Dinette cushion snap repair

[btsmith]

Hi,

The snap to one of the dinette cushions that keeps it in place has come out of the wall of my 2019 Airstream Sport 16.

I've tried to screw it back in, but it just spins without catching anything.

Any suggestions as to how to fix this?

Thanks!

[SeeMore]

Use a bigger diameter screw

[60R]

What a wise A$$ answer. The screw is integral to the male portion of the snap. You don't just use a larger screw.

[sixweeds]

I have the same problem. And using a bigger screw will NOT work, as the sarcastic first post suggested. The screws are, as 60R suggested, part of the snap.

You could drill a small hole near, but not too close to the first hole and screw the snap into that. Or, you could try and put a piece of wire in the hole, like a wire bread tie, or thin piece of electrical wire, and screw the screw in the hole. The wire should grip the screw threads.

I originally tried toothpicks and super glue on my first attempt, but to no avail. I've used wooden matches and toothpicks in small wood holes that were stripped and they worked well. One suggestion I've seen is to try and put some JBWeld in the hole, screw the screw into the hole with some wax on the threads, let it cure, and then see if the screw backs out of the hole and leaves permanent threads.

Anyone else got any suggestions? Surely this is a problem for many Airstream owners. If you fix yours, post your results, please!

[TitusNW]

Dritz makes 5/8" heavy duty snaps (available in the Notions section of stores that sell sewing supplies) which I believe are the same size as those in the Airstream. I'll check the size tomorrow at our trailer.

The Dritz 'male' snap does not come with an intregal sheet metal screw. So how about using a small rivet nut or a small jack nut and then the appropriate size threaded screw to hold the snap?

Steve

[cwf]

A time proven method..
- remove the screw and snap..
- painters tape around the hole
- if the mount point is wood..
- get a piece of wood to fill the stripped hole.. a matchstick is usually acceptable if gives a snug fit
- coat the matchstick wood with wood glue the depth of the hole
- squirt wood glue into the hole
- insert the fresh matchstick and wiggle it around to push the glue into surrounding wood
- allow to dry as glue instructs
- when dry, cut the matchstick flush. That area will be stronger than new
- since the matchstick is a little softer than the glue, the screws will go in easy and the surrounding glue will add holding power.

- on things like fiberglass, the prep process is similar…
- tape the area, leave a small area around the hole
- using a toothpick/ matchstick, pack the hole with baking soda .. usually 1/2 the depth
- add a drop of super glue in the hole.. it instantly reacts with the baking soda
- In no time it will be a solid. Add layers as necessary to fill the hole.
- using a tiny drill, make a “pilot hole” where the hole was
- secure the screw…


If thick metal, jam the hole with FINE STAINLESS steel wool.
- secure the screw. (This method is best done by only screwing into it one time.. so, have your fixture ready to go)
- don’t over tighten.

- thin metal, consider using a “Rivnut”… you can then use a “machine screw” instead of a standard wood or sheet metal screw

[TitusNW]

Regarding my suggestion for a Dritz 5/8" heavy duty snaps (post #5), it is the same size to mate with the Airstream supplied snaps. I could fit a #8 flat head stainless steel screw into it and have the head flush with the top of the snap. If a #8 doesn't work for you I'd look at rivet nuts or jack nuts and the Dritz snap.



Steve