Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on February 3, 2015 at 8:01am

Michael's will likely carry small stainless steel grommet eyelet kits. I know Wally World (Walmart) has them in the craft/sewing section. Those have two parts that are hammered together with an included tool. I've used the one part of the pair that has a long internal neck.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on February 3, 2015 at 8:09am

Three easy options:

1) Pop rivets. Just remove the nail, and presto! Instant ferrule. I have used these successfully, most recently when modding my Wichita Sam #268 Ashton after removing the metal bar bridge to lower the action. Available at both HD and Lowe's, typically in packs of 50 or 100, sometimes with a pop rivet tool. I usually install two for each string hole, one in the bottom and one in the top, to prevent the ball end on the string from cutting into the wood on the backside, and to prevent the string itself cutting into the wood on the topside where it bends before traveling over the bridge / saddle.
2) Brass screw inserts. They have a thread along the outside, and a slot up top to install with a screwdriver. I have a set of these that I installed on my SwampWitch. Pick now installs pop rivet ferrules on all his Witches. Also available at HD and Lowe's, but you really have to dig for them.
3) Bicycle spoke nipples. You'll normally have to buy the spokes as well (cheap thick fretwire!), but some shops will sell you the nipples alone in bags of 25, 50 or even 100, or you can get 'em online.

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Permalink Reply by JL on February 3, 2015 at 8:13am

Pop-rivets -> Like

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Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on February 4, 2015 at 5:15pm

Ron=Right... I use short 1/8" pop rivets all the time... mostly aluminum ones, but I have some steel.. bottom line:  cheap and easy.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on February 3, 2015 at 1:42pm

Be aware that the brass screw inserts are pretty soft. You can twist and break off one edge of the slot if you don't have the hole sized just right. Ask me how I know.

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Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on February 7, 2015 at 9:31pm

pop rivets are the way to go, make sure you get the long 1/2 inch ones, the nails can be recycled and used as ordinary nails too :-)

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Permalink Reply by Mike on February 3, 2015 at 9:46am

Excellent thank you guys! I need to stop at HD tomorrow anyway so will try the pop rivets. Is there a particular size to get? Thanks again!

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on February 3, 2015 at 1:40pm

I try to get the smallest size available. Just make sure that whichever the thickest string you decide to use will go through it.

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Permalink Reply by Mike on February 3, 2015 at 2:01pm

Excellent, thx. I will bring the strings with me to make sure it fits.

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Permalink Reply by George Mesheau on February 3, 2015 at 11:49am

Personally I use the pop rivets. work great

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on February 3, 2015 at 1:57pm

Spoke nipples work great and should be found at any bike shop.

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Permalink Reply by Mike on February 3, 2015 at 2:03pm

Great thx. May try this too. There is a bike shop near me as well. I figure I can try different methods on different builds to see what I like.

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