Opening Up Thimble Holes in MJT Body
- wastedyouth
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Opening Up Thimble Holes in MJT Body
A few questions before opening up the holes in my MJT body.
1. Is a 3/8" drill bit accurate enough or should these be reamed?
2. Will a 3/8" drill bit follow the existing hole well enough with a hand drill, or should I seek out a drill press?
Thanks!
1. Is a 3/8" drill bit accurate enough or should these be reamed?
2. Will a 3/8" drill bit follow the existing hole well enough with a hand drill, or should I seek out a drill press?
Thanks!
- YALCaster
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Re: Opening Up Thimble Holes in MJT Body
I wouldn’t use a hand drill personally, but that’s just me.
- thohurst
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Re: Opening Up Thimble Holes in MJT Body
I'm sure there's some "proper" way to do it, and that I most likely did it wrong, but on my warmoth mustang, I just used a 3/8" bit in a drill press and the fit was perfect, but I agree with above: you deffo shouldn't use a hand drill.wastedyouth wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 1:38 pmA few questions before opening up the holes in my MJT body.
1. Is a 3/8" drill bit accurate enough or should these be reamed?
2. Will a 3/8" drill bit follow the existing hole well enough with a hand drill, or should I seek out a drill press?
Thanks!
- wastedyouth
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Re: Opening Up Thimble Holes in MJT Body
I think I will find a drill press. I will use a countersink to help find center with the bit. I saw some links suggesting running the drill backwards to make a clean hole like teaming. Anybody do this?
- ohm-men
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Re: Opening Up Thimble Holes in MJT Body
I"m afraid the only correct way is using a drill press with the correct diameter drill bit.
If you are off with the thible holes, the bridge wont fit, or it will be of center,pick guard won't fit, etc...
Reaming is something I'd also suggest using a drill press for. You dont't want the thimbles to be loose.
I have repeared some guitars that had hand drilled thimbles. This means doweling the existing holes, flatsanding the dowels, drilling new holes in the correct place, etc...
If you can avoid the above, you'll be fine.
If you are off with the thible holes, the bridge wont fit, or it will be of center,pick guard won't fit, etc...
Reaming is something I'd also suggest using a drill press for. You dont't want the thimbles to be loose.
I have repeared some guitars that had hand drilled thimbles. This means doweling the existing holes, flatsanding the dowels, drilling new holes in the correct place, etc...
If you can avoid the above, you'll be fine.
- HNB
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Re: Opening Up Thimble Holes in MJT Body
I use a drill press usually as well.
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- timtam
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Re: Opening Up Thimble Holes in MJT Body
I have done it with a manual (non-electric) hand drill. It's not like a strat bridge mounting where everything has to be 100% perfect or it won't work right. There are also various styles of inexpensive drill guides. They can be clamped down if you are concerned about wander.
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- tammyw
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Re: Opening Up Thimble Holes in MJT Body
I'm not familiar with MJT, what size are the holes to begin with?
If they're already 3/8" and you just need to clear out the excess paint, then you should be able to twist the drill bit in literally by hand.
Also, I have stepped up a MIM to 3/8" with just a cordless drill. I forget the original size, but it was close, and you still have to work carefully even if it seems to mostly follow the existing hole.
If the pilot holes are much smaller than about 5/16", I wouldn't do it freehand.
If they're already 3/8" and you just need to clear out the excess paint, then you should be able to twist the drill bit in literally by hand.
Also, I have stepped up a MIM to 3/8" with just a cordless drill. I forget the original size, but it was close, and you still have to work carefully even if it seems to mostly follow the existing hole.
If the pilot holes are much smaller than about 5/16", I wouldn't do it freehand.
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- Norrin Radd
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Re: Opening Up Thimble Holes in MJT Body
I’ve done 2 free hand with a 3/8” drill bit (cordless drill). You are just widening the holes that are already there, and there’s not much that needs to be removed to make the thimbles fit. Just go slow and carefully and you should be fine. However if you want perfection, there are plenty of pieces of good advice above. I just wanted it to work. The holes are almost to size and they are already the proper depth so it wasn’t hard to make the holes bigger using a hand drill, in my opinion
- wastedyouth
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Re: Opening Up Thimble Holes in MJT Body
Thanks all! I got access to a press. Interesting though my thimbles are exactly .375” and my bits are ~ .372-.373”. The thimble fit snugly but stopped about halfway, so I will have to sand them until it slips all the way down.
- wastedyouth
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- dren68
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Re: Opening Up Thimble Holes in MJT Body
I usually just take a hand drill, put a 3/8" drill bit in it, and manually turn it by hand until the thimble fits. I've done it a few times, and it worked perfectly.