Drilling the string-through holes. Questions.

gsoutherland · December 1st, 2009, 12:12 AM

I'm in the process of modifying my drill press so it will have a deep enough throat to drill the string through holes.

My question is once I'm ready to drill, how do I ensure the holes are in a straight line? I've seen the tips on drilling half way and using the pin once the body is flipped so you can match the holes when drilling the rest of the way, but how do you ensure they're in a straight line when you do the initial drilling? I could easily see getting off a bit when moving from one hole to the next.

I've tried to practice using an awl along with my blueprint to punch a starter hole for the drill bit, but that is done by hand and is easy to get off center a little.

How do you guys do it?

nutty · December 1st, 2009, 01:41 AM

I've read a good tip here that suggested using your bridge as the template for the string throughs.

jkingma · December 1st, 2009, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutty

I've read a good tip here that suggested using your bridge as the template for the string throughs.

I just did this last night and I will be adding some photos and info to THIS THREAD so check it in a while and all will be revealed...

gsoutherland · December 1st, 2009, 10:11 AM

Thanks, guys. It occurred to me last night after I posted the question that I could just slap the bridge on the template and possibly use one of those self centering hinge bits to get the holes all lined up properly.

spannerman · December 1st, 2009, 10:45 AM

use the bridge on ur template to drill holes and then just use that on each side to drill half way through from each side

LocustPlague · December 1st, 2009, 11:31 AM

I draw a line, mark off where the holes need to be on that line and use a brad-point drill bit for doing neck tuner holes to get nice straight rows of holes...

jkingma · December 1st, 2009, 11:33 AM

CLICK

Casual_Reader · December 1st, 2009, 03:23 PM

more clickin' goodness:
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-tech...ugh-holes.html

gsoutherland · December 1st, 2009, 03:58 PM

Thanks, guys. I think I'll be using a combination of the bridge method and pin method. I'll use the bridge to get the holes in my template, and then the pin method for the body.

December 1st, 2009, 12:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
gsoutherland TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cincinnati Age: 32 Posts: 91 4 Photos	Drilling the string-through holes. Questions. I'm in the process of modifying my drill press so it will have a deep enough throat to drill the string through holes. My question is once I'm ready to drill, how do I ensure the holes are in a straight line? I've seen the tips on drilling half way and using the pin once the body is flipped so you can match the holes when drilling the rest of the way, but how do you ensure they're in a straight line when you do the initial drilling? I could easily see getting off a bit when moving from one hole to the next. I've tried to practice using an awl along with my blueprint to punch a starter hole for the drill bit, but that is done by hand and is easy to get off center a little. How do you guys do it?

December 1st, 2009, 01:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
nutty TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 44 Posts: 37	I've read a good tip here that suggested using your bridge as the template for the string throughs. __________________ * measure twice - cut once *

December 1st, 2009, 11:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
jkingma Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: N43° 11.943 ~ W079° 35.285 Posts: 3,727 18 Photos	CLICK __________________ Creator of Fine Sawdust and Expensive Kindling.

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December 1st, 2009, 10:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
gsoutherland TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cincinnati Age: 32 Posts: 91 4 Photos	Thanks, guys. It occurred to me last night after I posted the question that I could just slap the bridge on the template and possibly use one of those self centering hinge bits to get the holes all lined up properly.

December 1st, 2009, 10:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
spannerman TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sheffield, UK Age: 21 Posts: 44	use the bridge on ur template to drill holes and then just use that on each side to drill half way through from each side

December 1st, 2009, 11:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
LocustPlague Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 500	I draw a line, mark off where the holes need to be on that line and use a brad-point drill bit for doing neck tuner holes to get nice straight rows of holes...

December 1st, 2009, 03:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
Casual_Reader Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ohio Age: 50 Posts: 463	more clickin' goodness: http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-tech...ugh-holes.html

December 1st, 2009, 03:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
gsoutherland TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cincinnati Age: 32 Posts: 91 4 Photos	Thanks, guys. I think I'll be using a combination of the bridge method and pin method. I'll use the bridge to get the holes in my template, and then the pin method for the body.

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