Filling holes

[fender3x]

I need to fill three holes that were for a three point bass bridge in an ESB-4...

I measured the holes at 7/16", got a plug cutter, got some maple, got some dowels... only problem is the holes are slightly larger than 7/16"...and slightly smaller than 1/2." It seemed unlikely that they were 15/32"...so I went back and remeasured, and discovered that they are 12mm. The problem with that is that it is all but impossible to get a plug cutter, plugs or dowels in the USA that are 12mm. I can send to the UK for them, but that is prohibitively expensive.

Right now my best idea is to try to either try to sand down some 1/2" dowels and plugs, or to very carefully try to enlarge the holes to 1/2".

Any suggestions?

[Muzza]

You're not alone. Even in Australia you can't buy an individual 12mm plug cutter - well I couldn't find one. I ended up buying an 8 piece set of metric plug cutters and forstner bits - 8mm, 10mm, 12mm and 15mm.

This is the one I bought - https://www.carbatec.com.au/drilling...lug-cutter-set

Might be cheaper for you to just buy a 1/2" forstner bit to enlarge the hole.

[fender3x]

Thanks, Muzza, that's both what I was afraid of and good advice. I may end up enlarging the hole a little as the cheaper option. Can't see paying $90, plus shipping from Australia to make three plugs... But the difference between 12mm and 1/2" is less than 1/32"...

I haven't found a US seller where I can get a 12mm plug cutter at any price. So far, the best *price* is from the UK, and not cheap. Also found some maple plugs, but I have to buy a huge quantity from the UK or Germany and they start expensive, then add half again to double the cost for shipping.

[dingobass]

Hey Fender,
There is a Canadian company, Veritas, that make metric plug cutters.
The type of plug cutters that I recommend are the tapered variety. The tapered plugs will lock into the hole and if you match the grain the plug becomes almost invisible.

[peterh]

DB,That's who I first thought of too - unfortunately the largest metric cutter Veritas makes is only 10mm - no 12mm that I can find.

[Dedman]

crude way to make a plug....take a bit of dowel or roughly shaped but over length bit timber, drill into the end, drive in a screw part way, cut the head off and put the shaft in a drill. Rasp/sandpaper to size while it spins in the drill. Cut to length. Rough but I've used the method and it worked.

[fender3x]

That sounds like it could work. Thanks!

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[Andy40]

crude way to make a plug....take a bit of dowel or roughly shaped but over length bit timber, drill into the end, drive in a screw part way, cut the head off and put the shaft in a drill. Rasp/sandpaper to size while it spins in the drill. Cut to length. Rough but I've used the method and it worked.

I do, and have done, on a few occasions, exactly what Dedman suggests, that is shaping a piece of dowel.