Norris Posted July 10, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2019 14 minutes ago, Stu. said: Your control cavity and cover are delightfully neat! Thanks. I'm going for the magnets again 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted August 4, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 I've earned enough brownie points with the good Lady Norris recently to be allowed to make some sawdust, and lots of it. It was control cavity routing day First I transferred my templates to 18mm mdf. Then I drilled out and routed the main cavity Some minor "ledge dive" but otherwise reasonably neat. I did all the routing with my small Makita. I'll have to buy a stubby template bit to do the ledge rebate 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 3 hours ago, Norris said: I'll have to buy a stubby template bit to do the ledge rebate A rabbit bit would work nicely for that cavity as well. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADFinlayson Posted August 5, 2019 Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 This is one router job that I hate, it's always a pain getting a perfect 2mm deep recess for a plastic control cover to sit in nicely when the smallest bit I've got is 10mm + the bearing. I normally end up making the template for the recess out of something like 15mm MDF so I can route it safely. But I find it's easier to make control covers out of wood and add a bit of depth to them, looks nicer too but obviously additional work on finishing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 5, 2019 Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 12 hours ago, ScottR said: A rabbit bit would work nicely for that cavity as well. SR Yes - for this type, with the flat back and without internal fixing/magnet protrusions, that's what I would use too: Depth is clearly very accurate to whatever you want and then choose an appropriate sized bearing to determine the width of rebate you want. Clearly, if it's a carved back, or if the inner shape is different to the outer shape, then you can't use this - then a template and trimmer bit is probably the best way to go. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted August 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 I've already made the template and cut the cover to fit that. It's worth bearing in mind for the future though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 For my own part, I prefer using a (thick plywood) template based on the outer cavity cover size, then starting the inner cavity using a guide bushing. This does require the use of a relatively shallow router bit for the initial cut of course. My small milling cutter has seen better days, and I'm struggling to replace it in a metric shank. This also reminds me that I need to invest in a full bearing set from Rall Guitars, or whoever can do them at a better price 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADFinlayson Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 1 hour ago, Prostheta said: For my own part, I prefer using a (thick plywood) template based on the outer cavity cover size, then starting the inner cavity using a guide bushing. This does require the use of a relatively shallow router bit for the initial cut of course. My small milling cutter has seen better days, and I'm struggling to replace it in a metric shank. This also reminds me that I need to invest in a full bearing set from Rall Guitars, or whoever can do them at a better price Have you tried shank adaptors? I got an 8-piece set relatively cheap from ebay after having the same trouble and can now convert pretty much any metric/imperial collet size. Obviously up to 1/2", not the other way round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted August 8, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2019 On 8/6/2019 at 2:59 PM, Prostheta said: For my own part, I prefer using a (thick plywood) template based on the outer cavity cover size, then starting the inner cavity using a guide bushing. I did that on the Nozcaster, but for some unknown reason am doing it "flush cut" this time. The issue is probably working out the guide bush offset. It just seemed a little easier making the template actual size Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted August 10, 2019 Report Share Posted August 10, 2019 The problem with guide bushes is that you have to be able to bake in the offset, which often isn't the easiest trick when making an odd shape. I reduced the collar depth on my bushes so they work with 5mm acrylic templates, and when you've factored laser cutting into the equation it's a different game altogether. I do like using guide bushes as a method of reducing down the final cut for flush routing, especially for things where it isn't practical to bandsaw up to the line. A 1/2" external diameter with an 8mm bit is a charm....leaves under 2,5mm still to cut, which is normally way below the threshold where tool pressure exceeds splitting force versus cutting force, and offers far more options if you need to climb cut. Apologies for the off topicness.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted September 23, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2019 Oh - I'm only on page 2 of the forum. Quiet summer? Hooray - I'm back at class! I put the second template I made to immediate use and I'm quite pleased with my efforts to align the wood grain. I also drilled the jack entry hole with a 22mm forstener bit - you can just see where it meets the bottom corner of the chamber in the top picture. Next week I'll drill for the pickup wires and then start a fair bit of sanding. It's nice to be making sawdust again 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 8 hours ago, Norris said: It's nice to be making sawdust again After two Saturdays back in the class I fully agree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZekeB Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 That looks pretty darn good to me, Norris Lines up perfectly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted September 25, 2019 Report Share Posted September 25, 2019 13 hours ago, ZekeB said: That looks pretty darn good to me, Norris Lines up perfectly. Yes - looks good 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted October 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2019 A fair bit of sanding done, but plenty more to do. I think I'm going to have to stick with quite fine grits as the wood has a tendency to "fur up" a bit with heavier grits. The list of bits to do is certainly getting shorter and we can't be too far from the home straight Anyway, a bit of magnetism... The magnets are 3mm diameter and so was my drill bit. So after drilling to depth on the pillar drill, I sat and spun the bit by hand in each of the holes to create a little clearance, before setting them in with epoxy. A handy tip was to keep the magnets in a stack, sticking a bit of masking tape on one end, then feeding them in straight off the stack into the body holes. Then, the important bit, sticking the tape on the other end of the stack before feeding them into the cover. Then they should all be North-South polarity. The flat end of a pencil was quite handy to press them in flush 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 8, 2019 Report Share Posted October 8, 2019 Super sensible idea, especially given how often this can trip people up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted October 8, 2019 Report Share Posted October 8, 2019 8 hours ago, Norris said: a bit of magnetism... How mesmerizing! Thanks for showing your drilling template. Having not figured out such a simple tool has kept me from drilling my magnet cavities! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted October 8, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2019 19 minutes ago, Bizman62 said: How mesmerizing! Thanks for showing your drilling template. Having not figured out such a simple tool has kept me from drilling my magnet cavities! It's just a piece of paper that I trimmed to the size of the cover. I measured and marked out where I wanted the holes, gently put the paper into the hole, then marked with the bradawl. Popped the paper onto the cover and marked again through the holes I just made, and they should align when drilled on the marks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted October 8, 2019 Report Share Posted October 8, 2019 9 minutes ago, Norris said: It's just a piece of paper that I trimmed to the size of the cover. Indeed! Seeing it there is so obvious that it should pop into one's mind without any effort. But not in my case! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted October 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2019 I dropped the corner of the lip so that... when pressed... Then a lot of sanding - blending the roundover, smoothing the end grain, etc. Cavity shielding next, more sanding, and possibly a splash of Truoil 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZekeB Posted October 29, 2019 Report Share Posted October 29, 2019 That's awesome 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted November 4, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2019 Cavity shielding tonight Followed by a bit more sanding to refine the neck and heel. I'm starting to run out of things to do that don't involve putting a finish on, but still a few jobs left on the list. Next up will be a bug turned into a feature... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted November 5, 2019 Report Share Posted November 5, 2019 Moody lighting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted November 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2019 40 minutes ago, Prostheta said: Moody lighting! Ha ha. It's actually in the workshop where most of the photos are taken, just not the normal auto-exposure settings due to the reflected light Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted November 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2019 For those of you who get excited about that sort of thing, first trial fit of electrics (and the first full-frontal pic for a while) Control layout is to owner's spec. He likes to ride the volume with his pinky while playing and hardly ever touches the tone 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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