About making new pedal rods?

Bill Moore · Post by **Bill Moore** » 22 May 2003 3:01 pm

I have a couple of pedal rods with some cosmetic issues, so I though I'd make some new ones. [My wife says I'm cheap, I prefer to be called, thrifty.] Anyway, like most guitars, these rods are 5/32" with 10-32 threads, the threads are rolled on by machine. Since I can't make the rolled threads, I thought I would get some 3/16" stainless rods, then thread them to 10-32. I got the rods, bent the ends, cut them to length, then found that the 10-32 die I had didn't seem to fit. I haven't got around to buying a new die yet, but I've noticed that there is quite a difference in weight comparing the 3/16 rods to the original rods.

Is this extra weight going to matter that much, and perhaps affect the pedal action in some way? It seems to me that the 3/16" rods have been used on some older guitars, is there a good reason not to try and use them on a more modern guitar? Thanks.

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Bill Moore...
my steel guitar web page

[This message was edited by Bill Moore on 22 May 2003 at 05:03 PM.]

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 22 May 2003 7:05 pm

You might want to check the diameter with a set of calipers to see how close to .1875 the rods are. The 5/32's are going to be around .156. So what works for me is grinding a chamfer on the end of the rod so that it will start in the die easily and once it gets started it should be fine. Be sure to use cutting oil and it's usually a good idea to use high speed steel dies instead of carbon steel dies.

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 23 May 2003 11:28 am

The 10-32 on the 3/16 rod would function fine, but they would certainly not be a perfect match to the other rods.[This message was edited by Sonny Jenkins on 23 May 2003 at 12:35 PM.]