Evil Undead Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 Sigh. I've broken the top 1cm (including the head) off a neck bolt. The remaining piece is still in the neck. There's about 1.5cm sticking out, and about the same amount still in the wood. I've tried using pliers to remove it but it just won't budge. Any ideas? Quote
Ou7shined Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 Heat the screw with a soldering iron to expand it and loosen it off in the wood the remove with a pliers. If there's not enough to grip with pliers, saw a slot for a flathead screwdriver. If that fails buy an extractor. This type of thing. [url="http://www.screwfix.com/p/screw-extractor-set/18643;jsessionid=zWsGTt1MGk23KtLQVzX4hpnyKc8pdgJpH6DqZdd6k69lKrhyJmsb!-1317304640"]http://www.screwfix.com/p/screw-extractor-set/18643;jsessionid=zWsGTt1MGk23KtLQVzX4hpnyKc8pdgJpH6DqZdd6k69lKrhyJmsb!-1317304640[/url] Quote
MoonBassAlpha Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 try a Mole Wrench, or Vice Grip (same thing) or find somone who has a metal jawed vice. You'll get plenty of leverage from the length of the neck. I cant see that this would fail to work. Cheers MBA Quote
pete.young Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 [quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1319974284' post='1420623'] If that fails buy an extractor. This type of thing. [url="http://www.screwfix.com/p/screw-extractor-set/18643;jsessionid=zWsGTt1MGk23KtLQVzX4hpnyKc8pdgJpH6DqZdd6k69lKrhyJmsb!-1317304640"]http://www.screwfix....msb!-1317304640[/url] [/quote] I wouldn't recommend these. They usually break, and then you are left with a hardened piece in the centre of the bolt which is impossible to drill out. Besides which , the smallest in this set is 4mm, which is way too big to attempt to screw into a neck bolt. Mole grips or cutting a screwdriver slot is the way to go. Quote
Evil Undead Posted October 30, 2011 Author Posted October 30, 2011 Double cr@p. I heated it up and then tried again when it was cooler, and the damn bolt broke off even further in to the wood. Argh, now I have no idea what to do. It's about 1mm under the surface of the wood, and there's no way I can get to it. The neck still fits without a problem on the bass that I took it off, but it won't go on the bass I wanted to put it on Quote
Mr. Foxen Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 Drill it out, and put threaded metal inserts in all the holes, bolt it on with machine threaded bolts, and it is awesome. Quote
Evil Undead Posted October 30, 2011 Author Posted October 30, 2011 I don't know how to do any of this stuff without making a hash of it girls weren't meant to play with drills and screws and stuff! I'll have to sell it on. If anyone fancies a bargain, it's over in the classifieds. I can safely say I've learned from this mistake! Quote
BassBus Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 [quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1319993015' post='1420960'] ...girls weren't meant to play with drills and screws and stuff! [/quote] Oh, if a bloke had said that... Find a local luthier who I'm sure will be able to sort it for you. Quote
Evil Undead Posted October 30, 2011 Author Posted October 30, 2011 [quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1319993792' post='1420974'] Oh, if a bloke had said that... Find a local luthier who I'm sure will be able to sort it for you. [/quote] I can't afford that unfortunately. I'm really gutted I was looking forward to having this neck on my Squier P, and spent an hour this morning sanding the neck pocket to fit properly etc. Very bummed about the whole thing. Quote
Len_derby Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 Don't let it get you down Mel. Take a deep breath and walk away from it for tonight. There's a good chance someone will come up with a workable solution for you, or you'll think of one yourself. I carried on working on a cocked-up modification I was doing to a Tanglewood acoustic bass I had and I got so steamed-up I jabbed a big screwdriver through the body in a fit of anger. Have a cup of tea. Quote
gary mac Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 You don't need a luthier. Hopefully a bass chatter in your neck of the woods will come to the rescue. Who can resist a damsell in distress? If not a bass chatter, there must be someone you know who is half way handy with DIY. Quote
andyonbass Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 (edited) Can you take a photo of it and post on here? Sounds like mole grips is the way to go. Edited October 30, 2011 by andyonbass Quote
nugget Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 If you can get it to Worcester I'll do it for free Quote
Andyjr1515 Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 Hi, Mel I can have a look at it when I fix your jack sockets. Like the others say, it's very rare that these things can't be fixed cheaply and easily Andy Quote
charic Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 [quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1320009078' post='1421309'] Hi, Mel I can have a look at it when I fix your jack sockets. Like the others say, it's very rare that these things can't be fixed cheaply and easily Andy [/quote] Good man Quote
Dom in Dorset Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 (edited) Probably too late now but I think Outshined meant for you to remove the screw while it was still hot. Oils are released from the wood when it gets hot , this can aid in the extraction.. Edited October 31, 2011 by Dom in Somerset Quote
Dom in Dorset Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 Can you post a picture of the problem? Quote
soopercrip Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 (edited) If you can get the screw drilled out then drilling a 3/8" hole and gluing in a dowel will give a new fixing surface. Andy Edit: like this [url="http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_6784985_drill-dowel-pin.html"]http://www.ehow.co.u...-dowel-pin.html[/url] but into the neck only cut/sand flush and give it 48 hrs to harden Edited October 31, 2011 by soopercrip Quote
Evil Undead Posted October 31, 2011 Author Posted October 31, 2011 Someone offered cash for the neck, and it's gone Thanks for all your suggestions though, I'll keep them in mind if I ever get the confidence to try it again Quote
Mr H Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 [quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1320087192' post='1422196'] Someone offered cash for the neck, and it's gone [/quote] Did you tell 'em?! Quote
Evil Undead Posted November 1, 2011 Author Posted November 1, 2011 [quote name='Mr H' timestamp='1320094689' post='1422355'] Did you tell 'em?! [/quote] *sigh*. Of course! Surely you don't think I would have palmed it off on someone unsuspecting? Quote
Mr H Posted November 1, 2011 Posted November 1, 2011 [quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1320123461' post='1422567']Surely you don't think I would have palmed it off on someone unsuspecting?[/quote] Not at all - it was written in jest. I liked your [i]*sigh*[/i], though! Quote
tauzero Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 I know that this is too late to be of use to you, but others may find it useful - while screw extractors are somewhat dodgy and not the most easily used items, if there's a reasonable bit of bolt sticking out, you can get [url="http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_530659_langId_-1_categoryId_165572"]stud extractors (like this one)[/url] which operate by gripping the sticky-out bit. Other stud extractors are available.Contents may settle in transit. May contain nuts. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.