Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm using my first set of tuners that include a bushing that requires a wider hole than the tuner shaft. I know StewMac has bits designed specially for this. Is there a simpler way to drill the hole for the bushing?

Thanks in advance

Steve

Sure. Drill a 1/16 pilot hole all the way through. Drill your smaller hole for the shaft about two thirds through from the back using a brad point. From the front drill the bushing sized hole just deep enough for the bushings, again with a brad point. The Stew Mac bits are really great though, but they still require a pilot hole going all the way through to track off of.

The pilot hole method is too imprecise.
The SM counter-bore reamers are the best, they have a 1/4" pilot tip. it's just a matter of drilling 1/4" holes and counter-boring to the depth required afterwards.
Before the SM reamers I used another method. Drill your 1/4" holes on your peghead. Then clamp a thick backer board on your drill press table, drill a 1/4" hole in it (with the drill press) and slip a 1/4" rod in the hole (an old router bit shaft is perfect). Do not move anything on your drill press, but change the 1/4" drill bit for a 11/32" one (or whatever size your bushings require). Now it's just a matter of slipping every tuner hole in the 1/4" rod (back of the peghead down) and drilling at the depth required. That guarantees centred tuner shaft and bushing holes. I strongly advise to clamp the peghead at the table for every hole to avoid tear-out… and worse.

_________________
Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Thanks everyone. Sounds like the StewMc reamers are the way to go.

Steve

Is it really necessary to have the tuner shaft supported at the base of the tuner by that seemingly little bit of wood? I have been assuming that, with a well-made tuner, the bushing provides enough support against the pull of the string.

_________________
Kevin Mason
Mason Guitars and Ukuleles on Facebook
http://masonguitars.net

I think I know what you mean. That little thin area of wood support doesn't make much difference. Why not just bore through one size. I'm sure many people do this anyway.

that said I checked out the stewmac bushing reamer and it looks like a worthy investment too.

_________________
"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

The devil is in the details…

_________________
Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Be sure to use the StewMac reamers in a drill press at low RPM (around 200). At least that's what works best for me. They are definitely the way to go. Here's a cheap gadget to install them.

http://wellsguitars.com/Articles/Bushing_Tool/index.php

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

That is a nice little gadget. To make it even easier to make I would make it out of square stock instead of dowel. And just counter sink a bolts head in the end in stead of pinning the thread. Square stock is more likely to be around your shop or easier to produce, much easier to drill a straight hole and get the faces 90° to the bolt. One could round it or make it a octagon after.
L.

_________________
Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

Tuners with bushings: the chrome plated shaft is supported at both ends with steel bearing surfaces, good enough for about every engine and machine on the planet.
That being said, I bore and counterbore with the correct Stewmac bit...

_________________
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008907949110