SteveXFR Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 I've just bought some Wilkinson tuners to replace the original rubbish on my Squier p bass. The holes are currently 12mm and I need to drill them out to 18mm. What would be the best tool for this job? I'm guessing it's not just a standard HSS bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 (edited) Should be OK if you have a good pillar drill set up to centre the drill and go steady... Half depth from each side... Got a scrap of wood to go 12 > 18 as a test. Trying to 'Go-Again' with a flat bottom drill may have issues... again bit of scrap to practice. Tapered Reamer to clear most (from both sides) then finish with the 12mm? Edited October 30, 2022 by PaulThePlug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted October 30, 2022 Author Share Posted October 30, 2022 I've tried looking for reamers but tapered ones only seem to go up to 12mm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigguy2017 Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 These hand reamers are good and go from 10mm to 25mm TAPER REAMER 10-25MM WITH 8 FLUTES FROM HALL SHEFFIELD | eBay 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 Pillar drill + forstner bits. Never had a problem with breakout if the headstock is clamped to a scrap bit of wood underneath. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted October 30, 2022 Author Share Posted October 30, 2022 1 hour ago, Bigguy2017 said: These hand reamers are good and go from 10mm to 25mm TAPER REAMER 10-25MM WITH 8 FLUTES FROM HALL SHEFFIELD | eBay Do you cut from both sides toward the middle with this so it's a little smaller in the middle but the right size at the ends of the hole? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 I took the safe route when i changed my old schallers for new ones which were larger, and got Jaydee to do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigguy2017 Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 26 minutes ago, SteveXFR said: Do you cut from both sides toward the middle with this so it's a little smaller in the middle but the right size at the ends of the hole? Yes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt P Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 my favoured method for this would actually be to fill the holes in with some 12mm dowel then re-drill with an 18mm forstner bit, (sounds counter-intuative but would guide the bit the best) A small diameter (3mm) pilot hole through would allow you to drill from both sides for the cleanest finish. Matt 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted November 4, 2022 Share Posted November 4, 2022 When I put cloverleaf tuners on my Variax I used a cheapy Lidl step cutter bit to take the hole up to 18mm on both sides, then ran an 18mm bit through the centre part. The 2 or 3mm deep 18mm hole on either side from the step cutter acts as a guide going in and prevents break out coming out. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted November 7, 2022 Share Posted November 7, 2022 On 31/10/2022 at 08:37, Matt P said: my favoured method for this would actually be to fill the holes in with some 12mm dowel then re-drill with an 18mm forstner bit, (sounds counter-intuative but would guide the bit the best) A small diameter (3mm) pilot hole through would allow you to drill from both sides for the cleanest finish. Matt This plus if you want to drill all the way through, clamp a piece of sacrificial wood to the top and bottom. This will protect both the finish at the top and tear out at the bottom. Oh and before you do it, line up the machine heads on the headstock to make sure they look right. Sometimes the shaft lengths on replacement are different, on my Aerodyne I fitted Gotoh Re-O-Lite clover heads and the shaft lengths are a tad long ( to be honest I did not do enough research as they did a drop in replacement for the Femder ones). The extra length does not bother me but it might bother some people. I also nearly came a cropper on my Sire when I replaced the stock machine heads with Hipshots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted November 11, 2022 Share Posted November 11, 2022 I don't see how a Forstner bit would work, as they can't be centrered on a hole that's already there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted November 11, 2022 Share Posted November 11, 2022 1 minute ago, fleabag said: I don't see how a Forstner bit would work, as they can't be centrered on a hole that's already there. Using a drill press with the drill off, address the piece with the bit, spin it by hand to check clamping location by eyeballing it in two axes, clamp it, drill on, drill for real. If that's too wooly for you, I get it, but I'm happy with the results I got. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted November 12, 2022 Share Posted November 12, 2022 Yup, too woolly for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted November 12, 2022 Share Posted November 12, 2022 21 hours ago, fleabag said: I don't see how a Forstner bit would work, as they can't be centrered on a hole that's already there. If you're lucky enough to have a bit the right size for the existing hole, you can centre it with a drill press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted November 12, 2022 Share Posted November 12, 2022 I see your point, but I would think a stepped drill bit would be easier and more accurate , no ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 Judge for yourself - these were done with the forstner bit into "thin air" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 Those rear plates and front ferrules could be hiding a multitude of split edge sins though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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