Can someone reccomend the best way to drill a sperzel?

bulb · 10-28-2009, 09:27 AM

I am trying to put a .064 through on my carvin 7 string and it just wont go through, what is the best way to drill the hole safely so i can put the string on?
or should i just take it to the shop considering i just said drill and i dont actually have a drill haha
are there any household items i could use to expand the hole slightly?

jymellis · 10-28-2009, 09:29 AM

dremmel?

Spondus · 10-28-2009, 09:33 AM

had a similar problem putting a .70 on my ibanez, but I went for a slightly different solution. Rather than drilling the tuner, I undid a portion of the winding allowing it to go through

MF_Kitten · 10-28-2009, 09:34 AM

you could just unwind the part of the string that goes into the tuner, so it's just the plain steel core, like the tips of the strings usually are?

it's an easy solution if you don't want to drill.

but if you want to retain the speed of sperzels by drilling it, then obviously unscrew the locking thingy as much as possible, and find a drill bit that is just barely larger than the hole in the tuner itself. find the size that just barely fits, and then use the size right above that, i guess (you could compare the sizes too, and find the bit that is the same size as the string, by looking at the gauges).

i just let a tech/luthier drill the lowest tuner of my intrepid to accept the .74 that went in there. it worked fine, and the tuner looks just as nice as always.

come to think of it, you could get a round file that is thin in one end, and then goes just a teeny bit beyond your required thickness in the other end, and just work your way through with that.

i've only had to drill one tuner ever, and i didn't even do that myself, so...

Konfyouzd · 10-28-2009, 09:34 AM

maybe one of those circular files if you have one...?

i was hoping this thread would be the easiest way to drill the holes for the little peg on the back.

i have a set of sperzels just sitting around because i haven't figured how to drill the hole w/o ruining my headstock and i refuse to pay someone for something that i'll find out later was really easy.

darren · 10-28-2009, 09:35 AM

Call up Sperzel, and say, "Bob, could you please drill out a tuner for me? I need it to fit a .064 string. Thanks!"

HighGain510 · 10-28-2009, 09:41 AM

Resisting urge to make OT comment about Misha "drilling something" and a tiny hole...

On a serious note: Either MF's suggestion of just using the core of the string or Darren's idea to call Sperzel directly and see if they can send you one pre-drilled might be your best bet Misha.

Slamp · 10-28-2009, 10:12 AM

I have used the small round file approach with success to fit an .080 string through my tuner

xtrustisyoursx · 10-28-2009, 10:22 AM

I've really found unwinding the string to be the safest and easiest bet.

dudeskin · 10-28-2009, 10:59 AM

blowtourch it

or give the lot to me

Demeyes · 10-28-2009, 11:12 AM

When I needed to fit in a bigger string I used the unwinding method. It worked out great for me but if you change strings often it could be a bit of a pain to do all the time.

bulb · 10-28-2009, 12:55 PM

yeah on tour we change every 2-3 shows, so i really need to drill it
im not a very handy guy so i dont have a round file, could i get that from a regular hardware store? i might do that or just take it to a shop tomorrow and see if they would do it!

Lern2swim · 10-28-2009, 04:20 PM

Depending on what type of hardware store, you're probably unlikely to find a decent selection of files. Home Depot and Lowe's, for example, both let me down when I needed a .074 gauge file for my Intrepid's nut.

I'd like to drill out my F# tuner. It's a huge pain to have to unwind it. But I'm really hesitant to do it myself.

Elysian · 10-28-2009, 04:23 PM

It's pretty easy Misha. Unscrew the locking button thing(on the backside of the tuner) all the way, it'll come off, there is a metal shaft that runs up through the tuner, inside of the actual post, remove that(it should just fall out or slide out). Then drill it. Take the tuner out for best results. I wouldn't go any further than .080 for structural integrity.

Lern2swim · 10-28-2009, 04:26 PM

Shouldn't the openings be filed a bit so there's no sharp edges hitting the string?

Elysian · 10-28-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lern2swim

Shouldn't the openings be filed a bit so there's no sharp edges hitting the string?

Sure.

