Spindle Holes

A spindle hole is 7.33 mm, (which is .2885 inches) as rlwainwright states above.

Sometimes spindle hole has trims. Indeed no need to pay $50 for drill bit, but it's easier to get drill tip separated and simply clamp the bit and use it as similar to needledoctor tool.

There are actually three slightly different spindle hole sizes that are "standard" sizes.  I saw an alignment protractor made by Axiom that has attachments for the three different spindle sizes.  How crazy can an industry be that cannot get even this uniform?

I rarely encounter a record that is way too tight to fit on my turntable's spindle.  That can easily be fixed as moonglum suggested above.  I would never get a drill bit and go the route of using a power drill--it is way too easy to overdo things and end up with a bigger hole than desired or one that is not perfectly centered.  I have used a sharp Exacto knife that that works perfectly fine.  I have also used a round rat-tail file (even easier); all it takes is something like a quarter turn, a flip of the record and another quarter turn or so to shave off enough to make the record fit.  The key is to go very slow with the process because it really does not take much to get the right fit and not much more to have gone too far.

I've had quite a few new LPs with spindle holes that were a very tight fit and would bind on my VPI HW-17 RCM.  The $12 answer was in my shop, a T handle reamer. You can pick one up on Amazon, see the link below. In almost ever case I think it was not a matter of the hole itself being too small, but just some residual flashing. This tool will take it out in no time. A word of caution.....apply virtually no pressure when reaming as the tool will cut vinyl like it's not even there and you'll end up with an oversized spindle hole. A very light touch is all you'll need, just let the weight of the tool do the work. Great tool with plenty of other uses.
http://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-Instruments-130-Handle/dp/B00004T82J/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1449962462&sr=8-5&keywords=reamer

The RIAA specification is .284 to .287 (technically, specified as .286 +.001/-.002).

Whether manufacturers hold to this, as well as of course the need for cleaning out the hole, is a case by case situation.

As ttweights said, a .286 drill bit will work.

As an aside, you'll find many turntable manufacturers exercising a bit too much faith in record companies holding to this tolerance.  Thorens comes to mind as a manufacturer whose spindle tolerance nudges up against the minimum RIAA spec and many records bind against the spindle.

Most manufacturers realize that this is unnecessary and only serves to create usability problems like the ones reported here (whether it be for turntables or cleaners).  They'll spec their spindles in the.281-.283 range which is a nice balance between precision and usability.

As an aside, this variance is why our good friend at MintLP asks you your turntable brand, in order to specify a precision fit for his arc protractors.  This is a place where precision makes a difference.  We want our pivot-spindle setting to get within .001" (at least those of us on the lunatic fringe)..

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier Design