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 Post subject: enlarging holes
PostPosted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 3:12 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:09 pm
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Location: Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada
First name: Conor
Last Name: Searl
City: Duncan
State: British Columbia
Zip/Postal Code: V9L 2E5
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Status: Semi-pro
Any tips on enlarging pre-existing holes without losing the centre? I have to make some tuner holes bigger, and some bridge stud holes bigger. I've got a tuning hole reamer, and 11mm drill bit for the studs, but I'm worried when I use them I may shift the centre of the holes. I don't have a drill press, so I guess I'm also worried about coming at the holes straight.


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 Post subject: Re: enlarging holes
PostPosted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 3:44 pm 
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Walnut
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Joined: Mon Apr 12, 2010 3:09 pm
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First name: Stephen
Last Name: Foss
State: Colorado
Focus: Build
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Conner,

Would a 'step drill' do the trick?

https://www.amazon.com/Neiko-10193A-Tit ... +drill+bit

Steve


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 Post subject: Re: enlarging holes
PostPosted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 6:22 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:57 pm
Posts: 735
Location: Austin, Texas
a unibit (step drill bit) will allow you to get to the right diameter as a starter...you will most likely have to change to a standard bit once you get there (e.g. the odds of the last diameter on the bit being the diameter you desire are low)

also, you mention a metric size...never seen a unibit in metric, though one would think they make one...

as a side note: when drilling through thick steel without a drill press a unibit rules over standard twist bits...I used to easily burn up a standard bit per use when modifying barn door flat tracks to be the exact right length for the intended use...once I switched to a unibit...well, I'm still using that same bit from a couple of years ago!


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 Post subject: Re: enlarging holes
PostPosted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 7:00 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:09 pm
Posts: 870
Location: Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada
First name: Conor
Last Name: Searl
City: Duncan
State: British Columbia
Zip/Postal Code: V9L 2E5
Country: Canada
Status: Semi-pro
That step bit looks perfect. Thanks guys.


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 Post subject: Re: enlarging holes
PostPosted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 7:55 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:52 am
Posts: 1242
City: Lawrence
State: Kansas
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Status: Amateur
https://www.amazon.com/OCGIG-Spiral-Gro ... dpSrc=srch

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 Post subject: Re: enlarging holes
PostPosted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:19 pm 
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Joined: Sun May 19, 2013 10:22 am
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First name: Brian
Last Name: McDonald
City: Okanagan Centre
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Zip/Postal Code: V4V2H6
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Couple of other thoughts;
1.Make a drill guide from a 1” or thicker piece of material and clamp in place. If using a forstner bit, 3/8” thick.
Or
2. Plug the holes and remark center.

B

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Last edited by Bri on Sat Feb 24, 2018 9:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: enlarging holes
PostPosted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:19 pm 
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Joined: Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:52 pm
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First name: Don
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Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
You can also glue a stubby dowel of the right diameter into the hole, then redrill.


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 Post subject: Re: enlarging holes
PostPosted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:25 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 1:46 pm
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First name: Freeman
Last Name: Keller
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I bought the very expensive end pin reamer for installing pickups because of hearing horror stories of people trying to do it with twist drills. One problem with uni-bits is that each step isn't very long - you might have problems with something like an end block or a headstock.


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 Post subject: Re: enlarging holes
PostPosted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 9:56 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:20 am
Posts: 5924
If you have a tuner hole reamer that may not be a bad way to go. To ream holes slightly larger I've used a twist drill bit in an electric drill run backwards (less chance of chip out).
Here's is something I found on you tube (which I have also done):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy55TU5OlLU


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 Post subject: Re: enlarging holes
PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 6:27 am 
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Koa
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First name: Willard
Last Name: Guthrie
City: Cumberland
State: Maryland 21502
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Country: United State
Focus: Repair
Status: Semi-pro
We use a series of chucked reamers in a drill press, or a step drill followed with a chucked, straight fluted reamer for these sorts of jobs.

Most chucking, straight-fluted reamers have a generous chamfer at the tip, which is there to center the tool on the existing hole. While opening a tuner hole from 1/4" to 0.340", 0.348", or 0.363" is quickly done in a single step with a piloted reamer, opening a hole to final size without a definite purpose tool available is better done with a couple reamers or a step drill/reamer combination than with twist drills which are not modified for use in wood or other softer materials. A step drill can speed up the process, but usually cannot cut deeply enough at the final diameter to complete the hole without reaming.

A full set of HSS reamers from 1/16" to 1/2" in 1/64th inch increments, plus 6mm, 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, and 13mm should run about $220 from Ebay in import quality, and are some of the most useful tools in the shop.

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 Post subject: Re: enlarging holes
PostPosted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 1:23 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:49 pm
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A set of numbered (or lettered, depending on how big the hole is) drills may offer some help. Idea is to drill holes one size larger than the last drill bit and walk up to the end size in many drilling steps. Chipping is also less of a problem that way. And it's hard to over-do a hole, like I heard somebody did once with a step drill when he didn't pay enough attention to what he was doing.

I've found step drills really useful for making concentric holes in thin material; never tried to use one to pilot a hole in thicker stuff.

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 Post subject: Re: enlarging holes
PostPosted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 10:18 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:33 am
Posts: 1831
First name: Willard
Last Name: Guthrie
City: Cumberland
State: Maryland 21502
Zip/Postal Code: 21502
Country: United State
Focus: Repair
Status: Semi-pro
Step drills work nicely in thicker materials, and have the advantage of shearing finishes nearly as cleanly as a fluted reamer, so no need to worry about lifting the lacquer with a twist drill. Also useful on jack replacement, such as converting the G&L jack to a standard 1/4" Switchcraft mono and mounting plate. For acoustic jack installs, a 1/8"-1/2" step drill gets the hole opened to correct diameter, and the job is finished with a chucked, straight flute reamer of the correct size. While the StewMac tool is what we usually use (the higher cost is made up for over time with reduced labor), a step drill and a 15/32" reamer is about half the cost of a special purpose tool, and works just as well.

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We have become a civilization that elevates idiots, prostitutes, and clowns. Am I still to defend it? Yes, for its principles. Yes, for what it was. Yes, for what it still may be.

-Mark Helprin, The Oceans and the Stars: A Sea Story, A War Story, A Love Story (A Novel)


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 Post subject: Re: enlarging holes
PostPosted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 3:39 am 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2011 8:50 pm
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First name: Bob
Last Name: Howell
City: Atlanta
State: Ga
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Status: Amateur
I have had success drilling straight holes by using long drills and /or extension, when drill press was not convenient. But setting up a flat reference surface somewhere is necessary and often the key.


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 Post subject: Re: enlarging holes
PostPosted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 6:28 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Tue May 01, 2012 12:54 pm
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Location: Trabuco Canyon, CA
First name: Dan
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Zip/Postal Code: 92679
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The easiest and cheapest method is to use a model airplane prop reamer. These are usually available for less than $20 at your local hobby store, or you can order them online from outfits like Tower Hobbies.

This is the one I use. (Great Planes Precision Prop Reamer Metric - $14.99)

This will enlarge the holes in the head stock without changing the hole's center. These are also available in SAE sizes.

Image



These users thanked the author DanSavage for the post: Colin North (Thu Mar 01, 2018 7:50 am)
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 Post subject: Re: enlarging holes
PostPosted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:16 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2016 9:04 pm
Posts: 315
First name: Andy
Status: Professional
https://www.wikihow.com/Ream-a-Hole

Andy


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