Need tips or tricks to drilling for a pick guard

[LRaymond]

I did a search on here, but there were a bazillion posts and none that I saw addressed the topic.  If there is one a link to it would be appreciated.

I need to drill holes to mount my pick guard and was wondering if there are any do's and don'ts?  Is there a self centering bit small enough or do most just "eyeball it"?  I was just going to dry fit it, tape it down and eyeball the center of each hole, but drill and screw each hole one at a time in case for some reason there was some movement?  Maybe masking tape under each hole and an outline of the hold on the tape and then eyeball the centers of each? 

I just know if one is off it will pull the guard out of position.  Any tips or tricks would be appreciated.

 

[Updown]

I was just going to dry fit it, tape it down and eyeball the center of each hole, but drill and screw each hole one at a time in case for some reason there was some movement? 
Maybe masking tape under each hole and an outline of the hold on the tape and then eyeball the centers of each? 

Any tips or tricks would be appreciated.

Best done with all things mounted on the pickguard 1st of all !!

But how you have stated, is pretty much it  :icon_thumright:
Same pic's of a Tele.
I just used a needle to get the centre of each hole, then drilled.
Had the neck in place as well for setup ....  :doh:

 

[LRaymond]

Okay, that's what I was thinking. 

Hopefully, my guard will arrive today and I can get this project DONE!  Thanks for the feedback!

 

[line6man]

Use a center punch to mark the holes, then remove the pickguard and drill them.

 

[Tipperman]

Holy double bound tele, Batman!

 

[Cagey]

It's also helpful to fix the thing in place after the first hole is drilled. Drill one extreme "corner" and screw it down, then it can't really wander around too much. Drill and screw the opposite corner, and it can't move at all after that. Have your way with the rest of the holes, and once you're done screwing its brains out, take the 'guard off to clean up the mess. And don't forget to wax your screws! Lubrication is important.

 

[LRaymond]

Well, the guard showed up today and I pretty much used everyone's advice and everything went great.  I was finally able to get this thing almost done.  Just need to install the electronics (pots in pic aren't correct) and remove the lacquer from the frets.  It was overcast today, so the pics are little dark.  I think it's coming along nicely.

 

[mero]

that is stunning! very classy. why not a covered humbucker in the bridge as well though?

 

[LRaymond]

Meh!  Was going with both open coils all around originally then changed to the aged neck last minute.  I like open coils in the bridge anyway, so I left it.

 

[Cagey]

You can always remove the cover later. They have a terrible tendency to feed back, which is why open coils got popular in the first place. Used to be the first thing we did with 'buckers back in the old days. Now you don't see 'em very often.

 

[leo12.]

On drilling Pickguards & Bridges i have had good success with these centering drills pick the smallest for pickguards .
http://www.trend-uk.com/en/IE/product/SNAP_DBG_5/3/1437/trend_snappy_centring_guide_564_drill_.html
As Cagey says

It's also helpful to fix the thing in place after the first hole is drilled. Drill one extreme "corner" and screw it down, then it can't really wander around too much. Drill and screw the opposite corner, and it can't move at all after that. Have your way with the rest of the holes, and once you're done screwing its brains out, take the 'guard off to clean up the mess. And don't forget to wax your screws! Lubrication is important.

.
I know i missed the boat on this one but it should help the next Guy.