Progress (first body build content)

[St_Genesius]

Carved the tummy cut yesterday, as well as putting filler in a handful of places where my jigsaw had curved the wrong way (and one place where I took entirely the wrong angle with a hand rasp). Thank Imaginary Deity Of Your Choosing for opaque finishes, huh?



There isn't much left to do before I have to start routing cavities into the face and back of this thing, which makes me more than a little nervous, as it will be very easy to ruin all the work I've done so far.

 

[Gaspasser69]

Re: Progress (first body build content)

Rigid makes an amazing oscillating sander with an adjustable table. I got it at home depot for 200. Dont go close with the band saw /jig saw and get close with the sander then go by hand. Just dont screw up the 90 degree edge too much by hand. Looking good so far. Glad to see you making your own.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-Oscillating-Edge-Belt-Spindle-Sander-EB4424/100061671

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Progress (first body build content)

There isn't much left to do before I have to start routing cavities into the face and back of this thing, which makes me more than a little nervous, as it will be very easy to ruin all the work I've done so far.

Routing is the most precise and critical part of building a guitar, and the most difficult to correct if you make a mistake (can't always just add a little filler). So, do that part first then do the final shaping, belly cut, forearm relief, edge routing, etc. If you totally screw up the routing and have to start over with another slab of wood, you haven't wasted so much time.

But what you've done so far looks good. Be very careful with the routing...measure three times then cut once. Keep us posted as the project progresses.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Progress (first body build content)

Awesome! Look forward to the progress!

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Progress (first body build content)

Yeah, the Jigsaw mistakes were made during the initial rough cutting of the body shape; I just didn't bother to fix them until I was sure which of them would still be visible post-final shaping. I did the forearm and belly cuts entirely with hand tools (a half round rasp, file and some 180 grit sand paper).

Rigid makes an amazing oscillating sander with an adjustable table. I got it at home depot for 200. Dont go close with the band saw /jig saw and get close with the sander then go by hand. Just dont screw up the 90 degree edge too much by hand. Looking good so far. Glad to see you making your own.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-Oscillating-Edge-Belt-Spindle-Sander-EB4424/100061671

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Progress (first body build content)

yeah, I came across similar advice about a day after I cut the body out. It's good advice.

Luckily, I do have a body made of scrap Home Depot wood that I practice all my cuts on before doing them for real on the alder. It's not perfect, but it's something.

Routing is the most precise and critical part of building a guitar, and the most difficult to correct if you make a mistake (can't always just add a little filler). So, do that part first then do the final shaping, belly cut, forearm relief, edge routing, etc. If you totally screw up the routing and have to start over with another slab of wood, you haven't wasted so much time.

But what you've done so far looks good. Be very careful with the routing...measure three times then cut once. Keep us posted as the project progresses.