Drilling a hole

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 4:33 am

Okay, I'm thinking maybe just bite the bullet and put a second jackhole in the stereo 330/12 for mono. If I start with a really small drill bit and gradually widen it, will I damage the finish?

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 5:48 am

I think Paul addressed this in a thread in his Curmudgeon section, but I can't recall which one.

I believe he recommended placing tape over the spot to be drilled, but you'd best wait for an expert reply!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 6:02 am

If you're drilling through wood, just a jack-sized hole, into the face of the guitar, here's the hot ticket, JDog...

Go to your local big box hardware/bad lumber outlet, or if you want to keep it local, hie thee to the best-stocked mom 'n' pop hardware store in town.

Now you have a choice. If you can, buy one drill bit. It may cost you 5 or 6 bucks, but; hey--look what a refin goes fer. The bit you want to buy is a 3/8" brad point wood bit. You can use this in a handheld power drill; if you don't have a 3/8" drill, get a brad point bit with a 1/4" shaft. It'll look like this:

or this:

Now, lay the guitar in a towel on a countertop, tape over the spot with masking tape, mark the center clearly, and go slowly.

The trickiest part is just before it breaks through to the space on the other side of the hole.

The procedure for doing an acrylic guard would be the same, except you must remove the guard from the guitar or bass, and place it on a piece of scrap wood, MDF, or plywood. Without a backer board like this, the bit will grab and crack the acrylic.

It does help to have access to a drill press...

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 2:03 pm

put a second jackhole in the stereo 330/12 for mono.
Hmmm,if your 330-12 is STEREO, then it would Already have 2 holes from the factory!! Did you mean to reverse the words "stereo" and "mono' in your sentence??

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 2:50 pm

Don, I think JDog's just had his modified, so it's not a factory stereo job.

Correct, JDog?

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 8:14 pm

Hmmm, well, no way I'd have known that.
What you said about the drill press, Oh Yeah...
one of the most indispensible tools you can have in a shop.After that, Good bits[and, the "correct" ones for a given job, as Paul said].

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 8:21 pm

BTW, If you are drilling a Second hole in the side of the guitar, next to the factory original hole, if memory serves me here, it's like a 7/8" diameter hole.I'd use a Forstner bit for that. For pickguards, as Paul said, Brad Point are the way to go; 3/8" for pot holes; 1/2" for a toggle switch[if it's the std. Switchcraft toggle].1/4", I think, for mini toggles.

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 4:56 am

Thanks everybody. I think I'll hold off for now. The guitar plays great and if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:31 am

"You say you want a revolution."

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:52 am

You are killing me!

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:00 am

I was thinking, to stay in rhythm. you could sing Drillin a hole, to the tune of Draggin a Line?

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 9:31 am

Hmmm, any more quips here, and it gets, ummm, "boring"....??? well, you know the drill by now....as to a tune, how'bout, "Chuckie's in love"[or maybe, chuck-key??]

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:31 am

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 12:37 pm

"you could sing Drillin a hole"

Or "Fixing A Hole"!

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 12:59 pm

""you could sing Drillin a hole"

Or "Fixing A Hole"!"

...if you slip up, which is what I think is on Jdog's mind.