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String ferrels on Hardtail Strat Q

PK

Newbie
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Hi people, I have a question about string ferrels.  The string ferrels I ordered thru Warmoth don't fit flush on the back of my Hardtail strat body (they stick up a bit).  I may have ordered the wrong ferrels as these seem to require a countersink hole (I don't see that as a Warmoth option).  Are there ferrels on the mkt that will fit in the pre-drilled holes without protruding above the back of the body?  Thanks in advance.

PK
 
Hi PK, they're supposed to stick up like that.  I would not recommend trying to modify a finished body to make them sit flush... you are likely to chip the finish.  If you have an unfinished body you could countersink them using a Forstner bit.

Overall, your time is better spent thinking about parts of the guitar that actually matter.  :D
 
Thanks for the replies. It all matters!!! :)  But I agrree the ferrules not being flush is a non event.  I'll leave the hammer in the toolbox Marko, but thanx for your input  :icon_tongue: 

PK
 
I don't have any real good advise..
I was hammering in ferrules myself sunday, and thought I would use a trick I learned on this forum... heat the ferrules up with a soldering iron..and THEN hammer them in..

worked great, but unfortunately the finish around the ferrules started to bubble a little bit, so won't do that again ;)
I usually just stick a  big screwdriver or something similar in the ferrule and then hammer it in.. works for me
 
Marko said:
...Two weeks later, I found the Funk in bed with a Conger Eel. At first I thought it was a sea anemone, but under closer inspection, I realized that it was a funky ball of tits from outer space.

Is this a Parliament lyric or something?
 
dbw said:
Marko said:
...Two weeks later, I found the Funk in bed with a Conger Eel. At first I thought it was a sea anemone, but under closer inspection, I realized that it was a funky ball of tits from outer space.

Is this a Parliament lyric or something?

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbx5fSge6wo[/youtube]
 
Check the Stewart MacDonald website.  They offer ferrels that are flush.  They may, or may not, fit the Warmoth holes.  But it's worth a look if you prefer the recessed ferrels.  It's the only source for string ferrels I've found other than Warmoth.
 
The problem with flush ferrules is not the ferrules, its the hole.

The ferrule has a little lip at the top.  If there is no countersunk relief groove for the lip, the lip stops when it hits the flat surface of the body.

If you want to put your own relief groove in, you'll have to fill the hole with a dowel thats made to fit "tight" in the hole and flush with the surface of the body.  Then you need to mark the exact center of the hole.  At that point you can align and drill the groove with a forstner bit.  Trying to use a forstner bit without dowelling the hole first... disaster.
 
Sorry, I assumed the holes were drilled for flush ferrels.  If not, then yep - you have a modification delima.  One choice is filling & redrilling the holes.  Not desireable, but possible.  There are tolerance issues here as well as set-up time/costs.  2nd is using a CNC machine to drill the recess holes for the ferrels.  There are also tolerance issues here as well as set-up time/costs.  Not desireable, but possible.  3rd is using a press to push the ferrels into the existing holes & compressing the surface of the body.  The ferrel lip isn't that thick, maybe 10 or 20 mils.  If the body is painted it will crack around the holes.  The ferrels may also deform a little.  Neither is desireable.  The recess won't be perfect, but sufficient.  If you use a press you'll want a pin that fits the center of the ferrel to keep it's shape.  You'll also want a 2nd set of ferrels.  The 1st to compress the body which will be sacraficed during the pressing operation.  The 2nd set will be what are installed as the finished ferrels.  Last is.......  A new body with the holes drilled properly for recessed ferrels!!!!!  Maybe desireable, maybe not.

Good Luck.
 
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