Truss rod nut too big for headstock hole?

Check for a black plastic insert in the truss rod hole.

 

If there is no insert, drill or ream the hole out by using incrementally larger size drill bits BY HAND!
Just use your head. It's a Squier Affinity but, still No need in Mucking it up.

as you stated Cheap Beat-up Basses.... some will say Bring it to a luthier I say perfect to learn on.

 

Reamer is the correct tool. But might be more expensive than a drill bit if you don't already have a set. There are several styles of manual hand drills.

The nice thing about a reamer is it cuts a smooth hole and you can get sets with more precision than a drill.

As alluded to above, one reason people recommend taking it to someone else to repair, is the tools might be significantly more expensive than having someone else do it. For a one or two time project or something you won't likely do again for years, it is just cheaper to take to someone else or replace it.

 

I would use the drill between my fingers, twist it blow out the chips, use the next # drill repeat.
Power tool BAD idea.
Thing is, you need a proper dill set. Numbered drills. You can do it! as I have done it before. Alot less risk of damage then with a wobbly power tool

 

That is what a reamer bit looks like by the way. The benefit is it doesn't cut grooves in the wood and would have an even cut all the way to the end. They make adjustable ones that let you increase a hole more precisely, but I think they normally have a blunt end that would get into your way.


This is an example of a cheap manual hand drill. You can do as described above, but these can make it easier especially if planning on doing this regularly.

 

He say.... I want to fix up for fun and give away
Save your money it's an easy task... if you use your head drill it sandpaper on a penciled will clean it up some

Did you not see the Gnarled up hole !

Learn on it! fix it up and enjoy the pleasure of giving to someone less fortunate

 

The hole doesn't look like the gnarled part. The truss rod nut looks cut and there is a flattened bit of metal on the back side of the hole. I'm honestly not sure what I'm looking at in the picture. But rust doesn't explain it. Nor does the swollen wood.

My point about tools was unless you plan to do stuff or just want to, a replacement Squier affinity neck is like $65. If it is an easy fix, fair enough, but eventually your time could be worth more than a replacement. I'm not recommending getting all of the tools per se.

 

Don't be afraid of it.
That tool you described sounds fine.
So, find out what size the Affinities truss rod nut is. Creep up to that size drill.

 

Lol, the time spent posting here = He'd be done!
It's always good to ask for opinions.

 

ok then,
No more W-D40 for starters.
I still think there are remanence of an insert in there.
If it plays with good action maybe spend alittle more quality time on it.
Is the Nut loose now, and you know it functions? The truss rod works? If it works and plays well, why mess with it.

Only you can decide if it's worth the expense of 2 or three reamers a 30bucks a pop ! I still say NO
Some of the Squiers came with a black plastic insert in the truss rod hole. To hide shoddy work or to keep the nut from getting lost, who knows. But once you get the nut out, depending on how it goes, you may want to put a "trim ring" in after you install the new nut.

As for getting all the basses on the same size nut .... I don't think this will work. a quick search shows 4, 5 and 6mm nuts. for Squiers Though a search will get you the correct size for your bass. I have three Squier basses all a different size wrench.

 

Yours look anything like that ?

 

cool
there's no way that neck swelled up more than a few # size drills. Easy task
Enjoy it, I'm sure Dad will love it.