Endpin question

[limerock]

Is there a source or someone who makes or can make an endpin to restore the look (on the outside) but fill a 1/2" hole left by an endpin jack opening. I didn't want the endpin jack and my strap wouldn't stay on it anyway. Can you buy a "plug and play"? or would someone be willing to turn one with the half inch diameter instead of a taper. thanks

[sunburst]

"Standard procedure" is to glue a plug in the 1/2" hole and drill for a new end pin.

[rimspoke]

TURNING THE TAPIR DOWN TO A STRAIGHT SHANK IS NOT HARD .
IF YOU MAIL ME A PIN ( STEW-MAC SELLS THEM FOR $1.25 )
I WILL BE GLAD TO DO IT FOR FREE .

[MikeEdgerton]

Turning it down might not be the issue, you'd need to "turn it up". The hole is larger than the standard endpin.

[limerock]

Mike that is correct. I guess the plug and re-bore to taper to fit will be the best way. I was maybe wanting to keep the door open for another endpin jack if someone else bought the mandolin and I thought I could just friction fit the new half inch plug with the end pin built in.

[testore]

not wanting to hijack the thread but since an endpin topic came up I thought I'd share my latest endpin designs. The white is corian, and I'm thinking there'd be less of a chance for the endpin to get lose after strinking and expanding all the time. We'll see.

[Paul Hostetter]

This is how I make strap buttons for mounting in the side of the neck:

http://www.lutherie.net/endpin2.jpg

Following this notion you can get a tee-nut and a machine bolt to match, and make something that works well. Taylor makes these things precisely for the situation you describe, but they look bad. You can work over an ebony button instead.

http://www.lutherie.net/taylor.strap.buttons.jpg

[sunburst]

If you saw off an ebony end pin and put an oval head screw through it, don't tighten it too tight and split it. (Been there, done that.)

[Paul Hostetter]

Right you are. But you can easily make a fillister head out of a simple roundhead bolt, and even cover it with a pearl dot if you want to.

http://www.milspecfasteners.com/reference/images/heads/fillister_head.gif

[MikeEdgerton]

You could also use one of the rubber expansion nuts that are sold in many hardware stores. As you tighten the screw the rubber will expand to fit the hole. I think Weber uses something like this on their screw in endpins.


http://www.insertsdirect.com/images/generated/94629_200_.jpg

[lastchair]

Just wondering, is it a requirement to ream a hole and put in an endpin or can one just attach a strapbutton to the bottom of the mandolin? Unlike the violin, where the endpin holds the tailgut/tailpiece and string pressure, is it just tradition to put a violin endpin, or is there some reason I'm missing?

thanks!

[Paul Hostetter]

You're not missing anything. Generally roundbacks have no button. Likewise, Martin flatbcks have none (no need). It's a received convention, but more elegant to my mind than a screw-in one.