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I was looking at the second guitar I built thinking I would spend some time on a setup,and noticed a stress crack running between the bridge pins , this one has been strung up about a year and I have been playing it regularly up until about 2 months ago ..the cracks only went as deep as the chamfered holes...sorry no pics , I have already fixed the cracks with ca...I assume this is from ill fitting bridge pins????
So I was wondering if any one would share how they fit pins...I have both a 3 nd 5 degree reamer, now, the 5 degree is a LMI reamer and I have since changed to 5 degree pins...the 3 degree is the ebay special!! I learned my lesson on reamers!!!
pins are slotted as well...

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MK5acoustics.com

I can't imagine the pins cracking the bridge, unless you are hammering them in. More likely the ebony was not aged well, or got super dry since building.
It is nice to have matching reamers and pins, but the pins should not be a tight fit in the holes.
You didn't mention if you were using slotted pins, or were fully slotting the bridge.
Either way, the pins should fit slightly loose with the strings, and just hold the balls over the bridge plate.

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Oh Yeah pins will crack a bridge . If you put them in when it was dry and the RH increases , the wood swells. You want a pin to fit snug enough to hold but not so tight you can't get them out with light force . I use a tapered reamer that fits the pins I am using .

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Wes: Slot your bridge so that you can take your pins out while the guitar is up to full pitch. Then the pins only have is be in the holes tight enough so they won't fall out.Thank you Mario P. Also I agree with John, pins can crack your bridge. Many other bridges have suffered the same fate. Good luck.
Tom

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thanks for the advise ..I have been slotting the bridge but I have been making the pins tight!!!
so is it better to use slotted pins or solid pins and just slot the bridge...?????

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MK5acoustics.com

Wes: I think the solid pins are better. I do use the slotted ones but if I do I put the slot to the tail of the guitar away from the strings.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!