Simple question about toothpicks in screw holes

[dougbgt6]

I use match sticks rather than toothpicks.

Is this as controversial as 3 saddle vs 6 saddle?

Toothpicks are brittle and have a brighter tone, matchsticks are softer and a deeper bottom end.

Doug

 

[Nogoodnamesleft]

The minty ones are cooler.

 

[Blue Bill]

I'll see myself out...

 

[lammie200]

^ Toothwood.

 

[SbS]

I use match sticks rather than toothpicks.

Is this as controversial as 3 saddle vs 6 saddle?

Toothpicks are brittle and have a brighter tone, matchsticks are softer and a deeper bottom end.

Doug

Toothpicks are often made of birch. Matches.. pine or aspen.

 

[wabashslim]

Instead of trusting a stripped out hole I always redrill & tap for a 1/4" carriage bolt - 5/8" if the hole stripped twice.

 

[Boreas]

Toothpicks are often made of birch. Matches.. pine or aspen.

I am not allowed to play with matches...

On my import guitars I ony use bamboo kabob skewers.

 

[SbS]

View attachment 1402171

I'll see myself out...

Jimi Hendrix invented dental floss when he had a gig after eating pork chops. The first version was made of nickel and steel.

 

[unixfish]

Jimi Hendrix invented dental floss after he had pork chops before the gig. The first version was made of nickel and steel.

SRV must have had large gaps in his teeth for those 13s to work.

 

[Boreas]

..."do you have to add another toothpick before rescrewing or does the original one still do its thing?

That's what SHE said!

But seriously folks, to answer the OP's question, if it is indeed still performing its function, I leave sleeping dogs lie.

 

[BigPapa-53]

What about these?

 

[dsutton24]

I'm still trying to get over the notion of a simple question on a guitar website. Yhis is serious stuff, man!

 

[mixmkr 2024]

I got some powder from the ladies in my yoga class...that and some sort of binder....polygrip for instance, works well.

 

[RifleSlinger]

Glue does not resonate.

Just sayin'.

Has to be hide glue! Give you those '59ish mids.

 

[SbS]

If it stays in the hole when you remove the screw, I leave it in. If it comes out, I replace it, preferably with a little white glue or Titebond.

All in all, I think this is the right answer. If it stays snug, everything's ok. If not, then try again with some Titebond. Idea is to create a healthy thread channel for the screw. And then not over-tighten it, because that shatters the wood fibers again and you must go back to square one.

I've find some needle nose pliers being decent tool to pick up mushy wood / shattered sticks from the collapsed screw hole.

 

[prairietelecaster]

Toothpick or not toothpick, that is the question.