Electric Drill For Guitar Mods And Building Effects Pedals

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Gary1962

New member
Guys what kind of drill is best for doing mods like drilling a hole in a scratchplate for a mini switch or the like on a strat or putting a hole in the metal control plate in a tele for a mini switch? Also drilling holes in metal enclosures when i'm building effects which is something i'm getting into.

I had a drill a while back but gave it to a relative so i'll be getting another one in the future. Don't want to spend a lot of dough on it just for the odd mod here or there. Just something that'll do the job with no fuss.

Also what's the difference between a hammer drill and just an ordinary one. They say the hammer also adds in little taps as it rotates while the ordinary one doesn't.

Anyway i went on eBay to see what they had and they were virtually all hammer drills!

What do you guys use?
 
Re: Electric Drill For Guitar Mods And Building Effects Pedals

a hammer drill is for masonry, you dont need one for guitar work

If you want precision and accuracy i would recommend you get a drill press and not a hand drill.
 
Re: Electric Drill For Guitar Mods And Building Effects Pedals

A drill press is really the only correct answer.

All kinds of people attempt modifications with varying degrees of success using hand drills - I've done it myself - but you're taking a big risk every time.
 
Re: Electric Drill For Guitar Mods And Building Effects Pedals

A drill press is the best tool for the job when accuracy is required.

If a drill press is out of your budget a 3/8" corded drill will suffice. Drilling metal requires a method for clamping the piece to be drilled to prevent movement and/or injury.

The type of drill bit selected and the drilling speed used should be matched to the work piece material.
 
Re: Electric Drill For Guitar Mods And Building Effects Pedals

Thanks guys. The drill press is best then. I don't have a spare place for a workshop so that is kinda out. Although looking up drill presses i see a lot of like free standing ones, smaller looking. I take it these would still need to be bolted to a bench for stability? You couldn't use these things just as they come. Here's one like what i'm talking about below in the link.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bench-Drill-350W-Pillar-Stand-Table-Worktop-Power-5-Speed-Electric-230V-Tool-Red/252023666167?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131017132637%26meid%3Db3bf27b8d8cc432c8e52d1f1d8f625b6%26pid%3D100033%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D252023666167
 
Re: Electric Drill For Guitar Mods And Building Effects Pedals

i use 1/2" corded drill.. not ideal but if your careful ... hmm lol.. would prefer a drill press but dont have one nor do i have the space atm

I botched a drill hole when i first got it..had alot of power and it got away from me.. i havent since though...now i use the drill,dremal and a reamer in conjunction to get the best result.. only thing that really gets my heart racing is using a for Forstner bit.. so far ive been fortunate.. those bits are perfect for volume pots.. just gotta be careful and take a bit of wood at a time or you will have a bad day

in case you are not familar with a forstner bit
 
Re: Electric Drill For Guitar Mods And Building Effects Pedals

I have Craig Anderton's book "Electronic Projects For Musicians" it's about building pedals. He mentions getting a drill in there but he says just get an electric drill and shows a drawing of an ordinary electric drill. I'd prefer the drill press as well but don't have a stout workbench to bolt it to.

Yeah Brandenburg i'd never heard of those bits before. Looks lethal!!
 
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Re: Electric Drill For Guitar Mods And Building Effects Pedals

It takes minimal skill to do things accurately with a hand-held electric drill. Battery-powered is fine. You don't need the big Dewalt 24v jobby. A B&D or even a generic rechargeable 12-18v will work, it just might take a few seconds more.

Definitely get a Forstner bit for control holes. Nice and clean holes, with no drift, and the little nib on the end can be pushed into the wood or plastic to act as a pilot divot.

I would suggest some sort of vise to hold a metal enclosure, though. It's possible to do it free-hand, but also dangerous.
 
Re: Electric Drill For Guitar Mods And Building Effects Pedals

Thanks Dr. I was getting a bit put off by the idea that i definitely had to get a drill press as it's kind of out of the question at the moment. I have a vise and it's pretty good but not bolted to a bench just now. I could probably use it like that as this thing is so heavy it's not likely to move anywhere. This thing feels like a boat anchor it's so heavy!!
 
Re: Electric Drill For Guitar Mods And Building Effects Pedals

Wait til you hit it with even 3500 RPM. It'll move.

A trick I learned some years back to start a hole in a metal enclosure (was adding another jack to a volume pedal), is to start the drill in reverse and hold the bit tight against the case. It won't wobble as much as going forward, but will eat away enough to make a divot. Switch over to forward drive and punch through.

Probably not good for the bit, but they're cheap enough.


For the vise you have, get a board to bolt it onto, and some sturdy clamps, and see if you can clamp it to something, like the kitchen table, or if you're in an apartment complex with an upstairs, the railing around the balcony, like at a corner section.

Or a concrete garden/park bench. You can sit on the bench to help hold it in place, and probably get a better working angle.
 
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