drill first, or finish first?

Cooper · June 8th, 2003, 01:08 PM

i'm installing Schallers on my new warmoth neck. i'd like to get started today because it isn't too humid, and so i can't call Re-ranch, and i can't find an answer on their site.

should i drill the holes for the locator pins before i finish the neck, or after? if i do it first, i'm afraid the finish will fill the holes. if i do it after, i'm afraid i'll chip the finish off.

Kevin · June 8th, 2003, 01:15 PM

If you drill first, some finish will likely get in the holes, but you can clean it out by using progressively larger drill bits and twisting them by hand....

If you drill afterwards, you could put a strip of masking tape across the area that you're gonna drill, and that will help prevent chipping. Use good tape (painter's tape) and make sure that the finish is very dry.

Personally, I just drilled a headstock for tuner screws a few weeks ago. I finished the neck with ReRanch products, and let it dry about a month before I drilled anything. I didn't use any tape, or anything else, and didn't get a single chip. My guess is that the bit is so small that it's really not gonna do any damage.

The safest way, of course, is to drill first, but I don't think you'll have any problems either way....

Drak · June 9th, 2003, 12:09 AM

I would drill first, because you want every nook and cranny to be sealed with finish before you do your final wet-sand, unless you don't wet sand, then it doesn't matter.

ANY area, no matter how small, will be subject to water getting under and lifting your finish if you don't have all areas sealed with finish first, no matter how small, and to watch it happen (finish lifting due to water seepage underneath) right in front of you is a real suck experience, lemme tell ya...

Kevin · June 9th, 2003, 01:18 AM

That's one of the reasons I drill last after rub out... Trust me, Leo didn't have the boys installing a pickguard, removing it, finishing, and then installing the same guard in the same holes... Shoot, those people drove nails into the bodies so that they would have "legs" to dry on.... Besides, if you buy a prefinished neck or body, you'll be drilling in the finish....

BTW, if you sand with mineral spirits (the low odor variety is tolerable), you won't have those problems with swelling....

Cooper · June 9th, 2003, 03:34 AM

too late now :)

<img src=http://www.unca.edu/~cdcooper/tuners.jpg>

i'm going to start spraying tomorrow if it's not too humid.

thanks for the info!
coop

June 8th, 2003, 01:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cooper Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 498	drill first, or finish first? i'm installing Schallers on my new warmoth neck. i'd like to get started today because it isn't too humid, and so i can't call Re-ranch, and i can't find an answer on their site. should i drill the holes for the locator pins before i finish the neck, or after? if i do it first, i'm afraid the finish will fill the holes. if i do it after, i'm afraid i'll chip the finish off. __________________ I said, "I don't think so, Scooter!" And I was wrong.

June 9th, 2003, 03:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
Cooper Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 498	too late now :) <img src=http://www.unca.edu/~cdcooper/tuners.jpg> i'm going to start spraying tomorrow if it's not too humid. thanks for the info! coop __________________ I said, "I don't think so, Scooter!" And I was wrong.

June 8th, 2003, 01:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kevin Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Terre Haute, IN Posts: 2,967	If you drill first, some finish will likely get in the holes, but you can clean it out by using progressively larger drill bits and twisting them by hand.... If you drill afterwards, you could put a strip of masking tape across the area that you're gonna drill, and that will help prevent chipping. Use good tape (painter's tape) and make sure that the finish is very dry. Personally, I just drilled a headstock for tuner screws a few weeks ago. I finished the neck with ReRanch products, and let it dry about a month before I drilled anything. I didn't use any tape, or anything else, and didn't get a single chip. My guess is that the bit is so small that it's really not gonna do any damage. The safest way, of course, is to drill first, but I don't think you'll have any problems either way....

June 9th, 2003, 12:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
Drak Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: DC 'Burbs Age: 47 Posts: 447	I would drill first, because you want every nook and cranny to be sealed with finish before you do your final wet-sand, unless you don't wet sand, then it doesn't matter. ANY area, no matter how small, will be subject to water getting under and lifting your finish if you don't have all areas sealed with finish first, no matter how small, and to watch it happen (finish lifting due to water seepage underneath) right in front of you is a real suck experience, lemme tell ya...

June 9th, 2003, 01:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
Kevin Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Terre Haute, IN Posts: 2,967	That's one of the reasons I drill last after rub out... Trust me, Leo didn't have the boys installing a pickguard, removing it, finishing, and then installing the same guard in the same holes... Shoot, those people drove nails into the bodies so that they would have "legs" to dry on.... Besides, if you buy a prefinished neck or body, you'll be drilling in the finish.... BTW, if you sand with mineral spirits (the low odor variety is tolerable), you won't have those problems with swelling....