 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2009-03-13 19:17
Hi,
I have an older Resonite-type BC and the holes on one of the floor peg brackets have gotten enlarged. The bracket has loosened and I would would like to fill the holes partially with some of the same materials and then reuse the screws.
It looks like a pretty low tech job once I find the right "filler" materials. For some reason, Super Glue does not seem the right choice. Is epoxy a better alternative?
I would imagine that techs see this quite often. Is there a trade secret on the right filler to be shared?
Thanks in advance.
HRL
PS I am a careful worker used to detailed. small instrument repairs.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-03-13 19:26
I used hard black wax on my resonite oboe to fill in a pillar hole when I relocated the bell key pillar further down the bell - although you might not see it too well in this photo, but it's just below (to the left) the large bell key pad cup arm and shows as a slightly greyer line just below the key barrel than the surrounding plastic: http://www.clarinetperfection.com/galleryclar/Keywork/CP2/15.jpg
Melt it in with a heated steel rod until it's filled, then smooth it off with an old reed (as that won't scratch the plastic) then buff it with a wet cloth to bring up the shine (in the same way you use a wet cloth to get a bright shine on your parade boots!).
You could use ABS or PVC rod to fill the holes with, or epoxy mixed with black pigment.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2009-03-13 19:30)
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-03-13 19:59
Dr. Hank,
If you have an old junk mouthpiece or whatever than you can grind on a bit to produce some powder, a mixture of hard rubber (ebonite) powder and epoxy (slow-drying preferable, but works with the 5-minute type too) will do the trick. I've filled many holes this way.
Just don't breathe the powder (but you knew that!)
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2009-03-13 20:09
Thanks, guys.
I had considered PVC glue with some pigment (ala DS's suggestion) but since the hole will be hidden under the peg bracket, coloring is not that critical.
Chris, it is really hard to make out the patch. Also, we used to use 5 Day deodorant pads to put a "spit shine" on our boots. But I get the logic of using an old reed as a spreader of sorts.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-03-15 14:21
Hank....have never tried it on hard rubber/Resonite but the common cure for this problem on wood has been to stuff some steel wool in the hole and reinsert the screw. Or, an alternate is a toothpick or matchstick with or without some kind of glue. Carpenters and cabinet makers have used both fixes for a hundred years or so.
(You say "resonite type" so, I guess, it could be hard rubber or some older or newer plastic material. In my latest experience superglue and some filler might work but it sounds like you are planning on letting the "stuff" harden with the intent of redrilling the hole. I don't put too much faith in that approach.)
Bob Draznik
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2009-03-15 15:05
Draz,
I thought of the steel wool idea but the holes for the peg bracket are pretty well stripped out and need some heavy duty repair. Yes, a hard plastic just like one of those classic Vitos you have so lovingly acquired and squirreled away in the sub-basement.
The epoxy fill and re-drill looks like the best option. I finish a show today using BC so tomorrow, I'll begin the repair. Or should I bring it to Dr. Draz?
HRL
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-03-15 15:48
Sorry Hank, I totally misread your original post about wanting to refit the screws again.
If you can drill out the hole, bush with plastic (or wood or ebonite) and then redrill the screw hole, that's probably the best thing to do.
Alternatively and may be a bit more involved, use a brass screw screwed in tight to fill the hole with (with a dollop of epoxy on the thread), cut and file the excess screw protruding from the joint flush with the joint surface and then drill and tap it to take a smaller screw to hold the base plate on with.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: stebinus2
Date: 2009-03-17 09:33
here's an idea I've been experimenting with with some success: Open up the hole a bit with a drill (be careful!) then coat the screw(s) with liquid carnauba wax and let it dry. Then get some JB Weld, mix it up and put a bit in the hole and also use it to lightly coat the screw threads over the dried wax. Then put the screw in the hole, mop up any excess JB and let it set for a couple days. Hopefully you'll be able to unscrew the screw and you'll have some nice new threads in there.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2009-03-17 11:11
That's an interesting idea. I think I'll try the Super Glue thing past but I did see JB Weld on the shelf at Lowe's when I picked up the SG yesterday.
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Author: stebinus2
Date: 2009-03-17 13:17
The thing I've noticed about using super glue to reset screws in stripped threads is that they really get stuck in there and you can't get them out again without drilling. Maybe you don't mind it being permanent but that's my experience.
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2009-03-17 15:03
It sounds to me like you intend to fill and reuse the same hole locations. This has all the makings of a weak fix. Since you are mounting a bracket for an adjustable length peg, why not just drill some new holes a short distance up or down and fill the old holes with some cosmetically satisfactory filler. Then you would have a strong and permanent fix.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-03-18 00:01
And with that, all you'll need to do is fill the existing holes and finish them to match the surrounding bodywork if you need to.
Or fill the few holes that may remain exposed once the floor spike base plate has been relocated, unless they're all hidden beneath it.
If they're all well hidden, then leave the original holes unfilled so if the base plate happens to come adrift in the future, you won't be relocating it back to where it originally was and screwed into filled holes where the screws could be easily ripped out or strip the threads made in the filler once they're screwed in.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2009-03-18 11:34
Hank,
I use Loctite Black Max 380 for these applicatons.
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