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deadgoodcharlie

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Posts posted by deadgoodcharlie

  1. Hey all!

    I've noticed that there are a lot of Canucks from Toronto on the boards and I was wondering if we could arrange a get together, compare notes, designs, ideas...yadda yadda. Maybe even loan out a few tools or something to each other. I make trips out to Cambridge with at least a week or two notice and i'm pretty sure some people would be interested in checking out A&M Wood Supply (www.forloversofwood.com).

    Hope to hear from you guys!

    Brian

    Hey Brian,sounds good.If you are going to A&M sometime soon let me know in advance,I,ll go along.I,m just outside of T.O in Whitby.Also if you need the use of my CNC machine for anything let me know and we could work something out,but you would have to come to my neck of the woods for that.Cheers. :D

  2. Dude,

    How many of those did you cut with your cnc?

    Thanks for the opinons folks,still learning.Most everything was done by hand except one of the Pauls.The red sg was the one that caused me problems through the build.I ended up putting the truss rod in the wrong way ,so when I went to steam the neck off the joint for the book match top started to seperate so I added a rosewood strip,then the fret board which was ebony got all messed up so I changed it for a maple one from some stalk I had,mind you that build was about four years ago.Ya it,s ugly but man does it sound nice.The tele is finished and has a trem on it and it sounds real nice.I,ll post some pics soon of all of them finished,been too busy with rebuilding my cnc machine.Soon though I,ll be able to pump out neck,tops,backs of all types of guitars.Whole lot of fun I think,learning takes time and everyones learning curve is different.Thanks agian for your opinions and if anyone needs anything CNC,ed let me know and I,ll see what I can do,cheers.

  3. [quote name='MzI' post='267476' date='May 6 2006, 09:05 PM']
    I have gotten into the CNC world recently as we have one at my University, granted im graduating on the 20th of this month, I still have the option of driving back down here everyonce in a while and using the machine. The thing I personally like is the safety factor in relation to using a hand held router. As weird is it sounds I am still uncomfortable using the router and I have been building guitars for the last 4 years. As far as one off guitars, I do one off computer modeling all the time as an architect, though not nearly as detailed as the guitar modeling needs to be fairly accurate as I am finding unless you expect to do alot of handwork afterwards. I have recently cut a pair of flying V's and in all honestly there is no way that I can by hand work as fast as the machine does. When I had it programed correctly, with all the pick up, neck cavity, electronic cavity, and the full body route in all of 10 minutes. Aside from that I still enjoy carving a neck by hand.


    MzI
    [/quote]
    I here what you are saying.I too like to do the occasional neck by hand,it,s rewarding.I,ve done L.P. necks with cnc and I,ve done them without and I can come real close to the original by hand but getting it perfect I,de have to say cnc makes them more symetrical if thats the word.There will always be the human factor in guitar building no matter what.Havent seen a machine with a set of eyes yet that can rationalize it,s own thinking .Cheers.

  4. I would love to help forum members with thier one off designs providing they can supply the code for the design .If you have something ready let me know,I should have my machine back within six weeks.Whats cool is that before I commit to the wood I do a sample cut in styrofoam to see how well it comes out ,be it a body or neck.For example a L.P. top carved out of maple is about $175.00 plus shipping.That includes setup,wood,routing.Hope I havent broke any forum rules here,just trying to get the overall picture accross

  5. [quote name='jer7440' post='267293' date='May 5 2006, 08:50 AM']
    Can't really take you up on the jointer, but I would be interested to talk about your LP tops. I'm trying to do this as well.
    [/quote]
    Hey Jer ,I noticed you from the CNC forum,hows it going.What can I do for ya?By the way your machining looks real good.I,m getting my CNC enlarged by the guy who built it,need alittle more in the YandZ,also beefing up the gantry to hold my 1-3/4 horsey Porter Cable,then I,ll have option of 1/4 and 1/2 inch shanks on my bits.Cheers.

