Strat pickguard/routing problem

thermionic

I bought a new pickguard for a Squier Strat I‘m doing up. The original was 8-hole but the replacement is 11-hole. Most of the holes line up, and I thought that the one nearest the lowest tone control did... but the hole on the pickguard is above empty space:

https://i.imgur.com/j9qHSLf.jpg

So, I need to effectively make the route smaller so the last screw has something to screw into. Bearing in mind that I have no real woodworking tools and very little skills, any ideas how I could solve this?

gary_mac

I've done a couple of these by just shaping a small piece of wood and then gluing in place. Then drill a small pilot hole, so as not to split it with the screw.

victorludorum

gary_mac said:

I've done a couple of these by just shaping a small piece of wood and then gluing in place. Then drill a small pilot hole, so as not to split it with the screw.

This.

ICBM

You can use a bit of epoxy putty or something similar if you feel your woodworking skills aren’t up to it. It doesn’t really matter what it is as long as it’s just strong enough to take a screw without splitting - and with this kind of thing, if you’re careful you can actually put the screw in before it hardens, so you don’t need to drill a hole - just make sure you put some wax or soap on the screw, so it doesn’t stick to the putty.

I know that sounds like a bodge, but it will work fine.

thermionic

I think I'll pop in to B&Q and look for some dowelling with a radius similar to that of the end of the body route. Then all I'll need to do is cut off a section of the right length, and possibly cut it into a semi-cylinder shape so that it doesn't foul the lower pot.

Funkfingers

ICBM said:

You can use a bit of epoxy putty or something similar if you feel your woodworking skills aren’t up to it. It doesn’t really matter what it is as long as it’s just strong enough to take a screw without splitting - and with this kind of thing, if you’re careful you can actually put the screw in before it hardens, so you don’t need to drill a hole - just make sure you put some wax or soap on the screw, so it doesn’t stick to the putty.

I know that sounds like a bodge, but it will work fine.

https://i.imgur.com/BPJGwJo.jpg?1

ICBM

Funkfingers said:

https://i.imgur.com/BPJGwJo.jpg?1

Not one I did . I don’t actually use it myself, I glue in a bit of wood.

But I have seen it often enough that I know it works perfectly well. I have also found plasticine, chewing gum and other substances probably best left unidentified...

thermionic

So, I popped into B&Q on the way home from work and bought this:

https://i.imgur.com/Ovs6GyN.jpg

30 seconds with a hacksaw, and it’s a perfect fit:

https://i.imgur.com/eCLZMrt.jpg

A very elegant solution, I think you’ll agree!