This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

[Ayrton]

Most of you know I love to build them as much (more maybe) as play them, and builders always talk about learning from mistakes and things that go wrong.

Got up and had some breakfast, coffee in hand head down to the workbench to put the final touches on the new Tele. Well, I went to ream out the tuner holes for bushings like I have done a million times on the drill press and...



The bit grabbed instantly and ripped the neck out of my hand. Yes, I know some people ream a "V" in there, but I have always created a shelf and have done a million times. So now I will figure out a plan....grrrrrr.

I share this with you guys (and gals) to show you **** happens to everyone and sometimes the plan changes.

Maybe a painted headstock is in my future.

Hey, at least the body looks nice. Warmoth clearance blowout (need to stay off that website)

 

[muttznmongrelz]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

Well that's a bummer for sure!

 

[Mincer]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

Well, the body is nice at least.

I look forward to seeing how you repair this. I don't have the skills to do that, so I am sure I'd cry.

 

[PS412]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

F#$k F $#k F$#k. Dowel in the hole, knife in glue/sawdust redrill sand paint?

 

[Ayrton]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

I have been grafting in wood slivers all day, and we will just have to see how it comes out. Worst case I paint the headstock or order another neck.

There were some choice words for sure right after, and I waited about an hour before I posted this up.

Hmmm, maybe a new neck and then we build a relic tele with this one...

 

[PS412]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

I figure you've done this lots. So I say this knowing you know, always clamp material on a drill press. But... I've done that sort of stuff myself.:9:

 

[Ayrton]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

Yeah yeah... I was just kissing the holes to increase a few thou for the press in bushings. I supposed I was due for something like to happen. Honestly, I was about to do with the hand drill, but thought "don't be lazy and jack it up now".

See how that worked out.

Thankfully it did not snap the head off or smack me in the face.

Drilling real holes or making plugs I always mount in the drill vice.

 

[PS412]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

Yeah, I frigged up a 1500 buck piece of inconel round stock on a drill press. The good thing about metal you can always put it back. Provided you have compatible rods

 

[PS412]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

Carry on carry forth. Hope your project goes good

 

[Wattage]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

In my best Homer voice "Doh!"

 

[Ayrton]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

The patient lived thru the night after hours of reconstructive surgery.

In recovery still, and very touch and go.

Pray for us

 

[Ayrton]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

Still have some refinishing to do, and that should better blend everything in.

I want to stress that I totally made this up as I went along. I think it is pretty clear that I am not a professional and probably should not be around sharp objects.

For entertainment purposes only





The damage was area was both too large for a plug, and I did not want a perfectly round edge showing.

I tried to graft in slivers along the grain lines to better mask the repair.



Wedged in a maple plug to give me something solid to build on. Most of it will get drilled back out. The toothpicks are the wedge until the hide glue sets.



Trim, fit, trim, fit, trim, fit...clamp.





Now the back.

You get a better idea of the damage here. That is a 3/8" plug in there.




I filled the cavity with epoxy mixed with maple saw dust. Once I drill out the plug for the new hole, the epoxy will support around the maple "sleeve".



A graft to hide the carnage



The tuners will hide the entire thing.



I should get it wrapped up sometime this week.

 

[Securb]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

Nice rebound it is looking good.

 

[PS412]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

Oh yeah. No one but you will know.
Perfect job

 

[Chistopher]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

Definitely better than losing a perfectly good neck. Good work.

 

[Mincer]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

Smart thinking there!

 

[chadd]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

Nice body, similar to the one I bought last year

 

[Wattage]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

 

[Ayrton]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

So now I can show you my latest Tele build. This is what happens when you are bored and cruising the sale section of Warmoth.

Flame Maple top over Swamp Ash Thinline.

'53 Tapped Tele set is very cool. I will use them again.





Masked the repair well enough I think.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: This was supposed to be a thread about my new Tele Thinline, but...

That's a beauty! Really nice work, including the recovery. Looks like a vintage Fender instrument that's been a case queen until now.