Insert studs from bridge on order

[Vallhagen]

It is risky to drill larger holes in place of existing holes. There's no center point so the bit will wander, and at best finding centers is an exercise futility since you're aiming at empty space.

I solved this dilemma recently with a step drill bit. The task was to open up the tuning machine holes from vintage (8.8 mm or there about?) to 10 mm on a friends guitar. The 9 mm step guided me right, and the 10 mm step opened it up. Then, at the depth (some 5-6 mm) before the 11 mm step hit the wood, I replaced the step bit with a regular 10 mm wood drill bit, as I now have a good guide for it. Everything worked out smoothly. I even did this with a handheld drill, which I - however - would not recommend for the bridge inserts, better use a drill press.

Cheers

 

[Cagey]

Neat trick. Have to remember that one. May come in handy one day. I haven't used a step drill in so long, I'm not sure where mine are, if I even still have them. They used to be good for playing with sheet metal, but I don't do much of that any more.

 

[Vallhagen]

Yea, I can relate to that. I got my set of step bits mainly for work in aluminium. The bits are fairly expensive.

Cheers