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Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → Drilling out a larger hole for a pot
If I have to enlarge a hole for a pot on my guitar, whats direction should I drill out the hole to avoid cracking the finish? Top down or from the inside to the top?
It's a cheap guitar so I'm not too concerned and being cheap, it doesn't feel worth it to me to pay someone else to do it.
I would've sent this as a PM to someone on the forum but I was surprised to find this forum doesn't have private messaging.
I'd drill from the outside in, so if it blows out a little wood, it will be on the inside. If you go slow, smooth, and steady you shouldn't have a problem.
Ben
Thanks, thats really what I was thinking but I've been wrong before 
Okay I have no idea why it's double posting everything of mine...
If I have to enlarge a hole for a pot on my guitar, whats direction should I drill out the hole to avoid cracking the finish? Top down or from the inside to the top?
It's a cheap guitar so I'm not too concerned and being cheap, it doesn't feel worth it to me to pay someone else to do it.
I would've sent this as a PM to someone on the forum but I was surprised to find this forum doesn't have private messaging.
Not sure why you would need to enlarge a hole for a pot but if you must I would use a reamer so you can better control the hole size and with less chance of splintering the wood.
Probably going from metric > US diameter is the reason for boring a larger hole. Just make sure you use a sharp wood bit and you'll have no problems. Outside > in.
Mark
Forgot to mention, tape the hole both sides
Use a drill press and not a hand-held drill, and make sure the guitar is clamped down super super super tight!
I don't have access to a drill press... So that isn't really an option. It's a very cheap Schecter 7-String guitar and the stock pots have a smaller shaft than the push/pull pots I'm putting in. I may have to do this to another guitar too as I'm installing concentric knobs.
I'll remember the tape...
Whats a reamer? The tool I'm familiar with called a reamer wouldn't come anywhere close to being able to widen a hole.
I don't have access to a drill press... So that isn't really an option. It's a very cheap Schecter 7-String guitar and the stock pots have a smaller shaft than the push/pull pots I'm putting in. I may have to do this to another guitar too as I'm installing concentric knobs.
I'll remember the tape...
Whats a reamer? The tool I'm familiar with called a reamer wouldn't come anywhere close to being able to widen a hole.
It's like a scraper in the shape of a drill bit with a T handle.
You might be able to find something at the StewMac website that is specific for doing this sort of thing. You might even want to call them. They have all sort of luthier tools. Free catalog too!
Is it possible that you could take off a small amount from the inside of the cavity plate? Did this to one of mine when I fitted a push/push pot that had more depth than a standard pot and it worked without taking anything from the body of the guitar.
Geoff
I would drill from the outside, but run your drill bit slowly in reverse.
Won't that make the notes come out backwards?
I would drill from the outside, but run your drill bit slowly in reverse.
Is it possible that you could take off a small amount from the inside of the cavity plate? Did this to one of mine when I fitted a push/push pot that had more depth than a standard pot and it worked without taking anything from the body of the guitar.
Geoff
The shaft on the new pot is actually bigger than the old one...
I suspect I am going to run into this same problem on another guitar I'm modifying. I'm adding concentric pots - 2 knobs in one.
I just had this unusual desire to explore what other tonal possibilities are available with the tools I have. So I'm doing push pulls in the 7, Concentric pots in my Samick - PRS style guitar, going to put in a 4 position switch in my tele, and maybe the G&L but doubtful on that one. The only guitar I'm keeping stock (if I don't modify the G&L) is the Strat because its already the Deluxe with the extra options that the S-1 switch gives.
If I have to enlarge a hole for pot
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Spider, you'll get in to trouble
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