Toggle switch washer (poker chip) problem

[edselman]

I am at a real loss and am wondering if someone here has solved this problem. I have a 2014 Les Paul Traditional and had another Gibson Les Paul a few years back. With both guitars, the toggle switch hole is cratered out from the extremely thick lacquer finish. Because of this I cannot tighten down the knurled ring sufficiently to keep the toggle switch or the poker chip from rotating. If I do tighten it up even slightly, the poker chip cracks. I know that Epiphone uses a adhesive backed poker chip and they also have a thin finish that is level without a toggle switch hole that's like a funnel. I can't remember how I solved the problem on my older LP, but I do know that I broke two or three poker chips before I got the right balance. My 2014 is less than a month old and I just noticed the crack after tightening the loose toggle.

Can anyone offer a suggestion?

 

[Farquad]

This is something I would try, and i'm not certain it will or wont solve your issue.

What about putting a very thin lock washer under the chip. This would give you a bit of reinforcement under the chip to prevent cracking, and add extra pressure (albeit not much since its thin) to aid in the nut not loosening up and thus the switch rotates.

 

[edselman]

This is something I would try, and i'm not certain it will or wont solve your issue.

What about putting a very thin lock washer under the chip. This would give you a bit of reinforcement under the chip to prevent cracking, and add extra pressure (albeit not much since its thin) to aid in the nut not loosening up and thus the switch rotates.

That may be a possibility. I will look tomorrow. There may be some really thin ones. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[fiveightandten]

This is something I would try, and i'm not certain it will or wont solve your issue.

What about putting a very thin lock washer under the chip. This would give you a bit of reinforcement under the chip to prevent cracking, and add extra pressure (albeit not much since its thin) to aid in the nut not loosening up and thus the switch rotates.

This, but i'd use rubber or neoprene. A metal washer will chip the finish, which could spread over time.

 

[tzd]

Try cutting a small piece of microfiber cloth to put under the ring, the type you use to wipe eyeglasses with. That for sure will not damage the nitro finish.

 

[X–Ray]

I had this problem once

I just used two poker chips together which took up the slack without compromising the original chip

In other words, I used a second chip as a washer

Good luck!

 

[stringbender11]

My thought would be ignore the crack.

 

[edselman]

I like the idea about a rubber washer rather than the metal one. I am thinking that I can look for a thin rubber washer that has the right size hole to go over the toggle threads and then cut the washer down until it is just a thin ring. It doesn't need to be a wide washer as a very small thin one will fill up the void under the poker chip and allow the chip to still touch wood on the outside edge. The rubber will also prevent the poker chip from slipping around in the event that the knurled ring is a bit loose.

 

[CHUNKYNECK]

Low tack double sided tape. The thin stuff.

 

[edselman]

My thought would be ignore the crack.

I wish I could ignore the crack. I think I have OCD (actually I know I have it). Things must be straight and cracks are not allowed. Although age cracks on an R9 are OK. It must be selective OCD.

 

[edselman]

Low tack double sided tape. The thin stuff.

Two sided tape also sounds good too. Thanks.

 

[RRfireblade]

Is the surface not level under the chip? Sorry, not understanding why it cracks.

If that's the issue due to the finish thickness, I would take a small block and wet sand the area smooth and buff it back.

 

[circles]

 

[joedonner2001]

Poker chips - who needs one?

 

[icantbuyafender]

Nickel Deep Nut for Switchcraft toggle switch fit Gibson guitars - Philadelphia Luthier Tools & Supplies, LLC

This actually reaches into the hole to grip the threads

 

[GitFiddle]

Might not be an answer you are looking for, but if I had that problem I would just take the poker chip off, tighten the toggle where I liked it, and play it.

The 57 neck pickup on my R7 start going microphonic during gigs. I took the cover off the pickup, problem solved. Anything that causes a problem, I just remove it.
I also have a custom made ExNihilo. I didn't care for the TRC, so I just leave it off.

I don't see the poker chip as anything but cosmetic. None of mine have caused any problem yet. But if they ever do, its just coming off.

 

[edselman]

Is the surface not level under the chip? Sorry, not understanding why it cracks.

If that's the issue due to the finish thickness, I would take a small block and wet sand the area smooth and buff it back.

The lacquer is so thick that the hole for the toggle switch is like a funnel. Tightening the lock ring on the toggle causes the poker chip to distort, and in the case of my prior LP actually raise the edges of the poker chip well off the surface of the guitar. If the guitar finish was flat, there would be no problem. This phenomena can be seen around the pickup surrounds also, but at least that doesn't cause a problem. It is actually amazing how thick a Gibson lacquer finish is. It does tend to shrink and level out somewhat with time (actually well over a year).

I have the problem solved in that I will be putting a tiny rubber washer under the poker chip as suggested by fiveightandten. When I get the new chip and tighten it down, there will be no gap and no stress on the chip.