Shaving a Pickguard

[atomicwash]

I have Jaguar with a pickup opening that needs to be opened up a bit. The pickup cover fits through, but it's tight and sits at a bit of an angle.

Does anyone have a method or a tool that would shave the pickup opening?

[Hbom]

If it's just a little tight you could probably get it with fine sandpaper on a stick. 

[Dave Scepter]

1 hour ago, atomicwash said:

I have Jaguar with a pickup opening that needs to be opened up a bit. The pickup cover fits through, but it's tight and sits at a bit of an angle.

Does anyone have a method or a tool that would shave the pickup opening?

Dremel tool with small sanding drum

[Jeff R]

I see that same problem often with old P- and J-basses with old shrinking guards, in particular tort guards.

I use a mill or flat file on the flats, a pencil-like rattail file inside the corners and then again inside the four mounting tab arcs, all as needed, test fitting as I go. 

GO SLOW. You can always take away a wee bit more material but you cannot put even a wee bit back. Test fit as you go (slowly) and you'll be fine.

[atomicwash]

8 minutes ago, Jeff R said:

GO SLOW. You can always take away a wee bit more material but you cannot put even a wee bit back.

That's why I asked the question! The wee bits.

[Jimbilly]

I like the idea of a dremmel tool, but WAY too easy to remove too much material.

Harbor Freight sells 'needle file' sets that include some with a flat edge for $4.99.  Those are handy to have around anyway.

Maybe mark the top with painters tape?, and file back to the tape with the flat file edge?

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-piece-precision-needle-file-set-4614.html 

[Jeff R]

Dremel should be Plan C or D, in that if you don't have the reps, a Dremel with a sanding barrel will get away from you and remove too much in too ugly a fashion. AND it can create enough friction to ignite (as in melt) guards made of highly flammable material. Modern faux tortoise guards alert!

I thought it was bullsh!t until I was Dremeling the OEM faux tort guard on my G&L Legacy for a bridge H and it started belching a nasty chem-smell and likely toxic smoke. If you try it, have a respirator handy.   

[atomicwash]

Thanks all! The pickup tops are now parallel to the Jaguar's top. The flat and round Harbor Freight files worked great, especially since I have a HF nearby. It only needed a wee bit and there were no strange chem-smells. A good day.