Drilling Headstock

[Hippety Hop]

If my inlay overlaps where the holes are going to be, what precaution should I take not to chip the shell?

Hip?

[Kim]

Hip, I would run tape over the shell and then use a good brad point bit with a sharp spur.....slooowly

Cheers

Kim

[DarwinStrings]

Is it too late to drill the holes first then just cut any overhanging shell with your piercing saw?

Jim

[Allen]

I cut my holes first, then use a file or the copping saw, depending on how much I need to remove. If no hole exists, then Kim's advice seems best to me, though I've not tried to drill shell before.

Let us know how it works.

[Taffy Evans]

I have drilled shell. I start with a small sharp drill and build up, I also use that cutting paste on the drill that I put on my sawblade when cutting inlays. I'd also consider my Dremal and or a rat tail file. You could mark the pegholes on the peghead and finish the inlay just short of the hole outline, the washer or securing nut around the post will cover that. But I always put the hole in first and then plan the inlay.

[Hippety Hop]

Thanks fellers. I haven't routed yet, but I've cut the shell, and can see that it's going to nudge the holes, so I'll drill first and be safe.

Cheers Hip.

[kiwigeo]

Taff's suggestion is good. Start with one of those tiny modellers drill sets and work your way up.

[DarwinStrings]

Glad you hadn't already glued your Mop Hip but had you done so this is a way around it and also a very handy little tool for your Mop kit.

One of the best ways to drill Mop I have found is to buy those diamond drill bits from Lapidary supply places. You can cut any size hole in one go without fear of breaking the Mop as they are abrasive rather than cutting edge tools. They are made for cutting stone and Mop is much softer.

They call them drill bits but they are more like hole saws as you not only cut a hole but you get left with a plug. I use them for cutting "dots" out of Mop rather than buying them when I have little offcuts anyway. One downside is that they don't have a center point so they need to be used in a drill press with the work piece held firmly. On the up though they are only a few bucks each.

My smallest one cuts around a 2mm dot. The one in the pic cuts a 6mm dot.



Jim

[Kim]

Cool tool Jim, I have not come across them before but they look good. Where did you buy your from if you don't mind me asking.

Cheers

Kim

[DarwinStrings]

Don't mind at all Kim, I should have just put it in my reply anyway.

It was a company called Gemcuts Lapiday Supplies who are in Qld and NSW but you may find someone closer. Here is the URL.

http://www.gemcuts.com.au/index.htm

Jim

[Allen]

Hey Jim, on their web site, does the size of the bit refer to the size of the hole, or the size of the plug that it's going to cut. I'm going to order a selection of them, but don't want to stuff up on the sizes by too much.

[DarwinStrings]

Size of the hole they drill Allen. their plug cutting ability is coincidental.

Jim