Pickup parts - coil mounting screws

[rocknrollmouse]

Hi,

I have some humbuckers I need to strip down to work on, as part of this I need to remove the coils from the base plate. Unfortunately the four screws which hold the coils onto the base plate have had the + in the screw head striped (from the state of the covers and now these screws, I'm suspecting I may not be the first one inside these).

Currently my plan is to use a needle file to file some new slots - this will let me get the old screws out; but I don't want to reuse them afterwards, I would rather replace them.

1. I've called the damaged screws "coil mounting screws" in the post title, does anyone know if they have a proper name?
2. The pickups are Kent Armstrong (Sky - so oriental), Does anyone know what size these screws are (I'm assuming each manufacturer uses their own size)?

Thanks for reading

 

[Roxy13]

I had an old SD like that. I used my specialty pliers to get them out.

VamPLIERS World’s Best Pliers. 5” Mini ESD Safe Screw Extraction Pliers. Great for I.T, iPhone, Mac & PC, or Any Electronic Repair. Made in Japan. - - Amazon.com

VamPLIERS World’s Best Pliers. 5” Mini ESD Safe Screw Extraction Pliers. Great for I.T, iPhone, Mac & PC, or Any Electronic Repair. Made in Japan. - - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

I'm not sure where you can get metric ones to replace those. Take a look at StewMac and Philly Luthier as they do both sell some parts for metric pickups.

 

[Roxy13]

SM only has US spec ones but they are called humbucker bobbin mounting screws.

 

[Lester]

If you can't find something guitar specific, there's McMaster-Carr. They likely have them although you'd have to figure out the thread.

 

[rocknrollmouse]

SM only has US spec ones but they are called humbucker bobbin mounting screws.

Thank you @Roxy13 ,
"humbucker bobbin mounting screws" is the magic phrase, I found these:
Metric from Axesrus https://www.axesrus.co.uk/BrassHBSCrews-p/brassbobscrew.htm
Imperial from SM https://www.stewmac.com/electronics...up-parts/humbucker-bobbin-mounting-screw.html

Metric screws (12mm) on order

 

[rocknrollmouse]

If you can't find something guitar specific, there's McMaster-Carr. They likely have them although you'd have to figure out the thread.

Thank you @Lester,
I've been looking for somewhere like that here in the UK! As you say the biggest challenge with finding replacements is figuring out the thread-sizes lol

 

[Lester]

Didn't realized you were in the UK.

I usually go to the local hardware store and match u threads to the screws they sell there. I align the screws thread to thread to make sure them mesh 100%. I confirm by putting a nut of the same size on and testing.

They don't always have the correct screws in terms of heads, finish, length, but at least I get to confirm the thread even if they don't.

You can also buy thread gauges, but I don't recall seeing any for those really fine small screw threads.

 

[the great waldo]

Philips Round head wood screws No2 1/2inch Brass. If your not fussed slot head will work.(unthreaded bit just below screw head is 2.02 mm thick.
Cheers
Andrew