Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi,

I have constructed my bridge for my first weissenborn build and I'm
nearing the point where i will be glueing the bridge onto the soundboard.
I
'm looking for some advice on this matter.

Should i pre drill the bridge for the pins or glue it on and then drill?

I hear that it is normal to drill right through the soundboard and into the
support plate under the soundboard, this makes some sense, looking at
the length of the bridge pins. I suppose it would be normal to drill at a
diameter that is close to the bottom circumference of the bridge pin and
use a special reamer to replicate the tapered shape of the bridge pin as
well?

And string relief cuts? This is so the string can come up and out from the
hole and onto the saddle without being constricted, what are some
recommendations on how to do this?

This forum is great, thanks so much, Steve

'nuther way is before gluing, drill just the two outer holes, ream slightly and use tapered teflon pins from Stewmac. Keeps the bridge just where you want it.

_________________
now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

If you don't have access to the 3 or 5 degree reamer, (depending on the pins you are using) you can do an acceptable job using a tapered rat tail file in a slow turning drill. Remove the square tang from the end of the file & it'll chuck up nicely in your drill.
Just make sure you practice on a piece of scrap first! You must run the drill backwards or the helical file teeth will wind into the bridge like a screw & break your work to smitherines.
It's easy to ream too far & end up with a loose pin fit. Go slow & check the fit often.
Have fun!