[Frank Edgley]

"The two shorter screws on one of my Englsih thumb strap have stripped. Any advice on best approach?"

Randy Hudson

Response: Sorry, I seem to have misread your original question. I guess being so immersed in anglos, and not reading your question carefully, I jumped to the wrong conclusion as to what you were asking.

[JimLucas]

For the purpose of filling those holes I have used what in America is known as "Plastic Wood" (that's a brand name). It's basically a wood-fibers-in-plastic-matrix product, where the plastic sets once exposed to the air. Easier than the suggestion to make something similar on your own. Some individuals have told me that it's too weak and doesn't work, but in that location I have found the strength to be more than adequate. At least it has held for more than 15 years in a couple of cases where I tried it, and it looks to hold for much longer still, though it would be little trouble even if it had to be redone annually.

I agree that bolts would be even better, at least if they don't have heads that stick up and poke into your thumb.

And Randy has already solved his own problem. Good work.

[d.elliott]

Plastic wood is something you buy, use half a milligramme from a 250 gramme pack, and in three or five years time you throw away the well spoiled balance.

An alternative, similar to Goran's idea, is to mix sawdust of the appropriate wood into PVA glue (White glue) to form a paste. Wet the surface of the hole/ damaged area with glue only, then quickly pack / trowel the hole with the glue & wood paste. Finally allow to harden, and away you go. Strong and effective, no waste.

Dave

[JimLucas]

d.elliott, on Dec 27 2003, 09:38 AM, said:

Plastic wood is something you buy, use half a milligramme from a 250 gramme pack, and in three or five years time you throw away the well spoiled balance.

A worthwhile point. Though I personally have used it for more than just screw holes in concertinas and have a small can in which the balance is still usable after 20 years (with the can sealed tightly after each use), that balance is still more than half the can. On the other hand, if you have a woodworker friend who uses the stuff, maybe you could "borrow" some.