DaveCarter · 10-28-2009, 04:51 PM

I had to drill out a Sperzel for a 0.64 recently, I actually did it by hand instead of using a drill. Just find the right size drill bit (next size up from the one that fits through) and slowly twist it back n forward in the hole until its through. If the strings still wont fit, try the next size up until the string does fit. Worked a trick for me

Bevo · 10-29-2009, 06:58 AM

Dave, thats a great idea if the metal is that soft.

Most drill bits come with a case to fit the bits, put the string into the hole to check size.

HighGain510 · 10-29-2009, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulb

yeah on tour we change every 2-3 shows, so i really need to drill it
im not a very handy guy so i dont have a round file, could i get that from a regular hardware store? i might do that or just take it to a shop tomorrow and see if they would do it!

Misha - Call up Greg @ Metro Guitars (he's in Arlington so he's not far from you) and ask him if he can help you out. His prices are very reasonable and he's a very cool guy with quick turnaround, tell him you're my buddy and he'll take care of you.

Chuck's might do it too but Greg is closer and I'd vouch for his work any day of the week.

Sepultorture · 10-29-2009, 10:25 AM

get a friends drill, get the bit you need size wise, bring the clamp ping inside as far down as it will go, drill, try the string , repeat until it goes thru, i did that to get a .60 in there and it worked great.

although I'm now at .58's

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10-28-2009, 09:27 AM	#1
bulb Join Date: May 2006 Location: Washington DC Posts: 4,384 Thanked: 232 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Can someone reccomend the best way to drill a sperzel? I am trying to put a .064 through on my carvin 7 string and it just wont go through, what is the best way to drill the hole safely so i can put the string on? or should i just take it to the shop considering i just said drill and i dont actually have a drill haha are there any household items i could use to expand the hole slightly? Perceive beyond the seam. www.soundcloud.com/iambulb www.myspace.com/iambulb www.myspace.com/periphery www.soundclick.com/bulb

10-28-2009, 09:34 AM	#4
MF_Kitten Fully Ramblomatic Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Stavanger, Norway Posts: 9,044 Thanked: 299 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	you could just unwind the part of the string that goes into the tuner, so it's just the plain steel core, like the tips of the strings usually are? it's an easy solution if you don't want to drill. but if you want to retain the speed of sperzels by drilling it, then obviously unscrew the locking thingy as much as possible, and find a drill bit that is just barely larger than the hole in the tuner itself. find the size that just barely fits, and then use the size right above that, i guess (you could compare the sizes too, and find the bit that is the same size as the string, by looking at the gauges). i just let a tech/luthier drill the lowest tuner of my intrepid to accept the .74 that went in there. it worked fine, and the tuner looks just as nice as always. come to think of it, you could get a round file that is thin in one end, and then goes just a teeny bit beyond your required thickness in the other end, and just work your way through with that. i've only had to drill one tuner ever, and i didn't even do that myself, so... -------------------------------------- What will metal be doing in ten years? What ever Meshuggah will be doing in two. -Anthony

10-28-2009, 09:34 AM	#5
Konfyouzd Dread-I Master Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mars Posts: 15,665 Thanked: 191 Feedback Score: 4 reviews	maybe one of those circular files if you have one...? i was hoping this thread would be the easiest way to drill the holes for the little peg on the back. i have a set of sperzels just sitting around because i haven't figured how to drill the hole w/o ruining my headstock and i refuse to pay someone for something that i'll find out later was really easy. "... and on either side of the river was the tree of life. The leaves of this tree were for the healing of nations." "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle and the herb for the service of man." "Lifes too short to hate Floyd Roses."

10-28-2009, 09:35 AM	#6
darren Decibel Guitars Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Greater Toronto Area, Canada Posts: 11,493 Thanked: 76 Feedback Score: 9 reviews	Call up Sperzel, and say, "Bob, could you please drill out a tuner for me? I need it to fit a .064 string. Thanks!" web \| facebook \| twitter

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10-28-2009, 09:29 AM	#2
jymellis Talk To DeWalt Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: sinsi ohio Posts: 9,195 Thanked: 88 Feedback Score: 5 reviews	dremmel?

