Installing A Strat Style Jack Plate

[Razbo]

I am just checking for any tips before I drill a hole for this jack plate.

Just drill it out? Any clever tricks to use? I could make a template and rout it, I suppose. Maybe that would be better.

[Keegan]

Template+router

Trace the plate, bring in the line, cut it out, make sure the jack fits in the template, drill the holes, then use the holes to screw the template down and rout it.

[ihocky2]

Drill+Template and Router.

Use a forstner bit in the drill to remove the bulk of the material then us the router and template. Seems like it would take longer, but is actually much quicker, and is easier on the router.

[Razbo]

I did it sans drill at first. (Yet another template to add to the stack.) Then I did have to use the drill after the initial opening to make room for the jack plug to extend up into the body. (I just went in with 2 * 3/8 holes side by side, then cleaned it out.) The upper part of the hole needed to be routed quite deep.

I will have to think of some way to make an angled template and which tool(s) in which order might make a nice, neat opening. It would work with an extra long router bit (to come in on a 45 degree angle let say), but I have not seen one that long. Might be a bit tricky, though I regularly "plunge" by rocking the router over on it's edge with no trouble. Should be much the same coming in at an angle like that.

[ihocky2]

Look at the pocket on a Strat, they are fairly large and deep, there should be no need for any extra drilling or angling.

[Xanthus]

I thought I saw a template for this floating around somewhere's.....

no? maybe just me.

Did any of you get fancy and recess the jack so it's flush with the body?