Forgotten tip.....

Ronkirn · March 6th, 2008, 09:04 AM

When yer running in a bunch of those little screws into hardwood, coat them with Bees wax first, it acts as a lubricant and helps in preventing them from breaking when you get to the last turn. This is particularly important if you're using the screws that came WITH whatever you're attaching. Those supplied screws are typically substandard and need all the help they can get to go all the way into the wood without breaking.

If you don't have bees wax handy, go grab one of those little stinky candles the wife has all over the house. But first crunch one up, and put the pieces around Fifi's bed, that way she'll think the Poodle got frisky and did one in while playing, which is perfectly OK. If she finds out you stole one to grease up screws, you're gonna be replacing Fifi in the dog house.

Ron Kirn

Taipan · March 6th, 2008, 09:20 AM

Good reminder tip Ron. Your spot on with most of the supplied screws being typically substandard.
Also great tip on blaming the dog but some times it doesn't work so I learned that if you move to a larger breed dog say Lab, German Shepherd, Rotti and such, rather than a Poodle the dog house is a bit more comfortable as it is larger.

neocaster · March 6th, 2008, 09:33 AM

Great tip, Ron. I haven't had one break, but I have a Squier that I didn't drive one tuner screw all the way in on because the resistance made it fell like it would centainly snap. I'll back it out and use this.

As far as doghouses, I need to get a dog first. Then I can build the b---h a mansion. This will leave the townhouse for just me and the dog.

camari · March 6th, 2008, 09:37 AM

+1 on substandard.
I was test fitting a bridge and only had two screws in halfway( waxed them first too) , and still one snapped clean off with slight pressure to remove it. Broke like cheap pot metal. I use only stainless steel now on all screws.

Wild Rice Chris · March 6th, 2008, 10:21 AM

Soap is a good lubricant in a pinch as well.

wilkat1 · March 6th, 2008, 10:25 AM

Where does one buy a stick of beeswax?

Wild Rice Chris · March 6th, 2008, 10:26 AM

We used to swipe it from the orthodontist's office.. ;)

morroben · March 6th, 2008, 10:41 AM

Good tip...I've used all kinds of things for that same purpose. Ski wax, surfboard wax, paraffin, etc.
Another good way to avoid breaking those substandard screws is to simply not over tighten them. It's obviously not good to have things loose, but I used to be really bad about cranking down on everything. It's usually unnecessary and does more harm than good. YMMV

cotecj · March 6th, 2008, 11:32 AM

Here's the coolest place to buy beeswax:

Cup ' Beeswax

Spunky99 · March 6th, 2008, 11:51 AM

I use boiled linseed oil on bicycle spoke and truss rod threads.
doesn't attract dust, hardens a bit but allows adjustment later on.

Telehackster · March 6th, 2008, 12:14 PM

Thanks for the tip, Ron. Actually, it sounds more like three good tips: the beeswax, the candle, and blaming the dog!

boris bubbanov · March 6th, 2008, 12:33 PM

Does anyone remember the plug of wax you got with a jar of honey?

I wish the parts suppliers would either send a fastener I can use or send me none at all.

March 6th, 2008, 09:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ronkirn Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Age: 61 Posts: 2,130	Forgotten tip..... When yer running in a bunch of those little screws into hardwood, coat them with Bees wax first, it acts as a lubricant and helps in preventing them from breaking when you get to the last turn. This is particularly important if you're using the screws that came WITH whatever you're attaching. Those supplied screws are typically substandard and need all the help they can get to go all the way into the wood without breaking. If you don't have bees wax handy, go grab one of those little stinky candles the wife has all over the house. But first crunch one up, and put the pieces around Fifi's bed, that way she'll think the Poodle got frisky and did one in while playing, which is perfectly OK. If she finds out you stole one to grease up screws, you're gonna be replacing Fifi in the dog house. Ron Kirn __________________ Lord, give me a sense of humor. Give me the grace to see a joke, To get some humor out of life, and pass it on to other folks. The only thing necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing......

March 6th, 2008, 09:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
neocaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester County, PA Age: 35 Posts: 3,399 11 Photos	Great tip, Ron. I haven't had one break, but I have a Squier that I didn't drive one tuner screw all the way in on because the resistance made it fell like it would centainly snap. I'll back it out and use this. As far as doghouses, I need to get a dog first. Then I can build the b---h a mansion. This will leave the townhouse for just me and the dog. __________________ "...You don't need faith if you know it's gonna work!"

March 6th, 2008, 09:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
camari Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Age: 50 Posts: 102	+1 on substandard. I was test fitting a bridge and only had two screws in halfway( waxed them first too) , and still one snapped clean off with slight pressure to remove it. Broke like cheap pot metal. I use only stainless steel now on all screws. __________________ Remember to listen.

March 6th, 2008, 10:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
Wild Rice Chris Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rice Custom Dungeon Posts: 2,767 24 Photos	Soap is a good lubricant in a pinch as well. __________________ --Insert Signature Here--

March 6th, 2008, 10:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
wilkat1 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: So. Illinois Age: 39 Posts: 1,459 20 Photos	Where does one buy a stick of beeswax? __________________ MySpace "That number don't mean nothing to me if the guitar don't sound right." - Buddy Guy on the year a guitar was manufactured.

March 6th, 2008, 09:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
Taipan Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Western NY State Age: 49 Posts: 391	Good reminder tip Ron. Your spot on with most of the supplied screws being typically substandard. Also great tip on blaming the dog but some times it doesn't work so I learned that if you move to a larger breed dog say Lab, German Shepherd, Rotti and such, rather than a Poodle the dog house is a bit more comfortable as it is larger.

March 6th, 2008, 10:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
Wild Rice Chris Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rice Custom Dungeon Posts: 2,767 24 Photos	We used to swipe it from the orthodontist's office.. ;) __________________ --Insert Signature Here--

March 6th, 2008, 10:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
morroben Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: california Age: 31 Posts: 1,683 18 Photos	Good tip...I've used all kinds of things for that same purpose. Ski wax, surfboard wax, paraffin, etc. Another good way to avoid breaking those substandard screws is to simply not over tighten them. It's obviously not good to have things loose, but I used to be really bad about cranking down on everything. It's usually unnecessary and does more harm than good. YMMV

March 6th, 2008, 11:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
cotecj Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Maine Age: 30 Posts: 141	Here's the coolest place to buy beeswax: Cup ' Beeswax

March 6th, 2008, 11:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
Spunky99 Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Redondo beach Age: 54 Posts: 321	I use boiled linseed oil on bicycle spoke and truss rod threads. doesn't attract dust, hardens a bit but allows adjustment later on.

March 6th, 2008, 12:14 PM	#11 (permalink)
Telehackster Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas, USA Age: 42 Posts: 813	Thanks for the tip, Ron. Actually, it sounds more like three good tips: the beeswax, the candle, and blaming the dog!

March 6th, 2008, 12:33 PM	#12 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 6,397	Does anyone remember the plug of wax you got with a jar of honey? I wish the parts suppliers would either send a fastener I can use or send me none at all. __________________ Bubban0v