify trem
routs.

Anywho, as stated before, if you can reach the screw head, try cutting a
slot in it with the "Cut Off Tool" with your Dremel. Then just use a slotted
screwdriver to get it out. Chances are your going to damage the strap
button, so on to my suggestion.

First off, PROTECT THE GUITAR! Take an old T-shirt, construction paper,
cardboard, whatever, and mask off everything you could possibly "bump"
into with your tools, with your hands, or on the workbench. I personally
would just take an old T-shirt or sweatshirt, cut a small slot in it, and fit it
over the strap button. Then tape it down around the strap button just to be
sure. Wrapping up the whole body of the guitar like a package couldn't
hurt. It's always possible to bump it while your working on it.

Next, take previously mentioned "Cut Off Tool" and just cut right through
the strap button, screw and all at the thinnest point, the furthest from the
body you can be. Caution, getting a spinning tool caught in the T-shirt
protecting your guitar should still protect your guitar, but might rip the
tool out of your hand. Also, cut off tools are made to wear down, even the
fiberglass reinforced one will wear down and produce LOTS of dust. So
work with eye protection and resperator if you can.

After you cut off the top of the strap button and the screw, you will be able
to just slide the remaining half of the screw button off, leaving the shaft
of the screw extending out of the guitar. DON'T JUST YANK IT OUT!
Grab some vice-grips (preferably some smaller ones), lock them on and
slowly and carefully unwind the screw shaft out of the body.

Hopefully you have already purchased a new matching strap button and
screw (or set), and now you simply have to replace it!

If I were you, just to be super safe, I would leave the T-shirt wrapped
around the guitar *even during installing the new strap button and screw*!!
Remember, it only takes one slip of the screw driver to devalue your
guitar, and make you really pissed at yourself!

Now you can remove your protective layer, polish up any fingerprints on
the guitar, slap on a strap, and hang it around your neck! ROCK ON!

I hope this helped out some.

[mike777]

That Sears suggestion is great. They have the craftsman "Screw-Out" which you could use on an electric tool or with a hand screwdriver that uses exchangeable bits. I got a kit for Christmas this past year and used it with a hand-screwdriver to get out a stripped saddle loch-down screw from my Edge trem. It took less than a minute and there doesn't seem to be any more risk doing this than there is using a screwdriver any other time. You will have to replace the old screw with a new one.

Hope this helps.

Mike 777 Haug

[BrianH]

thanks guys, guess I should have mentioned that the strap button is still attached and you can't get to the screw... but there are so many good tips, I'll try them in the order I see fit(least dangerous to most dangersous :-) until one works...