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Hi all - question for you?

I drilled my tuner holes to 10mm to go with the tuners I had, then recently I came upon a set of open back tuners I think I would like to use instead.

The hole is large enough that even the "press-fit" bushing pops right in with no friction. Will this be OK as long as I get everything centered and the machines are held securely with the 2 screws on the back? Seems to me like they'd fall right out, so this is probably a stupid question.

Any workaround besides plugging the holes and redrilling? Superglue the bushings into the holes?

thanks,

adam

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"Everyone wants to BE something, but nobody wants to BECOME something" - William Cumpiano

First the finger divot with the chisel, now too large of a tuner hole. We're going to have to take away your tools and relegate you to rubber toys!

I'd think that for the long run a plugged/redrilled hole would be the best solution. You didn't say what open back tuners you have so I'll guess at Gotoh. Question is..is the press in bushing on the face of the headstock big enough to cover a 10mm plug. I'm not in the shop right now so I can't measure but I'm thinking that a plug will show around the edges of the bushing since there is no "washer" involved. If that's the case the you'll have to consider options to make it look like you planned it. Maybe countersink a larger diameter of a contrasting wood (to look like a washer) after plugging the whole. Or drill out to a larger diameter than 10mm, use a nice piece of hardwood dowel for the plugs and redrill. Finish to entire peghead and hardwood dowel and it ought to look like to "planned" it.
Remember, it's not the enormity of the mistake you make...it's how you integrate it into the final product that matters!

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Hank Mauel

LOL, well its not a mistake... the holes were correctly drilled for the tuners I have for this guitar. I just came upon the open back (Martin brand) and thought, hrm, wonder if i can use these...

So, the more I think about it, the more I will probably go with the ones I intended to begin with.

The bushing goes into the 10mm hole and covers it completely, so if I were to plug it, that would not be an issue. However, the finishing and polishing is done, and it seems to me i am probably inviting disaster by going back in to fix what ain't broke. I'll use these on another one.

Thanks!

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"Everyone wants to BE something, but nobody wants to BECOME something" - William Cumpiano

Yes, I edited the post to "chisel". It was some other poor luthier that challenged the table saw.

Good thinking on staying with the original plan. You didn't mention the headstock was already finished or I would have said to stay the course.

Ok...you can go back to power tools now, but slowly and with full attention!

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Hank Mauel

hehe yeah i saw that and took my smily out

So, this is my second, and on my first I broke my thumb. So I am at one major finger injury per guitar... the next 8 should be interesting

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"Everyone wants to BE something, but nobody wants to BECOME something" - William Cumpiano

You sure you wouldn't like to "consider" another line of work...like sidewalk chalk artist? With only 8 fingers left, your luthiery career could be short, indeed.
But at least you are not a one armed wallpaper hanger in a windstorm...or the famous one-legged man in the butt kicking contest!

Oh..I liked the little "raspberry" guy you had posted! If I dish it out, I better be able to take it!

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Hank Mauel

I believe Stew-Mac sells conversion bushings . You'd still be too big on the bottom but supported at the face. I've used them and they work fine.
Cheers

Don't C/A the bushings in. Use Titebond. They will stay in just fine and if you ever want to get them out, just stick a soldering iron in the bushing hole for a minute and they will fall right out. Screw your tuners on while the glue is still setting, and they will line up perfectly. If the bushings are very loose, run a little C/A around in the holes and re-ream.