10-28-2009, 09:33 AM	#3
Spondus SS.org Regular Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: S Wales/Oxford UK Posts: 650 Thanked: 13 Feedback Score: 4 reviews	had a similar problem putting a .70 on my ibanez, but I went for a slightly different solution. Rather than drilling the tuner, I undid a portion of the winding allowing it to go through

10-28-2009, 09:41 AM	#7
HighGain510 Cold As Ice Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 12,531 Thanked: 228 Feedback Score: 32 reviews	Resisting urge to make OT comment about Misha "drilling something" and a tiny hole... On a serious note: Either MF's suggestion of just using the core of the string or Darren's idea to call Sperzel directly and see if they can send you one pre-drilled might be your best bet Misha.

10-28-2009, 10:12 AM	#8
Slamp ss.org Regular Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: norway Posts: 152 Thanked: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I have used the small round file approach with success to fit an .080 string through my tuner

10-28-2009, 10:22 AM	#9
xtrustisyoursx SS Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: oklahoma city, OK Posts: 1,681 Thanked: 14 Feedback Score: 4 reviews	I've really found unwinding the string to be the safest and easiest bet.

10-28-2009, 10:59 AM	#10
dudeskin SS.org Regular Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: nottingham Posts: 563 Thanked: 11 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	blowtourch it or give the lot to me

10-28-2009, 11:12 AM	#11
Demeyes SS.org Regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 1,476 Thanked: 11 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	When I needed to fit in a bigger string I used the unwinding method. It worked out great for me but if you change strings often it could be a bit of a pain to do all the time. My Band Shardborne on Soundcloud Free E.P on bandcamp http://shardborne.bandcamp.com/

10-28-2009, 12:55 PM	#12
bulb Join Date: May 2006 Location: Washington DC Posts: 4,384 Thanked: 232 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	yeah on tour we change every 2-3 shows, so i really need to drill it im not a very handy guy so i dont have a round file, could i get that from a regular hardware store? i might do that or just take it to a shop tomorrow and see if they would do it! Perceive beyond the seam. www.soundcloud.com/iambulb www.myspace.com/iambulb www.myspace.com/periphery www.soundclick.com/bulb

10-28-2009, 04:20 PM	#13
Lern2swim Slurp knob gobble Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,277 Thanked: 13 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Depending on what type of hardware store, you're probably unlikely to find a decent selection of files. Home Depot and Lowe's, for example, both let me down when I needed a .074 gauge file for my Intrepid's nut. I'd like to drill out my F# tuner. It's a huge pain to have to unwind it. But I'm really hesitant to do it myself.

10-28-2009, 04:23 PM	#14
Elysian Banned Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 6,621 Thanked: 43 Feedback Score: 22 reviews	It's pretty easy Misha. Unscrew the locking button thing(on the backside of the tuner) all the way, it'll come off, there is a metal shaft that runs up through the tuner, inside of the actual post, remove that(it should just fall out or slide out). Then drill it. Take the tuner out for best results. I wouldn't go any further than .080 for structural integrity.

10-28-2009, 04:26 PM	#15
Lern2swim Slurp knob gobble Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,277 Thanked: 13 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Shouldn't the openings be filed a bit so there's no sharp edges hitting the string?

10-28-2009, 04:51 PM	#17
DaveCarter Melowiddler Join Date: May 2007 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 1,988 Thanked: 41 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I had to drill out a Sperzel for a 0.64 recently, I actually did it by hand instead of using a drill. Just find the right size drill bit (next size up from the one that fits through) and slowly twist it back n forward in the hole until its through. If the strings still wont fit, try the next size up until the string does fit. Worked a trick for me UK Guitar Teacher and Session Guitarist

10-29-2009, 06:58 AM	#18
Bevo SS.org Regular Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Canada Posts: 2,118 Thanked: 19 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Dave, thats a great idea if the metal is that soft. Most drill bits come with a case to fit the bits, put the string into the hole to check size.

10-29-2009, 10:25 AM	#20
Sepultorture Murder Machine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oshawa, ON, Canada Posts: 4,589 Thanked: 36 Feedback Score: 4 reviews	get a friends drill, get the bit you need size wise, bring the clamp ping inside as far down as it will go, drill, try the string , repeat until it goes thru, i did that to get a .60 in there and it worked great. although I'm now at .58's BEARDS: They Instantly Turn Any Man Into A Badass, It's Like Having Machine Guns On Your Face

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