which drill / electric screwdriver for guitar repair & building?

[nokaster]

i'm awaiting all the parts for my first "build" or better assembly.

therefor I'd like to know which (cordless) drill/screwdriver I should buy.
I need to drill a few holes and I'll be tightening a lot of screws...

i want an affordable machine, available in europe, and i prefer a set with some screwrivers and drills included...

anyone have some tips?

i'm a complete dummy with tools...

 

[mellecaster]

Concentrate on a Nice Drill....but IMO. a Powered Screwdriver should NEVER be used on assembling a Guitar....but that's Just Me.

 

[nokaster]

the drill is of course the important tool.

now that you mention it, i can't think of any parts i'd wanna screw with power.

good advice!

thx!!!

 

[cacibi]

I use a cordless power drill for lots of screw removal, etc. on my guitars. One with adjustable torque levels works great as you can save yourself a lot of twisting time (especially if you're changing pickups/wiring constantly.....like me ) and not worry about stripping out screw holes. I can't imagine a busy, professional guitar tech who's got tons of instruments coming across his bench not using one.

 

[telex]

Something lightweight, and small. Not a lot of power needed.

I like the Bosch PS20-2 for screwing stuff like pickguards, bridges, and neck screws. It has a clutch so nothing strips. You could find a set of small drill bits for it. It is the best driver for this kind of thing. A really top class tool!
http://www.toolbarn.com/product/bosch/PS20-2/

 

[blue metalflake]

I'd go for Bosch too, but be very careful using for any screwing up.

 

[boris bubbanov]

Given where you are located, I can't give you a precise model, EU product will be different anyhow. I'd look at the european sources like Fein, Festool, and Bosch. My web source for Festool is www.festoolusa.com . It will refer you to the eu site. Festool has a cool one shaped more like a power stapler than a drill, very ergo-friendly.
Panasonic makes a lightweight 12.8 volt cordless pistol drip drill/driver that is both lightweight and capable of a lot of work, long battery life, reasonable battery replacement cost. The bigger ones like 14.4 and up are just heavier, cost more, and are needed primarily for heavy applications like circular saws and impact drivers, etc., not recommended.
Here in the US I like a small 3/8ths inch pistol grip plug in drill, hand tightened chuck, reverse function (essential) and a dial to adjust trigger sensitivity for screw removal.

Bubbanov

www.festool.be
Whoa, they don't give you a break on the price over there at all!
These a lifetime quality tools, this may be overkill.

 

[dibber124]

I Love my Makita and old Black& Decker for amps, Would never touch a guitar with a powerdriver, I would expect to be struck down dead by God if I did.

 

[telex]

I Love my Makita and old Black& Decker for amps, Would never touch a guitar with a powerdriver, I would expect to be struck down dead by God if I did.

Why??? This makes no sense to me guys! This fear sounds common too. I don't get it. I'm sure every pro guitar tech uses an appropriate power driver. You shouldn't be afraid of them. Especially with a quality variable speed driver with a clutch. If you are afraid, go slow at the end. Practice.

There will always be a place for good quality hand screwdrivers for saddle adjustments, and pickup fine tuning.

 

[maestrovert]

Jes' m.h.o. here, but for me, no power tools near my guitars !
though the possibility might seem to be remote, the power tool's transformers/magnetic fields can weaken P-ups too....
So, this is how i do my guitar drillin'.....and my guitar's screws are installed and removed by hand also.....

Y.M.M.V.

 

[mellecaster]

I use a cordless power drill for lots of screw removal, etc. on my guitars. One with adjustable torque levels works great as you can save yourself a lot of twisting time (especially if you're changing pickups/wiring constantly.....like me ) and not worry about stripping out screw holes. I can't imagine a busy, professional guitar tech who's got tons of instruments coming across his bench not using one.

Well.....you just Met One........

 

[mellecaster]

Why??? This makes no sense to me guys! This fear sounds common too. I don't get it. I'm sure every pro guitar tech uses an appropriate power driver. You shouldn't be afraid of them. Especially with a quality variable speed driver with a clutch. If you are afraid, go slow at the end. Practice.

There will always be a place for good quality hand screwdrivers for saddle adjustments, and pickup fine tuning.

Not ME

 

[cacibi]

Well.....you just Met One........

Well - to each their own. I'm sure it's a pretty good bet they use power tools to assemble them at the factory.

 

[mellecaster]

Well - to each their own. I'm sure it's a pretty good bet they use power tools to assemble them at the factory.

You are Correct Sir....(Ed McMahn voice)....but that's Exactly why I Don't....

 

[telex]

Not ME

I didn't know you were (was?) a pro. (English is hard!) I can respect your choice.

I like power-tools because I am lazy and impatient. I would rather go: "brrrrreeeeeet! clic, clic , clic", than "this is the way you turn a screw, turn a screw, turn a screw, this is the way........etc...." Plus I like the fact that the Bosch driver I mentioned has a little headlight so that I can change pickguards in complete darkness! I bet your manual screwdriver can't do that! Not that I have ever changed a pickguard in complete darkness. Its just comforting to know I can.

