Customizing tuning machines

I really like the economy tuners from CB Gitty but was wondering if anyone has tried changing the white plastic keys to something else, like wood maybe , or stone etc. I know they are not expensive but I don't want to just ruin one if I can help it. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

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Permalink Reply by DeltaglowBoy on September 16, 2012 at 5:32am

You can heat the plastic with a heat gun or hair dryer and remove it. Then use whatever material you want ... drill an appropriate sized hole and a bit of epoxy or other suitable glue. Additionally, dip the plastic (not necessary to remove, but lightly sand) in a stain and when dry apply several coats of poly. I've done a number this way turning white plastic into stained wood look. Note the stain does take awhile to dry as it really is just sitting on the plastic but with a little patience ... it will dry and then poly coat.

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Permalink Reply by Suspect Device on September 16, 2012 at 7:52am

Been thinking about this too. Thanks, Deltaglowboy. That is some good info!

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Permalink Reply by David L. on September 16, 2012 at 8:11am

There was a thread discussing this a while back on the Handmade Music Clubhouse - some great ideas.

http://handmademusic.ning.com/forum/topics/customize-them-tuner-knobs

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Permalink Reply by Randy S. Bretz on September 16, 2012 at 10:57am

I replaced the metal knobs with carved bone ones

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Permalink Reply by Randy S. Bretz on September 16, 2012 at 10:59am

3 on a plate....carved bone replacements

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Permalink Reply by Randy S. Bretz on September 16, 2012 at 11:09am

Bone laminated to ebony on an open geared tuner

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on September 17, 2012 at 11:41pm

Great, thanks to all for the helpful info. Randy, wow, those modded tuners you posted are awesome. Lots of other great ideas on the link to the clubhouse as well. Just ordered some more tuners so I can try my hand at customizing them.

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Permalink Reply by Penny Nelson on April 9, 2013 at 7:53pm

I know I'm late in on this discussion but I also changed my Tuner knobs on Ruff n Fluff. I used beads made out of fimo and glued them on with a supa glue like product that works metal to metal. They have been on for over a year now and work fine.

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Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on April 10, 2013 at 3:39am

I took the cheap frugal way out. Wanted something more subdued than the white plastic on this build so I scuff sanded them and grabbed an old reliable Sharpie marker pen.