Share your tool tips for bass repair

[Beedster]

I asked this question today.....

 

 

.....and thanks to a few members am now aware of some tools of which I was completely oblivious, specifically a step drill bit (genius) and a tapered reamer. So, it seemed it might be useful to start a thread in which you could let us know which tools you use for which DIY jobs on bass, especially if they're old school and manual 👍

 

 

 

 

Edited 8 hours ago by Beedster

[PaulThePlug]

Pickup fitting...

 

[Stub Mandrel]

Find an offcut of old mains wire. Remove some 6" lengths of the thick copper wire.

 

These can be soldered temporarily to the end of pickup etc. wires to aid threading them through awkward holes/spaces. 

 

 

[itu]

As obvious as it seems, a big power soldering iron is a must when soldering metal potentiometer or pickup covers, and other bigger metal areas. I would suggest 60 - 100 W. A cheap Weller is a lifelong choice. 

 

https://www.weller-tools.com/eu/gb/consumer/products/corded-soldering-irons 

[itu]

Carpenters and luthiers, close you eyes now, please.

 

I do love inserts, but I have used M2.5 or M3 screws for pickups without inserts. If the wood is tough I have used a tap to make the thread straight to the wood after drilling the hole. 

 

Check Vigier strap button attachments: 

https://www.parts.vigierguitars.com/en/bodies_parts/153-vigier_parts_insert_for_strap_endpin_with_m4_screw.html 

[paul_5]

When soldering to the back of a potentiometer use a light abrasive (sandpaper, larks’ tongues etc…) to remove the coating on the metal and make it easier to solder to.

 

When soldering the wire to the lug of the potentiometer use a small crocodile clip as a heat-sink to avoid overheating and damaging the insides.

[Stub Mandrel]

To deepen nut slots without using a file, use a scalpel or craft knife with a sideways scraping action to retain the curved base of the slot.

 

Make sure the front of the slot is slightly higher to ensure you don't get rings or buzzes. These can be cured by reducing the back of the slot only.

 

An over-deep slot can be restored with a tiny slip of paper, reinforced with a drop of superglue.

 

After adjusting a truss rod, use the heel off your hand to rap the neck in a few places to ensure it settles.

 

Light mineral oil is good for lubing machine heads. Lemon oil for fretboards is just light machine oil with a small amount of lemon oil as scent and can be used in an 'emergency'. Never use pure lemon oil on instruments. 

 

If you use 000 wire wool to take the gloss off a neck, it can usually be restored using t-cut.