Best tool/technique for standardising size of pot holes

[Beedster]

Hi folks, I have a bass body with rear access to the control cavity and what can only be described as a number of experimental holes - 7 in total - from the cavity to the front surface of the bass. I want to fill these with dowels, but each hole is a slightly different size so I want to standardise them all at 12mm to allow me to use 12mm dowels for all holes. I was going to use a 12mm drill but suspect that despite being quick and easy it might cause more harm than good, I then thought about using a round file but I imagine that's the hard way and will likely leave me with irregular/not-round holes. Thoughts re tools/techniques welcome 🙏

[Hellzero]

The best way to do it is with a router, Chris.

[Hellzero]

Or you can use this tool, if you're doing it slowly, it will be very good: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264935588930

[Beedster]

4 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

Or you can use this tool, if you're doing it slowly, it will be very good: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264935588930

 

Tony, that is exactly what I'm looking for I suspect, many thanks mate 🙏

[Hellzero]

I'm still using the one my father bought 50 to 60 years ago, but it only goes up to 10 mm and uses a screwdriver handle, so hard on the palm of the hand. 😉

[Beedster]

Just now, Hellzero said:

I'm still using the one my father bought 50 to 60 years ago, but it only goes up to 10 mm and uses a screwdriver handle, so hard on the palm of the hand. 😉

 

There's something magnificent about old tools, a mate of mine found one at a boot sale, and a few years later has a collection to rival some bass collections!

 

Thanks for the advice, some jobs require the combination of high attention and effort and low speed 👍 

[gary mac]

I also tend to use a reamer for this job. Yes, it's slower but just very pleasing.

[Beedster]

23 minutes ago, gary mac said:

I also tend to use a reamer for this job. Yes, it's slower but just very pleasing.

 

There are time when power tools spoil the fun 👍

[BlueMoon]

When enlarging headstock tuner holes I’ve used successfully either a hand-held reamer (as suggested by @Hellzero) or a step drill bit with a drill chuck and t-bar handle. Slow and steady by hand………just watch out for chips occurring in the surface coating (poly worse than nitro). If you can locate centrally a washer or coin of the desired final hole size, pre-score around it with a sharp scribe. This will help minimise chips and serve as a guide for the drill/reamer.

[Beedster]

37 minutes ago, BlueMoon said:

When enlarging headstock tuner holes I’ve used successfully either a hand-held reamer (as suggested by @Hellzero) or a step drill bit with a drill chuck and t-bar handle. Slow and steady by hand………just watch out for chips occurring in the surface coating (poly worse than nitro). If you can locate centrally a washer or coin of the desired final hole size, pre-score around it with a sharp scribe. This will help minimise chips and serve as a guide for the drill/reamer.

 

Thanks, and interestingly I bought not only a hand-held reamer today but also a step drill bit! I'm aiming to use the former but will have the latter on standby.

 

I love the fact that whatever job you need to do, someone has invented a tool. However, there is one major problem - knowing what that tool is called! I'd never heard of a step drill until I searched reamer and they appeared low in the results 🤔

 

This is the body in question, I'm hoping next time I post a photo it looks a whole lot better 

 

 

[PaulThePlug]

Wood 'Plugs' would(!) Be better as Dowel will show End Grain, which might need attention before a finish.

Or...

Edited 2 hours ago by PaulThePlug

[Beedster]

8 minutes ago, PaulThePlug said:

Wood 'Plugs' would(!) Be better as Dowel will show End Grain, which might need attention before a finish.

Or...

 

Thanks Paul, luckily the 12mm dowels appear to have a grain running across, I'll have to wait and see but I'm optimistic 👍