Have you seen many overdriven screws on factory guitars? Just curious. Again, I respect your choice to do things "old school".

 

[nokaster]

would a black and decker CD12CAB be a good choice?

they have these on sale at a local hardware store...

 

[telex]

I have bought Black & Decker tools in the past as "throw away tools" for work. I had one of their electric screwdrivers, and used it for screwing in faceplates. It was a "fair" tool. "Good for the money." That means one step up from a toy, and you can feel it slowly dying as you use it. I don't really like cheap tools anymore.

Man, I love the Bosch! It is the ideal drill, driver for assembly if you dont mind buying a set of hex- mounted drill bits. It doesn't have a chuck. That also means it stays really lightweight. It is also really really powerful for it's size. I have owned a larger 12volt Bosch, and loved it too, until a co-worker dropped it off of an 8 foot ladder. I also own 3 Makitas (two were free with other tools), and a Panasonic. I have used many others....DeWalt, Milwaukee, Porter Cable....all heavier duty tools. The Bosch was my Favorite. Just my humble opinion.

 

[mellecaster]

I didn't know you were (was?) a pro. (English is hard!) I can respect your choice.

I like power-tools because I am lazy and impatient. I would rather go: "brrrrreeeeeet! clic, clic , clic", than "this is the way you turn a screw, turn a screw, turn a screw, this is the way........etc...." Plus I like the fact that the Bosch driver I mentioned has a little headlight so that I can change pickguards in complete darkness! I bet your manual screwdriver can't do that! Not that I have ever changed a pickguard in complete darkness. Its just comforting to know I can.

Have you seen many overdriven screws on factory guitars? Just curious. Again, I respect your choice to do things "old school".

So you change em in the Dark ??? (just Funnin)....and Yep, I've seen some Factory goofs, that are Pretty Sad....but to be Honest...way more on Gibsons, than Fender, for what that's worth....and your right about Black & Decker...once a Mighty Contender (50s & 60s)....and now pretty much a Toy Tool....and I Love Bosch Stuff !...DeWalt too.......

 

[Axis29]

Jes' m.h.o. here, but for me, no power tools near my guitars !
though the possibility might seem to be remote, the power tool's transformers/magnetic fields can weaken P-ups too....
So, this is how i do my guitar drillin'.....and my guitar's screws are installed and removed by hand also.....

Y.M.M.V.

Uhmmmm, do you wear a tin foil hat while working on your guitars as well? Sorry, couldn't resist that one.... seriously, the magnets on your amps are creating more magnetic fields than any tools you would use near your guitars... and they're connceted by a wire! What about your TV or your computer? Do you keep your guitars away from them by a safe distance? I do think your reasoning might be a bit overkill, but.....

Realistically, I applaud your appraoch as the idea of slowing down to work on guitars appeals to me. That way it is more like a hobby and less like a job! Sometimes we really do need to learn to slow down and smell the roses, as it were.


In my day job, I'm a carpenter/Remodeler. I have owned the old B&D crap... I have owned the yeller Dewalt's and loved them. I've liked the Bosch stuff, but haven't ever owned one. And currently I own Hilti drills and impact driver. I love my Hilti's but can't see any hobbyist paying that much for a drill! I also wouldn't suggest people not used to using power tools even think about approaching a guitar with a power screwdriver of any kind! Use it on other stuff first and get comfortable before appraoching that nice finish or small soft screws.

 

[maestrovert]

Uhmmmm, do you wear a tin foil hat while working on your guitars as well? Sorry, couldn't resist that one.... seriously, the magnets on your amps are creating more magnetic fields than any tools you would use near your guitars... and they're connceted by a wire! What about your TV or your computer? Do you keep your guitars away from them by a safe distance? I do think your reasoning might be a bit overkill, but.....

i'd be willing to bet that you've never had a P-up go dead on ya....and if you ever do, you'll not want it to happen again, trust me.

Concerning the magnetic fields of guitar amps and other electronic devices you're correct, which is why i use guitar stands instead of leaning my guitars up against my amps, and yes, i keep my guitars well away from TVs & monitors too....
Overkill ? i'm merely taking precautions against the possibility, and as you'll likely remember, i did note that:

....the possibility might seem to be remote....

Foil hat ? now, there's an idea ! why didn't i think of that myself ?

Realistically, I applaud your appraoch as the idea of slowing down to work on guitars appeals to me. That way it is more like a hobby and less like a job! Sometimes we really do need to learn to slow down and smell the roses, as it were.

building/assembling, tinkering & experimenting on guitars is a means of relaxation for me, and i Thank God i'm not in a position where i need to zip through things because i've got customers lined up demanding instantaneous turn around times.....
how many guys here have had instruments bunged up by(so called) "techs" ?
Please note, i'm not putting down techs or their profession, there are many great ones, whose skills are worth much more than they charge.......The hacks are in too big of a hurry, but the great ones do take their time, and put a lot of love and care into their work.....and it shows !