Drilling Holes w/o Chipping Paint

Most electric guitar replacement bodies come without pre-drilled holes for mounting the pickguard, tremolo cover and other trim. Unfortunately when you encounter a finish that wants to chip easily the simple task of drilling a few holes may require more caution.

We can also encounter a problem when an electric guitar body is re-finished and the holes fill with paint.

A new Fender Stratocaster body prior to drilling screw holes.

This articles describes one way that I approach drilling holes in finishes which chip easily.

Place Trim Parts In Position


I start by taping the pickguard and trim pieces in the correct position so I can mark the layout of the mounting screw holes.

It is important to properly center and position our trim pieces to avoid drilling holes too close to the edge of the tremolo or routed cavity. Placing a drilled hole too close to the edge results in a thin wall around the screw hole which can cause it to fail. It is not uncommon for me to find factory screw holes that were placed so close to the edge of a cavity that the screw hole has cracked.

Mark The Spot

I use a sharp awl to make a small impression in the finish to mark the position of the screw holes. Drill bits have a tendency to walk and this impression serves as a "fence" to keep the drill bit centered.

Now I drill a small pilot hole that is much smaller than the hole needed for our mounting screws. This hole will keep our larger drill bit centered and give our countersink's tip a resting spot.

Using countersink to remove finish

Countersink To Prevent Chipping

Finish removed, ready for drilling

I use a countersink for the purpose of safely removing finish. The area should be only slightly larger than the diameter of the final, full size drill bit we need to use.


Cantankerous finishes can chip when the drill bit catches the edge of the finish and lifts it. Having the finish removed means our drill bit will not contact the finish when drilling the final hole.

Drilling The Final Hole

After measuring the screws I will be using I can choose the correct size bit to ensure a good fit. If in doubt, drill a test hole in a piece of scrap wood to test your fit.

Tape serves as depth gauge

Tape wrapped around the drill bit serves as a depth gauge to ensure the hole is not too shallow.

Luckily, not every finish creates a need for such overly cautious steps, but, I tend to treat them all as though it's a possibility and each instrument as though it was priceless.