Wood Screw Repair

[Denyag]

I bought my first Fox Sterlingworth last year and shoot it full time. The forend would loosen after several rounds and I would retighten and looks like over tighten. Last outing the forend wood separated off the screws. Looking for repair suggestions.

[vaturkey]

I'm sure other folks will chime in. That said, if its a shooter grade sterlingworth then just put match stick or a toothpick into the existing hole and break it off at the surface and re-install the screw. My two cents anyway.

[Stan Hillis]

Denyag,

Tell a little more about the problem, please. Did the screws that hold the forend iron strip out? There are some pretty sharp guys here.

SRH

[Mike of the Mountain]

Stan, you're giving most of us WAY too much credit!!

[Denyag]

Yes the forend iron with wood screws remained on the gun. The wood forend came off. The screw holes are stripped. looking for a recommended repair. Drill out and fit dowel, matchsticks, putty what would be the right way to do this repair. I looking for something to last. Thanks for you help.

[fullchoke16]

Turn the drill press table to the vertical position and clamp the fore end on so that the spindle is in correct alignment with the stripped hole. Drill to a dowel rod size diameter so that you have a slip fit. Glue will take up the slack. If the fit is too tight, you'll likely split the fore end if you have to drive it in. Make the dowel a shade long so that you have to sand it a little to make it flush with the end grain. Drill to the correct screw size with the iron in place and it should last longer than original. Hope this helps, Fred

[vaturkey]

I'd still consider a couple of drops of Gorilla Glue and a matchstick or toothpick. The screw head would cover up everything under the surface and the repair wouldn't be seen. If I had to guess I'd say the screw pulled out when you tried to remove the foreend to take the gun apart. I'd seen it done. I would not try a larger screw just a smaller opening. I once saw a gunsmith do a fix and added a 1/4" longer screw to give more bite. Looked great until over time a hairline crack developed on the bottom of the foreend. Better to add a bit more wood then a longer screw.

[Denyag]

Thanks gentlemen Let me share a tip I failed to follow when the screws were just loosening up. A local smith suggested I put Loctite on the bevel of the screw head (not the treads) its metal to metal on the bevel and countersink and may of saved me this fix. ( a stitch in time saves nine) thanks again.