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Removing a broken bridge screw
i was working on a harmony silhouette and discovered that one of the bridge screws is broken toward the top of the screw by the head. my plan is to drill out the remaining screw embedded in the wood, possibly enlarge the hole, and then dowel fill. any other suggestions? the busted screw is in the hole by the bridge ground wire. pictures attached for reference.
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8 Replies
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I would use a hollow drill like the stewmac screw rescue kit.
stewmac.com
Guitar Screw Rescue Kit - StewMac
Extractor and plug cutter for damaged guitar screws. A StewMac exclusive.
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thanks for the pointer. that looks really handy. i just placed a stewmac order. too bad this isn’t available at the moment or i’d be placing another!
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You can make one fairly easily with copper tube and a file for cutting in the saw teeth.
https://www.bridgecityguitar.com/2024/02/08/diy-screw-extractor/
bridgecityguitar.com
DIY Screw Extractor - Bridge City Guitar
Quick little diy screw extractor process photos. The most effective solution for those cheap screws that break off below the surface
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Thanks for the link @ianhatesguitars I’ll give this a try. (The bridge screw I need to remove is larger than what the stewmac extractor tool is designed to work with anyway.)
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Tell @sam-stewart thanks. I purloined his article.
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It’s a really quick fix and you can make them any size you need! Good luck!
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Thanks for writing that up @sam-stewart
I was looking at hole cutter bits from home depot but they’re all way too big.
I think I’m also going to get a set of microchisels, which you mentioned in your post.
In the few years I’ve been doing part-time setup and (basic) repair work for a local music store this is the first time I’ve come across a broken screw (1 / ~180 guitars). Initially I thought it was just stripped.
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i ended up using a small tile cutting bit to carefully remove enough wood to extract the broken screw.
i picked up some copper tubing though so i can make a new bit if this comes up again.
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