The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have a Edison W-19 that has the lid stay holes all wobbled out. I have fixed these in the past with tooth picks and a little glue, but this one is pretty bad. What is the best way to fix it? I thought about dropping below the old holes, and just filling in the old ones. Any suggestions?

Instead of using toothpicks, drill the holes (careful not to drill through) just wide enough to accept a short plug cut from a ¼" dowel rod. It should be short enough to fit flush. After the wood glue dries, drill small pilot holes for the screws.

VintageTechnologies wrote:Instead of using toothpicks, drill the holes (careful not to drill through) just wide enough to accept a short plug cut from a ¼" dowel rod. It should be short enough to fit flush. After the wood glue dries, drill small pilot holes for the screws.

Very good idea. That's what I will do. I think its Walnut. Can you get the dowels in any type wood?

Yes, any type of wood would do. Be sure and drill pilot holes large enough for the screws. When screwing into end grain (the plug) and surrounded by glue, the screw will "see" a much harder material.

Amberola wrote:

VintageTechnologies wrote:Instead of using toothpicks, drill the holes (careful not to drill through) just wide enough to accept a short plug cut from a ¼" dowel rod. It should be short enough to fit flush. After the wood glue dries, drill small pilot holes for the screws.

Very good idea. That's what I will do. I think its Walnut. Can you get the dowels in any type wood?

No, not unless you make one yourself. If you whittled a piece of walnut wood oversize, you could chuck a short length into a large power drill and then sand it down to size. However, whatever wood you use will be invisible under the metal lid support, so does it matter? Again, the only thing to really worry about is not to drill the holes for the dowel too deep; the sides of that lid could be thin. Use a collar on your drill bill to limit the depth. I might even grind the point off a 2nd drill bit so that the blunt drill finishes the hole with a flat bottom.

VintageTechnologies wrote:

Amberola wrote:

VintageTechnologies wrote:Instead of using toothpicks, drill the holes (careful not to drill through) just wide enough to accept a short plug cut from a ¼" dowel rod. It should be short enough to fit flush. After the wood glue dries, drill small pilot holes for the screws.

Very good idea. That's what I will do. I think its Walnut. Can you get the dowels in any type wood?

No, not unless you make one yourself. If you whittled a piece of walnut wood oversize, you could chuck a short length into a large power drill and then sand it down to size. However, whatever wood you use will be invisible under the metal lid support, so does it matter? Again, the only thing to really worry about is not to drill the holes for the dowel too deep; the sides of that lid could be thin. Use a collar on your drill bill to limit the depth. I might even grind the point off a 2nd drill bit so that the blunt drill finishes the hole with a flat bottom.

I have always used masking tape when I need to drill to an exact point. I will use calipers to get the thickness of the lid, then drill about ⅓ in.

If you can cut plugs that would be better than dowels. Dowels will give you end grain for the screw to go into and screws don't hold as well in end grain as they do in cross grain. I would cut some plugs for you if you want me to.
Dave D

Thanks Dave. Do you have any walnut or would it matter?