Guitar screws have rusted so badly they can't be taken out.

[Timothong]

Today, I just realised one screw attached to the pickguard and one screw controlling bridge pickup height have rusted so badly that they cant be turned at all. Anything I can do to remove them?

 

[imkeith]

lol i would pretty much like to know too lmao i think im having that problem too just that it's on my allenkey hole

 

[junkiemanxl]

try some WD40

 

[imkeith]

i doubt it would help, u gotta get the solution below the screw plate and not on the "x"

 

[dodgethis]

The WD40 will get to threads by capillary action. Just have to give it time to flow down/

 

[imkeith]

even if it's screwed tightly?

 

[Timothong]

Well one of the screws still have the "+", so I think its stuck because the corrosion is stuck to the pickguard.

But the other one doesn't really have the "+" anymore so I'm not sure how I'm going to get that one out.

 

[dodgethis]

even if it's screwed tightly?

Even if the screw is tight, there will be small enough gaps for the WD40 to get between them. I've used the stuff to get out nuts and bolts that have been rusted to hell and back.

 

[justheretolook]

try using a plier to turn those screws ard? i have always done that

 

[lazy3yed]

Or you can try some epoxy. Put a small amount onto the screw head, do not let the epoxy get into contact with the pickguard. Let it stand for a while. When's it's become semi hardened (not completely set, yet), use a philip screw driver to imprint the + on the epoxy and then let it completely set. Once completely set, you can try to remove the screw with the screw driver.

The other way is to drill thru the screw head (just enuff so that the head would come off and leave the shaft protruding out of the wood, remove the pickguard and use a plier to turn the remaining screw out of the wood. Use a HSS drill bit the diameter of the screw shaft.

 

[eieio]

http://www.caswellplating.com/permatex/permrepairprods.html

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[zesn]

http://www.caswellplating.com/permatex/permrepairprods.html

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a winner is you

 

[imkeith]

any local retailer eg homefix and such ?

 

[van_halen]

i suggest you enquire at hardware stores about it or other products that help.

 

[simplecomplexity]

Even if the screw is tight, there will be small enough gaps for the WD40 to get between them. I've used the stuff to get out nuts and bolts that have been rusted to hell and back.

wd40 molecules are smaller than the screw/body gap... =p

 

[eieio]

zesn, this stuff is magik I kid you guys not! a dream for diy restorer.. haha

imkeith, yes I got it quite cheap at a small local hardware c u m thrift-store.

 

[imkeith]

wow if it's really as you guys say thn it's too good to be true haha gona go check it out later at some nearby hardware store..

 

[eieio]

And while you're at it, why not invest an impact driver too.
Can also use something like this one, for that gentle knock on the + head!

 

[fgl]

screw extractor set - I gave one set to eieio recently

 

[imkeith]

And while you're at it, why not invest an impact driver too.
Can also use something like this one, for that gentle knock on the + head!

what's that for ?