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I've got Gotoh open back tuners and like the look of the ferrules that can be mounted around the post. the post is .25" and the ferrule seems to be a strange diameter - about .350". These look like they might even be intended to be pressed in - but I'd be very nervous about that. Does anyone use these tuning machines and ferrules? How do you mount them? Some kind of forstner bit mounted on a .25" post? Thanks.

I use the appropriate one of these, http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Speci ... amers.html ,makes it easy,

Chuck

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+1 on the StewMac reamers. One tip, use them in a drill press at slow speed, they'll wobble a little in a hand drill and you'll get a loose fit.
Try this for pressing them in-

http://kennedyguitars.com/_Kennedy_Guit ... press.html

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

I've given up trying to press them in with a friction fit. You risk splitting the headplate veneer or having them work loose over time. They can also be a huge pain to remove. I drill so they drop in snug and use a drop of medium viscosity super glue.

The Stew-Mac reamers are a good way to go.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

I've had the same experience. It seems that with some tuners (Grover Sta-tites specifically), the ferrule dimensions vary ever so slightly between the production runs, perhaps due to differences in the finishing process, who knows. Anyways, the difference can be enough crack the finish, or they can bee too loose, so test before you go live...

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I step-drill the holes in the drill press. With standard twist drills, I generally drill the small hole first, then drill the counterbore.
I use a cut-off reamer (the 1/8"-1/2" 6-flute utility type) to taper-ream the counterbore for the bushings. The reamer measures about 5/16" in diameter on the small end.
I ream it until the bushing will drop into the hole about 1/8" off the surface of the peghead. That is usually enough to hold it into place once pressed in, but not so much that it can damage the finish or the wood.
I press the bushings in with a small c-clamp, using a padded block on the back of the peghead.

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John

Exactly what I do.

Good advice from everyone Corky. Definitely buy the S. Mac reamer, it is money well spent. I have never had a cracking problem when pressing them in but that's not to say it isn't in my future. It should be obvious when starting to push it in by hand if it won't want to go when really pressed.

On some of those Gotoh's there is a small bit requiring the underside to be slightly reamed as well. With the open back ones from LMI you have to do that for it to sit tightly against the back of the headstock. I use the same reamer and just open it the smallest bit.

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Burton
http://www.legeytinstruments.com
Brookline, MA.

Thanks all. Great advice. Just bought the appropriate Stewmac reamer.

Burton, yes, that little nub on the base of post on the tuning machine has perplexed me in the past. Great to know that the reamer will solve for that too. Thanks.

Splitting the headplate veneer?????? So that's why I'm refinishing a headstock right now

I love the look of open back tuners, but wish someone could make some with nuts like closed back tuners, instead of press in bushings.

+1 for the stew mac reamers.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/