Nuts - Posted - 03/09/2010:  14:51:03

Fellow BHO member Rudy responded to a thread, a while back, about installing Pegheads geared violin style tuning pegs. He sited a posting on the topic that I had submitted over at the MIMF Forum. Randy (Rudy) was smart enough to save the post to his computer. The MIMF is about 2 years behind on archiving expired posts, it may never be added to their library. I did not save the thread but had found out that Randy did. I contacted Randy and he was gracious enough to email the thread he had saved.

Thanks Randy!

So, I thought I would share this with the BHO community, my method for installing the tuners.

First let me say that I have encountered Pegheads with two different diameter string posts. I much prefer the larger diameter string posts, they are a bit taller too. The fatter post is a plus when using plastic strings, they wind the stretch up faster. Brian Burns sells them through his website and he checks all of them for smoothness, removes the casting marks and buffs them.

The instructions have you do a stepped drilling, size of bits vary depending on the peg choices. This is problematic because of variations in head stock thickness or tapered headstocks.

I use reamers to do the job. It would be wonderful if the Pegheads folks would develop a single reamer designed with two angles for their tuners, I would be first in line to get one. Such a tool has not yet been made available so I make due with two and five degree reamers.

If you are starting from scratch and don’t already have holes drilled through the head stock you will first need to drill some that will be smaller than the end size hole but big enough to get the two degree reamer started. Drill press recommended for this! Start with a two degree reamed hole all the way through, followed by a 5 degree reamer from the back, chopped short for standard 5th string banjo tuners. This gives a real nice fit in the face of the headstock but can leave just a bit of a gap around the peg from the rear. The threads hold the peg fast and the slight gap is cosmetic only. The 5th string peg requires a drilled hole only, the diameter of the end of the peg you choose.

Here is a link to Brian's web page. He would probably send you a PDF file of the installation instructions for the drilled method. He has been very pleasant to deal with and interested in his patron's success.

http://www.lessonsinlutherie.com/ma...page_01.html

Here are some pictures of an 1890's Rettburg and Lange banjo getting a set of Peg Heads installed.

The first reamer determines the fit at the face of the headstock. Go slow and check frequently.


Check the fit like this.


The two degree ream is what will hold the threads. The 5 degree gets the tapered body deeper into the head stock until the cylinder adjacent to the string post fits flush. Be careful to stay perpendicular to the two degree hole or you will create an out of round hole at the rear. It won't ruin the job but it will not appear as tidy when done, be careful with this step! Do this a little at a time and check often.


This the fit that you are after when installed and completely tightened.


Here is a shot of the finished rear. You can see the slight gap around the tapered peg. Not bad and cosmetic only.


5th string front.


5th string rear.


There are right and left threads that hold the tuners in the wood. The string pull wants to tighten the threads when installed properly. A little CA is OK, used sparingly, if you can't quit get enough bite.

If the 5th string tuner hole is too large then you'll need to plug it and start over. Unfortunately, most right angle, taper fit 5th string tuners leave too large of a hole and for now obvious reasons require a bit of work to retrofit.

I love the look of these tuners and they work quite well, I hope this is useful information.

Edited by - Nuts on 03/10/2010 08:33:41

Nuts - Posted - 03/09/2010:  15:02:36

I don't know why the pictures are not larger in the post.

Oh well, they are posted in the pictures in my home page.

LeeBanjos - Posted - 03/09/2010:  15:26:15

This was somewhat of an issue for me when I started with the Pegheds tuners but I now have it worked out very nicely.

This reamer fits perfectly on the 8mm pegs.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/...=46511465303

I use a "letter" size drill bit for the 5th string. I think it is an "N" size and I don't ream this hole. Perfect fit as well.

I have installed hundreds of pegs this way and it works great for me.


Chuck Lee

Nuts - Posted - 03/09/2010:  15:59:14

Chuck,

The 5 degree in my picture is the same General brand reamer in your link, cut for right angle 5th string tuner installs. The flutes on these, at least the ones I have personally seen (and used) from the hardware store never seem to be cut properly and are not sharp. I have been too chicken to use them through old headstock veneers. Are you finding sharp ones or regrinding them?

The two degree reamer ( a sharp one ) first, let's me get a tight screw fit while at the same time getting the top of the peg body flush with the surface of the headstock veneer as in the 4th picture. Do you set them flush?

Yep, drilled hole at the 5th string peg, no reamer.

Edited by - Nuts on 03/09/2010 16:00:52

Delfield - Posted - 03/09/2010:  16:00:29

Thanks for this post.

Chuck, can you verify that letter bit size. If it works perfectly I'd love to get one of those bits.

Thanks,

Jeff

rudy - Posted - 03/10/2010:  05:06:48

Paul,

Thanks for posting this! Realizing the vaporic nature of the web has made me develop the habit of archiving whatever I think is really important. Your discussion certainly fit that catagory.

If you need help on posting photos I've got a tutorial in inserting images on MY home page.
The hangout stores your photos in not 1, not 2, but 3 (!) sizes, so your insertion needs to referance to the correct size on the hangout server.
http://www.banjohangout.org/myhango...15&albumid=0

Randy

Nuts - Posted - 03/10/2010:  08:46:06

quote:

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If you need help on posting photos I've got a tutorial in inserting images on MY home page

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LeeBanjos - Posted - 03/10/2010:  15:19:13

quote:

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Originally posted by Nuts

Chuck,

The 5 degree in my picture is the same General brand reamer in your link, cut for right angle 5th string tuner installs. The flutes on these, at least the ones I have personally seen (and used) from the hardware store never seem to be cut properly and are not sharp. I have been too chicken to use them through old headstock veneers. Are you finding sharp ones or regrinding them?

The two degree reamer ( a sharp one ) first, let's me get a tight screw fit while at the same time getting the top of the peg body flush with the surface of the headstock veneer as in the 4th picture. Do you set them flush?

Yep, drilled hole at the 5th string peg, no reamer.

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LeeBanjos - Posted - 03/10/2010:  15:20:09

quote:

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Originally posted by Delfield

Thanks for this post.

Chuck, can you verify that letter bit size. If it works perfectly I'd love to get one of those bits.

Thanks,

Jeff

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Edited by - LeeBanjos on 03/11/2010 06:40:14

rudy - Posted - 03/10/2010:  19:24:04

Paul,
Right clicking the image will first brinmg up the menu list where you select the "properties" dialog box as shown here at the bottom of the list. At least that's what happens for PC. YMMV on a Mac.

RBuddy - Posted - 03/11/2010:  07:46:31

Here is something I posted to my home page a couple months back about installing pegheds.

Just in case the simple drawing makes the process a little easier to understand.

I think I'm using the same process others here are. It's interesting we've all pretty much stumbled on to similar methods. I struggled with installation in a scrap piece of maple until I had a system that I was satisfied with. I'd recommend a practice run or two in something other than a finished peg head for anyone new to the tuners.



edit - You can get a better view of the drawing from my homepage photo albums under the Shop Pictures album if you want.

I use tapered reamers to modify a stepped hole in the peg head. Just happens that a violin peg hole reamer and a banjo fifth string peg hole reamer are about as perfect as it gets for the 8mm Peghed tuner. Another point of interest - The hardware store variety of tapered reamer that comes under the "General" brand looks identical to the StuMac reamer except StuMac shortens them to make them work for 5th pegs. So that may be a cheaper source for a useful tool, you'd just have to cut it off at about 3 17/32 long (in my case) or where the small end measures 0.34 inches at the cutter diameter. Turn it backwards in your dial caliper to find that point in the taper for the cut off.

Edited by - RBuddy on 03/11/2010 07:48:42