Much like my thread about soldering gear, I'd like to get some opinions on drilling. I want to fit some gotoh tuners to a tokai neck,
exactly as detailed on this page, but I have no experience doing anything like that and I don't want to make a mess of it. I have a few other guitars that could do with better tuners, that don't have standard mounting patterns so I could spend a lot to get a luthier to do it for me so I'm trying to save a few quid by learning to do it myself.
Can I (the amateur) drill straight, neat screw holes just through being careful, taking it slow and having a guide for the straight perpendicular holes?
If so, which affordable, readily available (amazon, argos, etc.) quality drill is worth buying?
I know maple is particularly hard, and am ready to be told "get someone else to do it" so don't hold back.
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To start the hole I use a small (around 1mm) drill bit, held in a small chuck - one with a hex shank that goes in a handle from a screwdriver set.
The chuck has a long (300mm) socket set extension on it, so you effectively have a silly-length screwdriver/drill bit.
It's clumsy but the extra length makes it easier to keep your hand in one place while turning the driver.
Or maybe look for a tapping stand - a more professional version of what I'm describing.
if you are still unsure you can add an extra step as extra precaution. Use your new template to drill the e-string holes all the way through. drill the rest halfway. Then attach the template to the other side using the E string holes to align it and drill the rest through from the back. This is actually how i do string through body holes
if none of that makes sense, keep drilling holes in scrap until it does.
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I use a Dremel with a bit of tape round the drill bit as a depth guide...
Personally I drill the biggest hole I can so that the screw JUST grips.....
On a Fender type neck I use a metal rule masking taped to the head to lime up the tuners....
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(see repair below 6th string tuner)