Pluging neck mounting holes

[90k]

I have a neck that is in need of having its mounting holes plugged and re-drilled. There is signs of other holes having been attempted right next to the original. How can I best approach this problem? What might the best material be for the plug? The neck is maple. Thanks for your help and opinions.

[202dy]

Plugs should always be made of the same material as the target material. Maple necks should have maple plugs. More importantly, the grain should be oriented the same way as the grain in the neck. Dowel rods are shaped from lumber that has grain running lengthwise through the rod. If a dowel rod is used as a plug, the screw will not hold because fastening in end grain is not strong. Therefore a plug must be cut from face grain material. This will require the use of plug cutter.

Select a bit large enough to bore a hole large enough to eliminate all of the holes. A plug cutter of corresponding diameter should be used to cut the plugs. When clean holes have been bored in the back of the neck the plugs will be glued in place with white or yellow glue. Be careful not to drill in to the fingerboard or through the neck. After this work is complete the neck can be clamped to the body, aligned, and marked. Then the new holes can be bored for the neck mounting screws.

All of this work is much easier to do on a drill press rather than freehand.

[90k]

Thank you! Wow was that quick. If only the rest of life ran like the internet. That was the information I needed.

[202dy]

You're welcome.

One caveat: If you are not handy in the extreme this is a job for a pro.