Drill bit sizes

[bassnyc1]

Hello,

I'm about to tackle my first build. I'm going to assemble a P bass. I am gathering all the parts and tools but I'm not sure if I have the correct drill bits for the pickguard screws and the pickup screws. Does anyone know which sizes they are?
Thanks!

 

[96tbird]

As long as you aren’t using hardwood like maple or oak for your body, a small pilot hole is all that’s needed. The screws will easily make their way into many woods with a slightly undersized pilot hole. Just use one that is near the size of the screw shank but slightly smaller. The shank is the Center rod, not the outside size of the threads.

see, Fender type of screws are bigger than Gibson type, and Asian would be metric based, so we can’t exactly know what you have in your possession.

 

[202dy]

 

[Arie X]

i just measure the root diameter with a pair of calipers and add like .005 ~.010 or so to that. fender is generally my brand of choice in pg screws fwiw. re: pu's, again measure. it's not like commodity screws for wood are considered something that needs to manufactured as exactly as a machine screw. they can vary quite a lot.

 

[byacey]

If you are only ever drilling wood and plastic, a cheap set of numbered bits (#1 to 60) will give you any size you will ever need.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Most commonly-available pickguard screws these days are #3 x 3/8" Oval Head Phillips Sheet Metal Screws. They aren't actually true Wood Screws. A 1/16" drill bit is fine for the pilot hole for #3 screws. If you have a set of number-size drill bits, a #43 bit is what I use.

Occasionally you'll see #4 x 3/8" screws used. I use them on my basses that I build. For #4 screws, I drill the pilot hole #32.

 

[bassnyc1]

Thank you so much everyone for the replies. I'll be stopping by the hardware store today.