string ferrule installation problems

appar111 · January 24th, 2008, 01:33 PM

I finally put the string ferrules in last night on my hardtail strat project and ran unto some problems.

Namely, the wood around the ferrule hole sort of sank down in as I tapped the ferrule in. It must have been just a little too tight of a fit for the ferrule in the hole, so it pinched/crushed some of the surrounding wood fibers as it went in.

What's the best way to remove the ferrules, and once they're out, how would I go about fixing the part around the ferrule where the wood is sort of crushed in?

This is on a body with a stain & hand rubbed finish, not your typical thick poly finish.

jwells393 · January 24th, 2008, 02:10 PM

Pictures would help. Sounds like you used flanged ferrules and pounded them in.

To remove the ferrules insert a 1/8 in rod through the string through holes from the front side. Push them out by lightly tapping on the rod.

After removing the ferrules you might try holding the ferrule holes over a whistling tea kettle to make the cruched wood fibers swell up.

appar111 · January 24th, 2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

Pictures would help. Sounds like you used flanged ferrules and pounded them in.

To remove the ferrules insert a 1/8 in rod through the string through holes from the front side. Push them out by lightly tapping on the rod.

After removing the ferrules you might try holding the ferrule holes over a whistling tea kettle to make the cruched wood fibers swell up.

I'm at work, otherwise I would have posted pics, as they tell the story pretty easily.

Flanged ferrules? They're the standard 5/16" ones with the lip (I'm assuming that's what you mean by flanged?).

I'll try the trick w/ the tea kettle, then when I get things back to the way they should be, I'll make sure the ferrule holes are a little bigger before I try to put the ferrules back in.

The ferrules are in there pretty tight right now, so I'll tap gently so I don't to any more damage on the ferrule side of the body.

Robert(og) · January 24th, 2008, 06:48 PM

a few months ago i did a tech thread on the shortscale forum about bringthe fibers back to life.
check it out
get an iron
get some paper towls
get a glass of water.
wet the paper towels throuroghly(not dripping wet just even wet)
then place thewarmed up iron on the paper towl(on top of the area) and move it around. the moisture and steam will bring it back to life. altho, if you are not careful it will bring the afflicted area up more than the rest of the wood.

jwells393 · January 24th, 2008, 07:52 PM

Good idea there Robert. A soldering iron could also be used to sort of pin point the steam to a small area.

appar111 · January 24th, 2008, 08:02 PM

I don't have a soldering iron, but I can see the tea kettle/boiling water route, or the steam & iron as a good way to do this.

As long as I do just a little at a time, I should be ok.

thanks for the great advice, guys!

J.

Robert(og) · January 24th, 2008, 08:53 PM

a soldering iron would work well i supose, i have used mine to bend acoustic sides before, its a big pain, and you are better off buying or making a bending machine but it does work.

January 24th, 2008, 01:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
appar111 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 1,325	string ferrule installation problems I finally put the string ferrules in last night on my hardtail strat project and ran unto some problems. Namely, the wood around the ferrule hole sort of sank down in as I tapped the ferrule in. It must have been just a little too tight of a fit for the ferrule in the hole, so it pinched/crushed some of the surrounding wood fibers as it went in. What's the best way to remove the ferrules, and once they're out, how would I go about fixing the part around the ferrule where the wood is sort of crushed in? This is on a body with a stain & hand rubbed finish, not your typical thick poly finish.

January 24th, 2008, 02:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,247 101 Photos	Pictures would help. Sounds like you used flanged ferrules and pounded them in. To remove the ferrules insert a 1/8 in rod through the string through holes from the front side. Push them out by lightly tapping on the rod. After removing the ferrules you might try holding the ferrule holes over a whistling tea kettle to make the cruched wood fibers swell up. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

January 24th, 2008, 07:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,247 101 Photos	Good idea there Robert. A soldering iron could also be used to sort of pin point the steam to a small area. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

January 24th, 2008, 06:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
Robert(og) Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: crawfordsville In. Age: 22 Posts: 128	a few months ago i did a tech thread on the shortscale forum about bringthe fibers back to life. check it out get an iron get some paper towls get a glass of water. wet the paper towels throuroghly(not dripping wet just even wet) then place thewarmed up iron on the paper towl(on top of the area) and move it around. the moisture and steam will bring it back to life. altho, if you are not careful it will bring the afflicted area up more than the rest of the wood.

January 24th, 2008, 08:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
appar111 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 1,325	I don't have a soldering iron, but I can see the tea kettle/boiling water route, or the steam & iron as a good way to do this. As long as I do just a little at a time, I should be ok. thanks for the great advice, guys! J.

January 24th, 2008, 08:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
Robert(og) Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: crawfordsville In. Age: 22 Posts: 128	a soldering iron would work well i supose, i have used mine to bend acoustic sides before, its a big pain, and you are better off buying or making a bending machine but it does work.