1/2" Thread leg plugs available?

Scott Denniston · From: Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA

Does anyone sell just the thread plugs for legs? If I can help it I won't have to buy legs when it's just the thread plug that broke off. Looks like pot metal that broke off. Now I have to drill & try to easy-out the thing from the steel. Whew!! I was able to back out the threads with my fingers.

Scott Denniston · From: Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA

Well I guess I will replace all the legs (or plugs if they're available). These are evidently genuine chromed pot metal. I know when they discovered the stuff in the '80s they used it on everything they could save a penny on. This leg wasn't pushed sideways or anything it just fell off when I picked up the steel. If they're still making them this way -- better throw an extra leg in the car or you could be dead in the water.

Larry Dering · From: Missouri, USA

Nasty break. There must be a solution without buying legs. Hopefully someone will chime in.

Scott Denniston · From: Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA

I'm kind of amazed it's not a solid steel or aluminum bolt-like thread. I mean, how much more would a plug cost to make the right way?

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Craftsmen who build legs for steel guitar get those insert slugs somewhere.

Maybe Ray at steelguitar.net can help you? That's the only leg source I know of. Worth a try.
https://steelguitarparts.net/guitar/steel_guitar_legs_catalog.htm

Scott Denniston · From: Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA

Thanks Jerry I'll try there.

Fred · From: Amesbury, MA

If you disassemble the leg you can use a steel rod to "hammer" out the plug.

Scott Denniston · From: Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA

Yes thanks. I have a steel rod to bang it out with. First I'd like to find if someone sells just the plugs.

Chris Lucker · From: Los Angeles, California USA

The threaded portion broke because it was machined at a right angle to its base. Normally, a machinist would not do that as it is known to create a weak spot (like the break-prone centerless ground right angle step in the third version of the Emmons pedal rods). But, the right angle is required on the leg threads to seat the leg flush to the mounting hole.
I have piles of legs and could send a set, but I won’t break up a set.
A machinist could easily make a replacement from a steel rod, or even a short piece of oilite material for a fancy one.
If you know someone with a small lathe that cannot cut threads, buy a bolt that has the same threads and is about two inches long. Jamb on a couple big nuts or a treaded spacer. Pliobond or epoxy the nuts in place, mount the thing in the lathe and machine the nuts and bolt head to match the outside diameter of the original plug or inside diameter of the leg. Machine lightly to avoid creating heat to soften the epoxy or pliobond bond. Face off the length of the threads as needed.
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.

Scott Denniston · From: Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA

Thanks Chris that gives me an idea. I'll see if I can drill this plug out and weld a bolt in it. Grade 8. I was a pretty good welder in a past incarnation. If that works out well I'll do the other three legs that way. You never know when that pot metal will decide to break off. In the mean time I'll use one of my Bud legs.

Chris Lucker · From: Los Angeles, California USA

The lugs are not pot metal. They are just fragile because of the right angle I described.
Did the threaded portion snap when it was dropped on a cement floor?
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.

Scott Denniston · From: Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA

No it wasn't dropped or anything. I've got the plug out and the plug part is steel but where the threaded part comes out is pot metal with kind of a thin shell around it. I mean the neck right before the threads start. You can probably see the pot metal in the photo I posted. I'm no metallurgist but remember-- I used to be a welder. I do know pot metal when I see it.

Scott Denniston · From: Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA

I could be wrong about that Chris. It's happened before. I scratched it with a little pick and it's shiny. Sure looked like a blob of pot metal.. all gray and porous.

Chris Lucker · From: Los Angeles, California USA

Does it attract to your pickup magnets?
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.

Scott Denniston · From: Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA

Yes it does attract to a magnet. So the metal in pot metal wouldn't. I didn't know that. Well anyway looking at the way the plug is made it seems to be all one thing that was milled down and threaded. I've just never seen a steel break look that rough and gray and porous.

Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

Determine the thickness of the top of the plug. If it is sufficiently thick you can just drill the appropriate hole for a 1/2"x13tpi set screw, tap it and use a readily available set screw with red thread locking compound. No need to try to weld anything.

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

Take the broken threads to Tractor Supply, Fastenal or Ace Hardware get a 1 1/2" SET SCREW, With proper Diameter and Thread Count.
If you have a lathe or a friend with a lathe or a local shop. Chuck leg in lathe Center Drill and drill with proper drill for thread size. Tap threads in insert. Screw Set Screw in to proper thread length coated with epoxy. Let epoxy harden. SUCESS

Here is a leg I made in 1970 for my DIY steel.

Picture of a GFI Aluminum leg with Set Screw Threads.

Good Luck on this project, Happy Steelin.

Johnie King · From: Tennessee, USA

Johnie King · From: Tennessee, USA

I wonder with price increases in everything an plus set of the quality legs ::: when the steel guitar manufacturers will come up with a better leg choice an more economical
Choice.
A person call me wanting a good set of used legs .
He told he was quoted a price of $450 for a new set of 4 legs. A couple days ago.
From a Music store that is a long time dealer for new pedal steels.surely some one made a mistake the dealer or the customer.

I bought a new set of four from Williams steel Company two years ago they were $200
Plus shipping.

Scott Denniston · From: Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA

Yeah they are kind of pricey now. (Actually they're not too high at SteelGuitarparts.net) I'd buy some but I'll always try to fix it first. I really like Doug's and Bobby's methods above with the set screw. I'll try it with the original plug first. Seems like it would be stronger that way than the original. I had never even heard about this happening. I'll probably carry a spare now.

Chris Lucker · From: Los Angeles, California USA

You guys are all going about it the hard way.
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.

Chris Lucker · From: Los Angeles, California USA

I got a couple of emails asking to explain the above.
This afternoon before dinner I went to a single thrift store and bought six solutions for $12.00.
Use your brain.
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.

Scott Denniston · From: Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA

No photos? It didn't happen. Laughing

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

Since originally Steel Guitar legs was made by shortening Microphone Stands.
Check around any local music shops or Sound supply equipment companies. May have a junked Mike Stand laying around. That would have a proper insert to fit your leg.

That relief grove between the threads and the actual insert is used when making threads with a shoulder, So the threads will not lock in the hole before the the shoulder makes solid contact with its matching face for a solid no wiggle fit.

Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

I admit that I'm stupid but I guess I never saw a microphone stand that had any sort of threaded insert like the plug used for a steel guitar leg.

I'm fairly certain that steelguitarparts.net can no longer supply legs due to the import supply chain issues.

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