What is the best way to seat a screw where the fiberglass has been "stripped" (e.g. An old screw has been over tightened). This assumes that the screw cannot be accessed from the back.
Right way to seat screws
- Thread starter Richandhelen
- Start date
can you use a larger screw in the same hole for the application?.... if not then fill the hole with epoxy and start over. BUT, if you are going to use the exact same location to re-drill the "new" hole, make sure the epoxy cures out for at least 3 weeks or it may be a bit soft and could easily strip again.
I though about larger screws but since I don't have a huge supply on the boat that would mean a trip to the hardware store and some long distance trial and error.
A neighbor suggested I try some 5200 which I DID have onboard and then re drill a starter hole through the 5200. I applied the 5200 in the morning but by the time I went home that night it was still soft. THAT was when he asked me if I had quick-curing 5200. Guess not.
I put some silicon over the (soft) 5200 and put the cover back in place pushing the screw through the soft mixture. Since I'll be away from the boat for a week the cover had to be in place. The sister screw on the opposite side beds firmly.
We grow too soon old and too late schmart.
Since it's just for a cover, hence not structural, just insert a toothpick in the screwhole and use the same screw you took out. The toothpick will take up some of the space and the threads of the screw will bite into it giving you enough torque to seat it properly.
The tooth pick trick works pretty good in wood, better if you dip it in glue (epoxy is best). Never tried it into thin fiberglass, I doubt there would be enough material there to grip.
I prefer wooden matches that are tapered (and with the match head removed of course). Wood glue + lightly tap the tapered end in with a hammer.
