I took out the existing inserts using a similar method to that many have already used on this site. I used some simple nylon washers that I bought when I picked up the 5/16" by 24 bolts. I could only find 1 1/4" bolts but they worked fine. I used one nylon washer at a time, adding them as the insert came out. I protected the guitar surface with some thick felt my wife had laying around.
Here is the sequence:
1 Protective Felt 640 by 53Les Paul, on Flickr
2 Ready to Start by 53Les Paul, on Flickr
3 Turning the Crank by 53Les Paul, on Flickr
4 All three nylon spacers by 53Les Paul, on Flickr
5 Success by 53Les Paul, on Flickr
Now the questions:
1) The original inserts were inset about .169 inches from the guitar surface. This seems like a bit too much to me. Is that typical or you guys leaving less. I was thinking .1 inch seemed about right.
7 Looks Too Deep To Me by 53Les Paul, on Flickr
2) I have been told to use a 1/2" bit to extend the holes, but it appears to me that the original holes were 31/64". A half inch bit will ream out the edges of the original holes and does not seem optimum. I tried both sizes on a sample chunk of wood, and the 31/64" holes clearly show a better bite on the wood. Granted, both seems to go in snugly so it appears either would work. My sample was pine though so it may be significantly more difficult to press the into the guitar.
8 Sample Hole Sizes Labeled by 53Les Paul, on Flickr
3) What are you using to press the new inserts into the guitar? I drove them in my sample with a big wooden hammer. I definitely don't want to do that to my guitar. I did a second set by screwing a bolt into the insert, then pressing it down with my drill press using an upside down bolt in the press. That went pretty smoothly. I have an arbor press but it's not nearly big enough.
4) Are you doing anything to the hole to prep it from the damage done by the original insert as it leaned?
Here is the sequence:
1 Protective Felt 640 by 53Les Paul, on Flickr
2 Ready to Start by 53Les Paul, on Flickr
3 Turning the Crank by 53Les Paul, on Flickr
4 All three nylon spacers by 53Les Paul, on Flickr
5 Success by 53Les Paul, on Flickr
Now the questions:
1) The original inserts were inset about .169 inches from the guitar surface. This seems like a bit too much to me. Is that typical or you guys leaving less. I was thinking .1 inch seemed about right.
7 Looks Too Deep To Me by 53Les Paul, on Flickr
2) I have been told to use a 1/2" bit to extend the holes, but it appears to me that the original holes were 31/64". A half inch bit will ream out the edges of the original holes and does not seem optimum. I tried both sizes on a sample chunk of wood, and the 31/64" holes clearly show a better bite on the wood. Granted, both seems to go in snugly so it appears either would work. My sample was pine though so it may be significantly more difficult to press the into the guitar.
8 Sample Hole Sizes Labeled by 53Les Paul, on Flickr
3) What are you using to press the new inserts into the guitar? I drove them in my sample with a big wooden hammer. I definitely don't want to do that to my guitar. I did a second set by screwing a bolt into the insert, then pressing it down with my drill press using an upside down bolt in the press. That went pretty smoothly. I have an arbor press but it's not nearly big enough.
4) Are you doing anything to the hole to prep it from the damage done by the original insert as it leaned?
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