Simple fiberglass repair question

[mixmaster]

If a screw rips out of fiberglass (tapered point like a wood screws) what the best way to secure it back in?
Here's the background:
There is a bracket in our anchor that guides the chain. One of the 2 screws that holds the bracket in place ripped out of the fiberglass (chain must have caught it) and now is now loose.
It's inside the anchor well so cosmetics are not an issue and it didn't create a much larger hole, just stripped it.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I would replace it with a machine screw (bolt) and nut with a large washer between the nut and the underside of the anchor well

 

[PembrokeshirePromise]

Suspect people will say that a screw isn't the best way to attach to fibreglass.

Should be through bolted ideally

If you can't through bolt - then I guess I'd just mix up some epoxy resin with some thickening microfibres - fill the whole - the re-drill and screw

Sure others will come back with better suggestions - one option might be to epoxy a wooden block on to give you something better to screw into ??

 

[VicS]

Araldite*. Perhaps put in a screw 1 gauge larger if possible but through bolted with penny washers would be much better.

* the slow sort not the rapid and very very lightly grease the thread so that it can be unscrewed again if necessary.

Id use a self tapping screw rather than a woodscrew but an alternative is to tap a hole for a slightly larger machine screw

 

[gjgm]

can you get to the underside? Use some fibreglass tape soaked in resin/epoxy and apply it like an elastoplast. or 2-3 layers to be better. Fill the hole with a drop of the same epoxy,and then start as from afresh.

 

[mixmaster]

Thanks Pembrokshire. The wooden block option won't work as the bracket needs to be exactly where it is. Can't through bolt either.
Looks like filling the whole and then redrilling is the way. I already tried sticking some epoxy in there but that didn't really work. What "stuff" would you recommend for filling the hole with?

Thank you.

 

[mixmaster]

Bigger screw! Not that would be super simple. Need to have a look if the bracket will accommodate a larger screw.

 

[ms1]

you might try fashioning a little disc of paper with a thread in the middle, folding and pushing it through the hole (like push through and opening up an umbrella) hold the disc in place with the thread while you fill the hole to stop the filling just falling through and doing nothing. That way you may get more material in and around the hole. I have done this successfully with Araldite, but I am not sure what strength you require for your repair.

 

[nigelmercier]

[ QUOTE ]
you might try fashioning a little disc of paper with a thread in the middle, folding and pushing it through the hole (like push through and opening up an umbrella)...

[/ QUOTE ]

I can vouch for this idea, but if you have space, make it really like an umbrella (or a "Chinese Hat") by cutting a notch to the centre of the disc and sticking it together.

 

[moody1]

Hubby just shouted across room - drill out and rawlplug it.

 

[hlb]

I use match sticks for small screws, plugs if a bit bigger, or white plastic padding if I want to impress.