Am I that incompetent, or did I just get a dud?

[erogenousjones17]

Picture this: There I was, installing string trees on my Strat. I've got the first one in place and it's straight and beautiful. On to the second and poof! With the first turn of the screwdriver it goes from a Phillips head to a pefectly smooth hole. Am I really so inept that I can't work a screwdriver? I know for a fact that the holes were not drilled too small, since the first one went in smoothly. What's the deal? I know I'm making a big deal over nothing, but it's really frustrating, because now I'm short one screw to be completely finished.

So...anyone have an extra string tree screw lying around?  :laughing7: 

 

[Barrette]

Do you mean you striped the head of the screw or did the screw punch though the wood? If it's just the screw head then just bring it to a hardware store and get another one, striping screw heads happens sometimes

 

[Watershed]

I've been there. 
Zinc screws I'll bet.
At least the head didn't break off.
:blob7:

 

[m4rk0]

happened to me once too....

I will now make sure to put some grean soap on my string tree, tuner, lsr bridge screws before I screw em in.

 

[weldfish]

Yep, just rub a little or some kind of wax on the screw threads before installing. This method stops problems before they happen. :blob7:

 

[erogenousjones17]

Well obviously this kind of thing happens all the time, but usually there's some resistence involved. I had barely put any pressure on the screw at all before the head stripped completely, which seemed a little weird to me. Still, like Watershed said earlier: at least the head didn't break off.

What it pretty much boils down to is that I just like complaining.  :laughing7:

 

[mullyman]

Man, I hate stripping screw heads like that. It's not uncommon, you aren't a buffoon.
MULLY

 

[Phrygian]

I have some chromed (not nickel) screws for Gotoh string guides.  If you need them, PM me.

 

[stubhead]

The screws that are included with nice hardware are often garbage metal, I don't use them. I'm fortunate to live in a rural area where people fix their own tractors  :toothy12: and we have a great hardware store with two aisles of screws..... I also buy new #0 and #00 phillips head screwdrivers whenever I need to. You can sharpen them once, but once the teeth start to go, it's going to cause problems. Some tools have gotten really bad lately. Lee Valley supposedly sells some high grade ones, but I haven't needed one lately.

 

[-CB-]

I heard that Morbius Hardware and Supply sells Krell metal screws.....

You can get stainess screws.  Tough stuff they are.

 

[strat.tenor]

A bit off topic, but I'm gonna go with an Angled Strat neck just because I hate those string trees.  To me, they make any guitar look a little trashy, and kinda shout out:  "Ooops, we made a serious design blunder ... but this stupid little klooje will fix it."

By the way, how do you spell 'klooje' ?  :headbang1:

Good luck with finishing your axe.

 

[alotawatts]

On to the second and poof! With the first turn of the screwdriver it goes from a Phillips head to a pefectly smooth hole.  

I have to ask......Warmoth tree/parts ?

 

[erogenousjones17]

On to the second and poof! With the first turn of the screwdriver it goes from a Phillips head to a pefectly smooth hole. 

I have to ask......Warmoth tree/parts ?

StewMac

 

[Phrygian]

A bit off topic, but I'm gonna go with an Angled Strat neck just because I hate those string trees.  To me, they make any guitar look a little trashy, and kinda shout out:  "Ooops, we made a serious design blunder ... but this stupid little klooje will fix it."

By the way, how do you spell 'klooje' ?   :headbang1:

Good luck with finishing your axe.

I think we've had that debate here, and they both have their pros and cons.  Personally, I'd rather have a solid piece of wood.