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Topic: Thinking of making my own tuning nuts. |
Scott Denniston
From:
Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2021 7:38 am |
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I haven't been able to locate my size in tuning nuts (1 3/4") so I've looked around for 3/16" nylon hex rod and I may buy one, cut to length,and drill it out. The rod I've found is probably in stock in Denver. It comes in 96" lengths for about $36. I'll have to find which tiny size bit to drill for 5-40 threads. I'll only have to drill a little more than 1/2/" into the end. I'll want to make sure to cut it very square at least at the changer end. 96" makes a lot of tuning nuts. I just don't foresee any big problem with making them. Do you?
I'm sure if you had to have that one 96" rod shipped it would not be cost effective. |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 30 Jan 2021 8:03 am
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I tried a few years ago. I found it impossible, with my equipment and my know-how. With a Harbor Freight drill press (IOW not very good), I could not find a way to keep the bit drilling straight & true. It wandered enough so that it would enter dead center and exit the other side nearly outside the face of the bottom. They were jigged tightly and the rig seemed square.
I was definitely going for a full-thru hole as opposed to your 1/2" intention. |
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Marty Broussard
From:
Broussard, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2021 8:19 am
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........ same as Jon’s experience so I did what you’re thinking....get the hole started and then use a drop of oil on the rod and start turning....it should thread straight if you take your time. Good luck
_________________
RETIRED
"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin |
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2021 8:22 am
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| I use a .101" drill bit and a lathe |
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Scott Denniston
From:
Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2021 8:58 am
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| Quote: |
| I use a .101" drill bit and a lathe |
Thanks Jim. I don't have a lathe in the basement or even a drill press. I'm thinking though a little tap with a point and maybe a bit of a smaller starter hole I could drill straight for that short distance. Maybe I'll take an old one and try it from the solid end before I go buying 96" of hex.
That's encouraging Marty.
Last edited by Scott Denniston on 30 Jan 2021 9:13 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Jimmy Gibson
From:
Cornwall, England
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Posted 30 Jan 2021 9:01 am
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I have used circuit board spacers,you can get them off EBay,and can get them in different lengths,of if you can’t get the length you need you can always use spacers,,but you will need a 6m socket.
Jimmy. |
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2021 8:39 pm
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Hi Scott. The drill size for 5-40 is a #38 number size drill.
If that stock comes in 98 inch sections, Ask the supplier to cut it in 12" length for shipping, Much cheaper.
To drill a centered hole in tuning nuts, You need a lathe, Tail stock chuck and proper size bit to drill a hole in rod stock.
Forum member D. Scheindlin had the same problem a few months ago. He cut them to length and sent the blanks to me, I lathe drilled them and returned them to him.
This bit is used just to start the hole, Then Drill the hole. |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 1 Feb 2021 12:40 pm
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it's so much easier to just buy them from Michael Yahl - he has all the different sizes too !!! 
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 1 Feb 2021 4:46 pm
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If you have neither a lathe nor a drill press, you can still do it by putting the hex stock in a hand drill and the drill bit in a vice.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Scott Denniston
From:
Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA
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Posted 1 Feb 2021 5:03 pm
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Paddy I detect a note of sarcasm. I did talk to Michael. He had a run on them and said he might have my size(1 3/4") in a few months.
Ian that's a great idea. Something to try. I don't know if I could center it too well that way though. I think when I get the hex I'll try a few things before sending them out to be drilled. |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 1 Feb 2021 5:13 pm
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Paddy is a good guy. I doubt seriously he is doing anything buy trying to be helpful.
FWIW, I have experience trying to drill these things freehand and they nearly always wind up out of center especially of the length you require.
Pardon the interruption. I have no dog in the hunt and I wish you the best of luck getting them drilled. |
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Scott Denniston
From:
Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA
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Posted 1 Feb 2021 5:36 pm
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| Jerry, I know he's a good guy. I didn't think he was pullin my tail or anything. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 8:36 am
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You really need a lathe to do a good job.
I drilled out some brass hex stock for a ZB rebuild and it is almost impossible to get the hole straight.
I was using a drill press and a vice. 
Erv |
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Scott Denniston
From:
Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 9:03 am
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| Somebody here with a lathe ought to do a bunch of them in different lengths. A little baggie of eight is easily worth 10 or 12 bucks. I sure wouldn't buy a lathe just for that. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 10:56 am
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I was over-simplifying. I drill a hole through a 1" thick piece of wood using the drill I shall use for the hole in the tuner nut. Then I drill halfway through with a larger drill that fits the hex stock.
Then I put the drill in the vice and use the piece of wood as a guide to get things started. After that it self-centres.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 10:58 am
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| Bobby indicated he had the equipment and has experience with this, perhaps he would be willing to do it for you? |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 11:00 am
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And then I give Michael Yahl a call.
Erv |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 12:47 pm
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
And then I give Michael Yahl a call.
Erv |
Michael shows that he has the size you're looking for. A whole lot easier than trying to do it with hand tools (which has never worked out for me).
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 1:30 pm
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Richard,
I agree!!
Erv |
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Ron Hogan
From:
Nashville, TN, usa
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 2:20 pm
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Here's where you can get the stock. I did use and drill it, but was a challenge. I took a soldering iron to start the pilot hole. Still a challenge.
CLICK HERE
Ron |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 3:46 pm
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| Scott says he need 1 3/4" nuts. Michael only shows 1 1/2" when you hit the select button. That's for the smaller rod sizes. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 4:19 pm
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Right you are. My crappy Samsung tablet wouldn't drop the selection box down. He does mention in the text that he does them in 1-3/4" for the #5 threads. I guess he is out of them at the moment.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Scott Denniston
From:
Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 4:38 pm
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Yeah he's out of them and some other stuff. He told me he's pretty far behind and might not get to them for a few months he's so backed up. I'd sure check there first for anything like that you need. He is sending me some rods. A forum member that has made tuning nuts successfully with a drill press has offered to make me some like he's done for himself. He has an interesting way of centering them. I wouldn't volunteer to say who this is. He hasn't posted on this thread and he's not really in that business & probably wouldn't want to be swamped with orders.
Here's how he centered his: He put the bit upside down in the drill. Lowered it to the vise and secured it in the vise. Then raised the drill and put the hex in the drill. Then spun the hex onto the drill bit in the vise and it was centered. |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 4:52 pm
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Yes Richard. The descriptions do indicate 1 3/4 but the selection box doesn't show them.
I've noticed this on several of his parts. You have to go to the selection box to see if something is in or out of stock. Not a criticism, merely an observation.
Scott, that's great. Glad to hear you are getting the tuners you need.
I did a lot of web searching recently and several years back and I'm surprised to find that I can find round nylon, delrin, acetal rod or stand offs drilled for screw sizes but only solid rod in hex stock? |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 4:56 pm
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I don't go to as much trouble as Scott decribes. My vice has a vertical groove in which I clamp the drill and I centre the work freehand by eyeing it from two directions and then by feel. I haven't made many tuning nuts but I have made a lot of spacers from cylindrical Delrin which is a similar task.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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