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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on July 17, 2015 at 2:56am

cut the  screw   shorter  ,  it  wont  need  a  point  if  you  have already  channeled  it  in  .   flush  the   drill   bit hole  .  fill  in  the   drill  bit  hole  with  filler  .  or  cover  it  in    with  the tuner base .

 call  it a  "sustain  pin"  ;-)

sometimes  you  can    reverse the drill  sloooowly  and  use  the  broken  end  to  catch  on the   bit  ,,   twisting it  out  enough   to  grab it  with  vice grips  to  twist out  . 

 

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Permalink Reply by Goldsmithexile on July 17, 2015 at 3:13am

That is awkward....especially when the job was going so well.....I bet it was the last one to do as well??

I'd be inclined to use a small plug cutter to cut an area around the snapped off bit, pull out the wood plug with the metal still inside it, then insert a plug repair using matching timber, with matching grain pattern, use a sharp block plane and scraper to finish the surface, and then refit the tuner as usual.

For to start tiny screws I'd be more inclined to use a fine sharp bradawl, or if you must use a very small bit, try a hand drill (I use an exacto type screw collet aluminum handle with a 1 mm bit, and just rotate it by hand.

Hope it works out for you mate!

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Permalink Reply by JL on July 20, 2015 at 11:20pm

like

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Permalink Reply by Bama Hound on July 17, 2015 at 3:56am

One thing you might want to look at is how it got broken. If you chuck as much as possible of those little guys(1/!6") (3/32"), only exposing what you need to use it will cut down on breakin'. I am not getting on your case, I learned this from breaking off drill bits(:-0), Now your problem: First take 10 slow, deep breaths. Now,Mask the area around the bit with masking tape. Take a small bit and drill a hole parallel to the broken one.Do this where the tuner will cover the gouge. Take a small brad and holding it in a set of needle nose and get down beside the broken bit. Try to lever it out. Try to catch the point of the brad on one of the flutes of the broken bit. After you get it out apply filler, sand lightly flush. Remove masking tape and you are good to go.

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Permalink Reply by JL on July 20, 2015 at 11:21pm

like

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Permalink Reply by doggylv . on July 17, 2015 at 4:46am

Guys, you are the best....GOT IT!!!! I've got to quit being so impatient and bearing down on that drill.

Thanks for all of your help.

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Permalink Reply by Bama Hound on July 18, 2015 at 4:48am

Glad it worked out for you. We have all had things like this happen Really makes you sick on your first.. You will get to a point where you can make a mistake and cover it by making it look like you meant it to be that way. Have fun and keep 'em comin'.

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Permalink Reply by Thumper on July 19, 2015 at 10:12am

I like your advice Bama, I learned long ago in jewelry, "Do it once, it's a mistake, do it twice and it's a design". Made a lot of saves that way back in the 70's when I was a fledgling silversmith.

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