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Custom Slotting Bridge Pins
Bridge Pin Slotter
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i-4563 Updated 07/04
Slotted bridge pins
A slot in a bridge pin makes room for the guitar string while the pin holds it tight. It eliminates the need for a deep notch to be cut into the bridge to accommodate the string. The pin can be slotted deeply enough to accomodate the entire string, or just half the string, working in tandem with a shallow notch in the bridge.
The Bridge Pin Slotter lets you make very accurate custom slots in bridge pins. You can even make pins with different-sized slots for each of the string diameters from treble to bass.
Setup
Clamp the Bridge Pin Slotter to your drill press table and center it under the drill chuck. Center the cutter bit in the pin-holding slot. The sliding block holds the bridge pin and moves it into the cutter. The block accepts bridge pins with either a 3- or 5-degree taper. The 3-degree taper fits Gibson and Gurian pins, and the 5-degree fits Martin and many vintage guitars. Use the thumbwheel stop to limit the travel of the sliding block, preventing the bit from cutting into the bridge pin head.
Operation
The recommended cutter bit is double-ended, with 3/64" and 5/64" cutters. The 5/64" cuts an average-size slot and can be used for all six pins, or you can start with the 3/64" cutter on the treble strings and graduate to the 5/64" cutter as you reach the wound strings. By turning the bridge pin slightly to the side and making a second cut, you can create even larger slots.
Take small, shallow cuts using a reasonably fast speed. After the first couple of passes, you can run the carriage back and forth to smooth the entire slot.
You can customize the pins by creating a small slot for the unwound treble strings, and enlarge the slots as you progress toward the bass side. Save time through mass production:run all six pins through at the first depth setting, then set the treble-E pin aside. Next, run the remaining five through at the B-string setting and set the B-string pin aside. Continue in this fashion until you reach the bass-E pin.
Keep the pins in order! As each pin is done, file notches from 1 to 6 on the back of the pins so they will always be used in the correct bridge pin hole.
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Bridge Pin Slotter
Acoustic Guitar Bridge Pins & Endpins
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