Nick2cd Posted February 23, 2011 Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 The other day i was putting my craftsman router into the router table. One of the 3 mounting screws just kept on turning....CRAP! anyways, i guess the cheap aluminum base was no match for my super-human strength so, how do i fix this? can i put wax on the screw then put epoxy into the stripped threads and then thread the screw in and let it harden? will this work? i have some of that aluminum welding rod (that you heat with a propane torch) that i could fill the hole in with, but my problem is that i don't have a tap set to tap new threads.....nor have i ever done this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben H Posted February 23, 2011 Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 Taping it would be the best option. Take one of screws to HD, and find out what size it is (that little screw sizer thingy). Now trot down to tools and cross your fingers they have the right size tap/drill bit combo. They sell a decent selection. Let's pretend they do have it. Now, run on down to paint dept. and grab some JB weld. Clean the base well and fill the hole completely with JB weld. Wait about 10-15 minutes and it will start to set, at this point take a really sharp razor blade or chisel and clean up the excess epoxy. Let it cure overnight. Drill your new hole and tap it. Fixed. Should hole for a very long time. Taping is very easy. The key is to constantly back in and out as you go. Don't turn the tap more than 1/8-1/4 turn without backing up. You'll know exactly what I mean when you start to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick2cd Posted February 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 Taping it would be the best option. Take one of screws to HD, and find out what size it is (that little screw sizer thingy). Now trot down to tools and cross your fingers they have the right size tap/drill bit combo. They sell a decent selection. Let's pretend they do have it. Now, run on down to paint dept. and grab some JB weld. Clean the base well and fill the hole completely with JB weld. Wait about 10-15 minutes and it will start to set, at this point take a really sharp razor blade or chisel and clean up the excess epoxy. Let it cure overnight. Drill your new hole and tap it. Fixed. Should hole for a very long time. Taping is very easy. The key is to constantly back in and out as you go. Don't turn the tap more than 1/8-1/4 turn without backing up. You'll know exactly what I mean when you start to do it. JB weld is strong enough for a task like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben H Posted February 23, 2011 Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 I would think so. All your doing is trying to create the new threads. You can try those aluminum brasing rods you have, but I've had good luck with JB in the past. If it doesn't hold, you should know right away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jHop Posted February 23, 2011 Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 JB weld is strong enough for a task like this? a repair shop in New Jersey fixed a broken mounting bracket on the engine block of my Uncle's Saturn with JB Weld. When I say fixed, I really mean "they replaced the missing four inch section of cast iron engine block that used to be the mounting bracket for the alternator." Do not doubt the power of JB Weld. it's not permanent, but it's just about. (The saturn ran for another 100,000 miles after the repair, by the way.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodhack Posted February 23, 2011 Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 I was always taught to tap the hole the next size bigger than the stripped hole. You might have to make the counter-sink hole a touch bigger to accommodate the bigger screw. That being said, JB Weld is to metal what epoxy is to wood. Ben's method is spot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted February 23, 2011 Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 JB Weld rocks. I've even put vaseline on a bolt and used it to form the threads. That has worked for me. Tapping is the proper way to do it, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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