How to loosen stubborn saddle screws?

[SixStringSlinger]

Does anybody have any ideas for how to loosen height-adjustment screws that just won't budge? I have this issue on one saddle on my rattly Strat (and one common opinion is that the rattle may be due to one of these screws). I have the allen wrench the guitar came with for this, but the screw won't budge and I'm afraid of stripping the head.

 

[Ricky D.]

Try soaking the screw with WD40 and letting it stand a little while and/or heat it up with a soldering iron.

 

[Piggy Stu]

Put 3 in 1 oil on it last thing at night, and tell it that you're putting a blowtorch to it in the morning if it doesn't want to cooperate

Need to be tough on corrosion, and tough on the causes of corrosion

 

[Toadtele]

I had a real nasty bridge once. All rusted up. I soaked the saddles in wd-40 for days. Most broke free but a few screws I had to put small vise grip on the bottom side of the saddle. It trashed the threads but low enough not to need replacement

 

[dconeill]

Protect the finish of the guitar from all these chemicals. I suggest putting a reasonably thick plastic bag under the bridge to cover all of the adjacent finish.

 

[nojazzhere]

YES! to penetrating oil. (3 in 1, sewing machine oil, WD-40) Would it help to turn screws IN, forcing through the bottom? That way, if you bugger the threads, you might still get a new screw started from the top.

 

[john_cribbin]

Depending on where you are in the world ....

I use Plusgas for anything that is seized / rusted. It's designed to do the job and frees stuff that WD40 won't even touch.

 

[nojazzhere]

Protect the finish of the guitar from all these chemicals. I suggest putting a reasonably thick plastic bag under the bridge to cover all of the adjacent finish.

I thought he was removing saddles from bridge....no?

 

[SixStringSlinger]

I thought he was removing saddles from bridge....no?

I mean, not if I don't have to. I want to jimmy the height-adjustment screws to see it that alleviates the noise I'm experiencing. In any case, one screw is stuck so I'd like to un-stick it.

 

[tap4154]

YES! to penetrating oil. (3 in 1, sewing machine oil, WD-40) Would it help to turn screws IN, forcing through the bottom? That way, if you bugger the threads, you might still get a new screw started from the top.

Regular WD-40 and 3 in One aren't really penetrating oil (they lubricate), but formulas like Liquid Wrench are. WD-40 makes a penetrating oil btw. I'd remove the stuck saddle from the bridge and let it soak in Liquid Wrench (or a similar product labeled "penetrating"). It'll loosen the screws up pretty fast.

 

[Zepfan]

It's best to remove the saddles first in my opinion.

The best penetrating oil I've found is a 50-50 mix of ATF(automatic transmission fluid) and mineral spirits. It has worked tremendously well on every situation I've used it on like lawnmowers, cars, trucks and old motorcycles. It can be bad for painted surfaces though.

Penetrating oil is best. Don't count on WD40, it's not the best lubricator and it's not the best penetrating oil because it wasn't made for either purpose.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

YES! to penetrating oil. (3 in 1, sewing machine oil, WD-40) Would it help to turn screws IN, forcing through the bottom? That way, if you bugger the threads, you might still get a new screw started from the top.

Nope, it's pretty much stuck. Just the tiniest bit of play in either direction.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

Thanks, all. I bought some 3-in1, took the bridge apart and the saddle with the offending screw is soaking now.

 

[Milspec]

The best method is to avoid the problem in the first place by adding a drop of oil on them at every string change, but when you get a really frozen one, soak it in Kroil for a few days by using a q-tip to apply it. That stuff is amazing.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

The best method is to avoid the problem in the first place

User name checks out

I agree, it's just the kind of thing you learn from experience. I've been playing for 15 years and had this guitar for 12, and I'd never experienced this before.

 

[Milspec]

I have an older Strat-Plus that was a Florida instrument and was a bear to adjust screws for some time. I even replaced them, but the threads were just corroded enough that the new screws would bind up as well so I have Kroil them at every string change and they have never been an issue since.

 

[FenderGyrl]

Liquid Wrench

 

[JD0x0]

I'd use it as an excuse to upgrade saddles

 

[SixStringSlinger]

Well, it finally came loose this morning, but it still didn't make it easy. It was soaking in 3-in-1 all night, but the allen wrench couldn't budge it. Fortunately, enough of the screw was sticking out the bottom of that saddle for a vice to grip it. I tightened it as much as a could and just twisted the saddle off of it.

 

[Piggy Stu]

Well, it finally came loose this morning, but it still didn't make it easy. It was soaking in 3-in-1 all night, but the allen wrench couldn't budge it. Fortunately, enough of the screw was sticking out the bottom of that saddle for a vice to grip it. I tightened it as much as a could and just twisted the saddle off of it.

Now set it on fire as an example to the others