Can I drill out holes that are for mini pots to make them big enough for a standard pot without doing damage to the finish? Will it crack the surrounding area? Any precautions our experience on this issue would be appreciated.
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Drilling Mini pot hole to standard pot size
- Thread starter cpspoon
- Start date
It doesn't really matter if the finish is damaged, because it will always be hidden under the nuts and washers when the pots are installed.
It is best to enlarge holes with a hand reamer tool, not a drill.
It is best to enlarge holes with a hand reamer tool, not a drill.
Means2nEnd
Supporting Member
I use a dremmel at high speed will not damage anything I have done it bunches...Reamer tool will lift clear coat and paint and make a real mess...
You're pushing too hard, then. It's impossible to damage anything if you go slow and let the tool do the work.
Both ways. A tapered ream makes a conic hole in thick material, so you need to go from both ends to better approximate a cylinder, with an hourglass-shaped hole.
gravesbass
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- Aug 16, 2006
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Reamer Tool.... Be VERY careful with these. Clear coats will lift from the friction if the clear coat is thicker. trust me, I know from experience. As Means2nEnd states, use a dremmel.
If you have any skill with tools, a variable speed power drill will work fine. Set it on slow and don't apply pressure until the bit has cut a bevel around the outside.
This is the correct answer and what I've seen every repair person do when a hole needs to be enlarged. I did it myself with a MIJ Jazz Bass control plate so that standard CTS pots would fit in it. Worked like a charm!
To minimize chipping, put tape on the surface to be drilled and drill through the tape. Whether you use tape or not, drill slowlyand don't apply pressure. Let the bit do the work.
gravesbass
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- Aug 16, 2006
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As noted, SOME finishes can lift. I was VERY careful and work on guitars all the time. Used to work for a luthier. My Spector finish is thick on one of the basses I was repairing and I used a sharp reamer very light turning with blue painters tape on the top of the existing pot hole. I went from the inside out, light on the top and the clear coat lifted a little around the hole. You can use water bases glue to seal but it was just a general note to be careful and work slow. Some finishes won't have a problem.
I would like to replace the pickguard on my Fender Squier P Affinity Series. I don't know if it is a 'mini hole' or not. Really I'm not even sure what that is referring to, is that the size of the screw holes or the size of the control knob & jack input hole? Low information bass player, I just play it, don't know all the terms. Thank you for all and anyones help. Sparky
hand reamer is the only safe way, and it's trivially easy; any kind of drill risks some very ugly tear-out.
a dremel could work, but it's a trick to get the hole truly round, one slip puts an ugly scar on the finish, and who has the time? a hand reamer takes like 30 seconds.
a dremel could work, but it's a trick to get the hole truly round, one slip puts an ugly scar on the finish, and who has the time? a hand reamer takes like 30 seconds.
+1 for hand reamer.
If you've never used one before, beware, they can work very quickly, even with (recommended) light hand pressure... Beginners should go half-turn, check, half-turn, check etc etc...
If you ever have to use an end pin reamer it's more like 1/8th-turn, check, 1/16th turn, done!
If you've never used one before, beware, they can work very quickly, even with (recommended) light hand pressure... Beginners should go half-turn, check, half-turn, check etc etc...
If you ever have to use an end pin reamer it's more like 1/8th-turn, check, 1/16th turn, done!
