Brass screws for bolt on neck

I'm in the middle of a build that uses gold hardware and I want to know if brass screws are strong enough to bolt on a neck. Normally I like to use stainless steel but I need a gold appearance and polished brass looks really nice. However I don't want any broken screws.

Well, not an easy question, as it turns out.

Best I could find were torque specs for 8-32 machine screws. The chart lists 17.8 lb/ft for carbon steel screws, and 16.2 lb/ft for brass, a difference of 9.8%. That doesn't relate directly to the tensile strngth of brass vs. steel, but it's interesting nonetheless.

If I was to guess, I think brass would be fine on an instrument that lead a pampered life, and wasn't knocked around a lot or strung with 14s. Maybe.

I know this sounds stupid but can you paint the heads of the screws with gold metal paint after the neck is installed?

Well, not an easy question, as it turns out.

Best I could find were torque specs for 8-32 machine screws. The chart lists 17.8 lb/ft for carbon steel screws, and 16.2 lb/ft for brass, a difference of 9.8%. That doesn't relate directly to the tensile strngth of brass vs. steel, but it's interesting nonetheless.

If I was to guess, I think brass would be fine on an instrument that lead a pampered life, and wasn't knocked around a lot or strung with 14s. Maybe.

Thank you for looking that up! That is pretty interesting. So is carbon steel about 10% stronger than brass? I wonder how zinc compares.

Why not solid gold?!? (;

Or you could just order these:

http://compare.ebay.com/like/310326200317?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y

:rolleyes:

Brass would likely be fine, the grades of brass used in screws have tensile strength that's not greatly less than the mild steel common screws are made of, but it is a much softer metal and thus would be more likely to have its threads strip; Use of threaded inserts in neck recommended.

Other options include plated steels, some of these have a goldish color.

Many people use nail polish to paint the heads of allen screws.

When in doubt, check McFeelys or McMaster-Carr websites: these are goldmines of information on mechanical stuff. And great sources for hardware and fabrication stock.

http://www.mcfeelys.com/tech/materials.htm

Brass are plenty stong enough to hold on a neck. Use some wax on them to make
sure they're removable without excessive torque.

Brass will tarnish eventually though. But also easily polished.

Chud said it right, simple as that

if you wax them as previously stated, the wood will still give long before the screw.

brass is fine.

Seems the easy way would be to just order these ?

91386

Thank you everyone for your help. I would buy the fender gold plated steel screws but I need 1 1/2 inch screws so that why I'm asking about locally available brass screws.

Thank you everyone for your help. I would buy the fender gold plated steel screws but I need 1 1/2 inch screws so that why I'm asking about locally available brass screws.

Is your body and neck thinner than typical such that the .25" longer but standard Fender replacement screws will make a difference in your build? :confused:

Is your body and neck thinner than typical such that the .25" longer but standard Fender replacement screws will make a difference in your build? :confused:

No but it has a TOM bridge which needs a neck pocket angle (about 1.75 degrees on my guitar) and it also has a recessed neck plate.

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc516/kyle_surges/2011%20Custom%20Guitar%20Build/2011guitarbuild045.jpg

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc516/kyle_surges/2011%20Custom%20Guitar%20Build/2011guitarbuild003-1.jpg

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc516/kyle_surges/2011%20Custom%20Guitar%20Build/2011guitarbuild004-1.jpg

Ah, I see. Lookin' good!

s/s neck screws only, for me. brass is far too soft, imo.

I would buy the common gold (color) plated steel neck screws from any of the numerous sources and simply cut them to the length you need. Easily done with a hack saw or Dremel cut-off disk. The screw point is easily done with a common file and a few strokes.
Rob

s/s neck screws only, for me. brass is far too soft, imo.

I agree with Rob.

I think even the plated screws (cut down) will look lousy if the guitar sees regular use. Gold plated guitar hardware is a dead end street if you ask me.

I would buy the common gold (color) plated steel neck screws from any of the numerous sources and simply cut them to the length you need. Easily done with a hack saw or Dremel cut-off disk. The screw point is easily done with a common file and a few strokes.
Rob

This is what I was just going to recommend. Get the Fender's and just cut em down a quarter inch.

This is what I was just going to recommend. Get the Fender's and just cut em down a quarter inch.

Yeah I'm leaning towards this idea. Thank you

Yew got a purty git-tar

I've had brass screws in my Tele neck for well over a decade. It has seen quite a few hard drops too from sliding off whatever it was leaning on without undue damage to the neck body joint.

-D

get some marine grade brass ones from a boat chandlery for good tensile strength... they hold boats together,

hardware store brass may not be as good a quality... you'd hate to twist one off...

get some marine grade brass ones from a boat chandlery for good tensile strength... they hold boats together,

hardware store brass may not be as good a quality... you'd hate to twist one off...

Where would I find marine grade brass?

Where would I find marine grade brass?

A Marine Supply Store that has a good selection of Hardware.

I put inserts in my LP copy, never had a problem in several years. Screws are brass.