Questions about Drilling PG, and Tuner screws

[shadco]

The time has come to drill holes for Kluson tuner screws, Pickguard screws and control plated screws.

I don't have a drill press. Would it make sense to get a Dremel Plunge Router attachment and use that in lieu of just carefully sighting and drilling by hand.

My major concerns are Limiting depth for the tuner, and string tree holes and keeping the hole @ 90 degrees to the headstock.

and

Being certain the PG and Control plate holes are truly centered on the marks for the holes and that they are also true @ 90 degrees>

[Ranman]

I did all of exactly what you are about to do a month ago on my partscaster (as well as previous other refins I have done).
I use a dremel without any attachments. Use both hands while sitting with your elbows on the table/bench and you'll have more control than you may think. It's small and light and the holes aren't going to be that deep or take very long to cut anyway. You should be able to keep it straight enough.

First I use the screw thread length to measure the depth I need to go on the drill bit and wrap a piece of masking tape around it.

I mark the hole position, put the bit in position and start the hole by turning the drill by hand first. You can even have the PG, Tuners and control plate in position when doing this. This puts a starting hole for the bit. Remove the pg, plate or tuner, put the drill bit in the little hole you just made, turn on the dremel and drill to the depth of the tape on the bit.

One trick I recommend is to countersink the hole slightly before putting any screws in. Since the hole is actually smaller than the oside diameter of the threads, when you screw it in the threads can/will crack and lift the finish off the guitar. In most cases the guard, plate or tuner will hide it but I have seen hugh flakes of finish come off a friends guitar that extended from under the PG. Just take a 60deg countersink or even a drill bit thats a bit larger than the thread diameter and, by hand, hold the shank of the bit in your left hand and spin the bit with your right (other way if your a lefty). Just shave off enough finish so the threads clear when the srew is put in. I usually go til I can just see the wood around the edge of the hole. Use a little wax or soap to lube the screw. It will go in a lot easier and you won't risk snapping of a screw head.

Sorry, I got long winded... Hope this helps.

[shadco]

Roger on that

Great tips and I agree with the countersink idea. Same thing happens with gel coat so I happen to have a few good countersinks laying around.

Handheld Dremel it will be. added plus is the variable speed.

[0le FUZZY]

<li>I alwayz yewz a hand drill for all my pilot holes.
<li>I learned a long time ago that lectrics are tew fast fer this type of werk.





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[red57strat]

Originally Posted by 0le FUZZY

<li>I alwayz yewz a hand drill for all my pilot holes.
<li>I learned a long time ago that lectrics are tew fast fer this type of werk.





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Same here. Especially for the small holes for the tuner and string tree screws.

[shadco]

Originally Posted by 0le FUZZY

<li>I alwayz yewz a hand drill for all my pilot holes.
<li>I learned a long time ago that lectrics are tew fast fer this type of werk.





Please visit my page

I stopped at every store between work and home hunting a pin vise or something similar but no joy.

Maybe the removable chuck from my dremel can be rigged up somehow.

[JoeAArthur]

Originally Posted by 0le FUZZY

<li>I alwayz yewz a hand drill for all my pilot holes.
<li>I learned a long time ago that lectrics are tew fast fer this type of werk.





Please visit my page

Ok... fess up. Where would you get something like this?

[shadco]

Originally Posted by JoeAArthur

Ok... fess up. Where would you get something like this?

The Marquis De Sade

The Dremel with Speed chuck actually makes a pretty good pin vise.

Looks like I'm gonna need the next bit up from 1/16th to do the tuner screws though.

Does anyone substitute something for the screws that come with the Gotoh Kluson clones seems like they are mad of peanut butter. The pickguard and control plate went really easy .

[Ranman]

I was going to suggest using your dremel manually like a pin vise. I have done that also. It just takes longer but it is safer than risking a gouge if it goes wild.

[tdowns]

Here is how I drill my pickguard holes. It is more applicable overall to existing holes that are slightly offset. But the final drill using a rivet shank should work.

http://terrydownsmusic.com/technotes...e_drilling.htm