The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

When opening my gramophone, I noticed that the screws had some small pieces similar to straw around the screws to protect the screw holes in the wooden parts. These small pieces use to disintegrate once I remove the screw. My problem is how to replace these pieces. Did someone have the same problem? What did you use as replacement for this screw hole protection? Thanks.

I don't think they were for protection- it sounds as if the screw holes stripped and something was put in to meke the screw hold.

amrcg wrote:When opening my gramophone, I noticed that the screws had some small pieces similar to straw around the screws to protect the screw holes in the wooden parts. These small pieces use to disintegrate once I remove the screw. My problem is how to replace these pieces. Did someone have the same problem? What did you use as replacement for this screw hole protection? Thanks.

Protect the screw holes from what? The screw?" Your hole was "screwed up" and repaired and was not 'straw". There is much information on the net which will give you even the basic knowledge you evidently need in the area of woodworking.

One little trick that sometimes works when the screw holes have gotten a bit too large is place a wooden toothpick, or two, in the hole and break it off even with the surface. This will give a bit of extra bite. And of course there is always plastic wood and such.

Clay

What Clay said. To make the repair more or less permanent, you can dip the toothpicks in Titebond wood glue before inserting, small-tip end first, into the hole. I always use flat toothpicks, and pack them into the hole rather tightly. Toothpick wood is soft and yielding, and the screw point will center and self-thread when you drive the screw into the repair.

What about using wax, silicone or a similar material that will fix the screw when dry, but which is also easily removed next time we need to take the screw out? Does this have any disadvantages in comparison with glue?

Cheers,
António

Never tried that. The glued repair forms, in effect, a new hole, so you can remove and replace the screw at will. It should be good until/unless the threads get stripped out again, which they shouldn't if you're careful.

I've found that a piece of bamboo skewer makes a good screw hole repair. The wood is tough and less likely to be cut into bits by the screw threads. Soft wood like toothpicks or match sticks lacks strength if the screw is under pressure, such as a lid support or a crank escutcheon.

amrcg wrote:What about using wax, silicone or a similar material that will fix the screw when dry, but which is also easily removed next time we need to take the screw out? Does this have any disadvantages in comparison with glue?

Cheers,
António

Glue has always worked fine for me when installing the tooth pick bits, with no problem removing the screws later if necessary. Of course you'd want to use something like a regular wood glue--no super glue. I haven't tried estott's bamboo idea yet, but it sounds intriguing.

Clay

The absolute best method that I have found, with no ill side effects, is to fill the hole with some twisted steel wool. The screw holds great and it's reversible if required.
Curt