slot head tuner install

[Dave Bagwill]

How do you guys drill holes for your slot head tuners? Got pix of jigs etc?

[Dan Pennington]

Here's a jig and process I adapted from uke maker Pete Howlett's youtube video.
The three dowels are press fit in the holes.



The Martin shaped peg head fits this way.



Grip the side dowels and the peg head in your vise. Rout the slot with a plunge router and a collar.



Tap the dowels through to the other side.



Again clamp the dowels and peg head into your vise. And rout the other slot.



Produces balanced slots.

[Dave Bagwill]

That's straightforward and repeatable. Thanks Dan.

Do you also have a fixture for drilling the tuner holes? Drill press/power drill or...?



edit: just found the attached pic on the web - how does it look to you guys?

[Dan Pennington]

I use this dowel jig from StewMac. And a hand drill.
And I forgot to mention and emphasize: DRILL THE TUNER HOLES BEFORE YOU ROUT THE SLOTS!!
Or you'll blow out wood on the inside of the slots - difficult to repair.

[Dave Bagwill]

In this case the slots were pre-drilled, so I will take precautions with an eye to tear-out. In the past I've build various little ad-hoc jigs to get the forstner bit lined up, but I need something better for my students to use.
Hoping to avoid another expense, though. The jig I posted above would help with tear-out.



Anybody else want to share a method?

[ken cierp]

Here's my fixture -- drill bushings, spacer and back up board

[Dave Bagwill]

And the bushings are just a HF type of item?