Members Verence Posted April 17, 2009 Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 I'm installing a set of vintage fender style (11/32) tuners. The press-in bushings do NOT want to go in. I'll have to either use a hammer to pound them in or enlarge the holes slightly with a file. Is the fit supposed to be that tight? What are the chance that I'll snap the headtock in half if I hammer in six too-tight bushings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar_stringer Posted April 17, 2009 Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 They are a "press" fit. Use a press, and press them in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Verence Posted April 17, 2009 Author Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 Do not have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar_stringer Posted April 17, 2009 Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 A drill press? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Verence Posted April 17, 2009 Author Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 No, I have nothing that could be even remotely considered a press.Just a hammer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar_stringer Posted April 17, 2009 Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 No, I have nothing that could be even remotely considered a press. Just a hammer. Then use a dead-blow hammer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members _pete_ Posted April 17, 2009 Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 Go to the dollar store or Big Lots and buy a C-clamp.Use it to slowly press the bushings in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Verence Posted April 17, 2009 Author Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 Go to the dollar store or Big Lots and buy a C-clamp. Use it to slowly press the bushings in. That's a pretty good idea. I bet I could pretty easily find a C-clamp for cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members etawful Posted April 17, 2009 Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 That's a pretty good idea. I bet I could pretty easily find a C-clamp for cheap. While you're looking for the clamp, look for some adhesive felt pads (like you'd use for the bottom of furniture) to stick to the clamp. That will protect the finish on the guitar better than just a rag or something for cushioning. The heavy felt pads are 1/8" thick or so and will offer a great non-marring surface so you don't ding anything up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burningleaves Posted April 17, 2009 Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 Great clamp and felt ideas:thu: Got any pics of the project? You would want them to go in snugly but if you really have to force them in it could result in headstock cracks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rll Posted April 17, 2009 Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 May need reamed a bit. Be careful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rob14 Posted April 17, 2009 Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 Be careful with press in bushings. It's worth spending a bit of time to enlarge the holes slightly so the bushings will press in without to much pressure. If you're forcing the bushings in then the hole is to small and you might split the headstock. I put them in with thumb and arm pressure only. Mostly I'm putting them in other peoples guitars, so I don't take chances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rll Posted April 17, 2009 Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 When I said ream I mean using a reamer like this. I would not recommend a file or drill bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted April 17, 2009 Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 You're going to crack the headsock with all this wonderful HC advice.Go to Home Depot and buy a "reamer" they cost around 10 bucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members atrox Posted April 17, 2009 Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 I have a jig for my drill press, but I have used a deadblow-hammer and dowel plenty of times Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members etawful Posted April 17, 2009 Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 You're going to crack the headsock with all this wonderful HC advice. Go to Home Depot and buy a "reamer" they cost around 10 bucks. If the hole is big enough so it's just a tad too tight to push in with your fingers, pressing it in will NOT crack the headstock. IF however, it's such a drastic difference that you need brute strength to get it in, it may. One thing to keep in mind though, odds are the holes are drilled for vintage style bushing which are "press-in". It only goes up in size from there, and if it was drilled for something else, the bushings would be sloppy instead of too tight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members atrox Posted April 17, 2009 Members Share Posted April 17, 2009 If the hole is big enough so it's just a tad too tight to push in with your fingers, pressing it in will NOT crack the headstock. +1. Have pushed in hundreds of bushings and have never cracked a headstock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Verence Posted April 18, 2009 Author Members Share Posted April 18, 2009 odds are the holes are drilled for vintage style bushing which are "press-in". It only goes up in size from there, and if it was drilled for something else, the bushings would be sloppy instead of too tight.That's kinda what I figured too.I'm just going to go with the c-clamp and some scrap wood and padding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted April 18, 2009 Members Share Posted April 18, 2009 I'm talking about the "blow with a hammer" advice. Using a clamp or drill press is a recipe for disaster too. As a matter of fact, if you can't press them in firmly with your bare fingers I would avoid any tools. Especially if the tuners are 6 in a line. You'll split that wood for sho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members atrox Posted April 18, 2009 Members Share Posted April 18, 2009 I'm talking about the "blow with a hammer" advice. Using a clamp or drill press is a recipe for disaster too. As a matter of fact, if you can't press them in firmly with your bare fingers I would avoid any tools.Especially if the tuners are 6 in a line. You'll split that wood for sho. I can say with absolute 100% certainty from experience that this is simply not true, but if it makes you feel better, go ahead and keep saying it. Factories use a press for this very purpose. Also, A dead blow hammer with a hard wood dowel and proper support below works well too. Edit: Of course, with the obvious exception that your bushings are not the appropriate size for the hole. I find that most bushings need a bit more than finger strength to get installed (hence the press) on an appropriately sized hole, but it's never a gigantic force needed. Now if we are talking about installing bushings that are too big, then I'll agree with guitarcapo 100% here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar_stringer Posted April 18, 2009 Members Share Posted April 18, 2009 I'm talking about the "blow with a hammer" advice. Using a clamp or drill press is a recipe for disaster too. As a matter of fact, if you can't press them in firmly with your bare fingers I would avoid any tools. Especially if the tuners are 6 in a line. You'll split that wood for sho. Capo, again you don't know what you're talking about. They're supposed to be an interference fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Belva Posted April 18, 2009 Members Share Posted April 18, 2009 They could be the oversize bushings used to fit old style tuners in newer/larger tuner holes. If so, force will split your wood. And that sounds painful! If they won't even start in the holes, STOP! I prefer a slight resistance. Thumb pressure only. Use a bit of super glue & call it a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Verence Posted April 18, 2009 Author Members Share Posted April 18, 2009 Thanks guys, but I'm taking the advice of _pete_ and atrox on this one. I'll be a bit scared, but I trust Warmoth (the neck) and Fender (the tuners) enough to chance it. Both products say 11/32 on them, so.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zacman0126 Posted April 18, 2009 Members Share Posted April 18, 2009 I'm talking about the "blow with a hammer" advice. Using a clamp or drill press is a recipe for disaster too. As a matter of fact, if you can't press them in firmly with your bare fingers I would avoid any tools. Especially if the tuners are 6 in a line. You'll split that wood for sho. I will do no such thing you foul mouthed hooligan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members atrox Posted April 18, 2009 Members Share Posted April 18, 2009 Thanks guys, but I'm taking the advice of _pete_ and atrox on this one.I'll be a bit scared, but I trust Warmoth (the neck) and Fender (the tuners) enough to chance it.Both products say 11/32 on them, so.... It's not a chance you are taking man, they are designed this way. _Pete_ and I have done more than a just a few of these. If they go in with thumb pressure, then sweet, but I have yet to see that happen. They are designed to be installed with some force with a press. If they go in too easy, then they can become loose over time. It doesn't take much (though it may be a tad more work with a C-clamp). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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