DIY Forearm contour/tummy cut/contoured heel on parts Tele

[PS412]

nope that chain saw thing comes apart at speed and is dangerous as F%^&

Sanding disk

Yep, sanding disc is the way to go.
I never had the chain disc bust off when I have used one. I am very aware that it can and do treat it with respect. They take off sooo much meat.

[ehdwuld]

Awesome

Awesomer.

nope that chain saw thing comes apart at speed and is dangerous as F%^&

Sanding disk

[Clint 55]

I see. The oil finish doesn't get dirty?

[jeremy]

It's probably several years old tho hey? If you wanted to maintain a high use unfinished guitar you could probably just 220s it every year or so.

its not a high use guitar and youre right you could sand it every year. probably more frequently if youre sweating, every few months in that case. or you could just finish it, which in the long run will save you a ton of work. an oil finish doesnt require anything fancy and isnt very hard unless you are trying to get a glossy finish

[Clint 55]

Awesomest

[Clint 55]

It's probably several years old tho hey? If you wanted to maintain a high use unfinished guitar you could probably just 220s it every year or so.

[jeremy]

You don't need to finish it, it's just extra work. All my guitars are unfinished and they're fine. If you bring it everywhere it might get a little dented but it's not a big deal. They get a little dirty but not really. If you're concerned about them not looking dirty you can just fine sand them periodically to make them look fresh again. I have had mine for a while now and I still haven't felt the need to do this.

if you gig or jam with a band with any regularity, the guitar will get dirty. i have one guitar without a finish and its got some pretty funky spots on it. way more than you could realistically sand out without putting in a ton of work.

[Clint 55]

Ahh!

[PS412]

Awesome

Awesomer.

[Clint 55]

With those hand tools it will be a bit of work. Several hours worth of project. You won't have to kill yourself tho. Otherwise what ehd said will be the quickest and easiest method. A fast spinning adjustable speed grinder with a sanding pad on it will take down the material without very much work. Then you can just hand sand for the final finish sand.

You don't need to finish it, it's just extra work. All my guitars are unfinished and they're fine. If you bring it everywhere it might get a little dented but it's not a big deal. They get a little dirty but not really. If you're concerned about them not looking dirty you can just fine sand them periodically to make them look fresh again. I have had mine for a while now and I still haven't felt the need to do this.

[Birdman642]

what do you have available for tools?

As far as tools go, I’d likely have to buy everything when I do the project itself. I saw something with someone using a small handsaw for rough shaping the tummy cut, and then a small planer for the forearm. How much work would that all be?

[ehdwuld]

4 inch side grinder with a sanding disk
clamp to table
Rough it to shape
Finish sand all of it

Clamp it to a table and use both hands to hold the grinder

This is the most important part

Cheap Harbor Freight grinder and some disks are likely les than $20

[jeremy]

the first one i did was with rasp and belt sander or orbital sander, cant remember since it was so long ago. i did the heavy shaping with the rasp then smoothing with the sander and by hand. it was a fair amount of work but came out really good. what do you have available for tools?

[Birdman642]

It honestly doesn’t matter to me if it does have a “pro” look. It was my old punk guitar I used in my teens. It was already a little grungy looking to begin with. I’m honestly more concerned with functionality than aesthetics.

[Birdman642]

I have a partscaster Tele I’m trying to fix up. I’m planning on trying to try to cut a Fender style contoured heel, a tummy cut and a forearm contour into it. Does anyone have any tips on how to do this?
As far as finishing goes, I was gonna leave it as the plain wood, and just finish it off with Tru-oil to offer some protection. Does anyone have any tips on the finishing process?