  6. [quote name='dayvo' post='265295' date='Apr 23 2006, 07:19 AM']
    [quote name='deadgoodcharlie' post='265294' date='Apr 24 2006, 12:42 AM']
    [quote name='dayvo' post='265275' date='Apr 22 2006, 10:27 PM']
    [quote name='deadgoodcharlie' post='265269' date='Apr 23 2006, 02:25 PM']
    Hello fellow luthiers,just thought I,de throw in my two cents.Making guitar parts through the use of a CNC machine is pretty amazing when you think about it also the tolerences of your parts do become greater.A decent machine,even at a hobbiest level that can deliver will still run you a few thousand.I spent my whole vacation pay on mine and was tickeled pink turning out LP tops and Lp necks.CNC can save you time but you gotta pay for that time saver in the begining.Check out www.durhamrobotics.com and you will see a pic of my machine with a sample test of a LP top in MDF.I think it all depends on how far you wanna go.If it,s one offs your doing forget the CNC route,but if it,s leading to a business venture I feel there,s nothing wrong with it.All in all the machine can get you close but there is always the human factor that finishes off the instrument.Realisticaly you would need to put out about several thousand dollars to get anything decent enough to do the job right.Cheers to all. B)
    [/quote]

    What size cnc machine did you buy and how much was it?
    dayvo :D
    [/quote]Working footprint is X30Y16Z4 cost was approximately $3000.00 C.A.Will be upgrading in the next month to bigger for accoustic tops and backs.
    [/quote]

    Im still on my first build, but down the track a little I might just get myself one of these as I love tinkering with new things B)
    dayvo :D
    [/quote]
    Hey all,old cnc is gone for a rebirth to a larger machine,and should have it back within four to six weeks and I,ll post some pics of the L.P tops and necks I,ll be doing.Also some chambered backs.The only problem I have is I,ve got a 6-inch jointer planer made by King tools that is taking up space and I would love to offer it to any forum members for a couple hundred bucks providing they can pic it up .I,m just east of Toronto in Whitby.Any takers for an awsome deal,I need the room,cheers. :D

  7. [quote name='dayvo' post='265275' date='Apr 22 2006, 10:27 PM']
    [quote name='deadgoodcharlie' post='265269' date='Apr 23 2006, 02:25 PM']
    Hello fellow luthiers,just thought I,de throw in my two cents.Making guitar parts through the use of a CNC machine is pretty amazing when you think about it also the tolerences of your parts do become greater.A decent machine,even at a hobbiest level that can deliver will still run you a few thousand.I spent my whole vacation pay on mine and was tickeled pink turning out LP tops and Lp necks.CNC can save you time but you gotta pay for that time saver in the begining.Check out www.durhamrobotics.com and you will see a pic of my machine with a sample test of a LP top in MDF.I think it all depends on how far you wanna go.If it,s one offs your doing forget the CNC route,but if it,s leading to a business venture I feel there,s nothing wrong with it.All in all the machine can get you close but there is always the human factor that finishes off the instrument.Realisticaly you would need to put out about several thousand dollars to get anything decent enough to do the job right.Cheers to all. :D
    [/quote]

    What size cnc machine did you buy and how much was it?
    dayvo :D
    [/quote]Working footprint is X30Y16Z4 cost was approximately $3000.00 C.A.Will be upgrading in the next month to bigger for accoustic tops and backs. B)

  8. Hello fellow luthiers,just thought I,de throw in my two cents.Making guitar parts through the use of a CNC machine is pretty amazing when you think about it also the tolerences of your parts do become greater.A decent machine,even at a hobbiest level that can deliver will still run you a few thousand.I spent my whole vacation pay on mine and was tickeled pink turning out LP tops and Lp necks.CNC can save you time but you gotta pay for that time saver in the begining.Check out www.durhamrobotics.com and you will see a pic of my machine with a sample test of a LP top in MDF.I think it all depends on how far you wanna go.If it,s one offs your doing forget the CNC route,but if it,s leading to a business venture I feel there,s nothing wrong with it.All in all the machine can get you close but there is always the human factor that finishes off the instrument.Realisticaly you would need to put out about several thousand dollars to get anything decent enough to do the job right.Cheers to all. :D

  9. Besides, CNC is ment for mass production. I really can't see any reason why to use it in one off production (besides the fact that playing around with different gadgets is so much fun).

    You'd be hard pressed to find someone who can do a gapless inlaid top without the help of cnc. That's just one of a few examples where you'd need the assistance of cnc on a small scale.

    Sorry, I really ment to say i can't see any reason to use 3D CNC in one off production :D

    More simple (2D) works like inlays can be done with relatively simple machinery and software and more importantly spending much less effort to modelling/drawing.

    The most impressive has been Myka (king of the jigs) Guitars' duplicarver...

    Ruokangas guitars' website used to have a picture of similar piece of equipment, but it was raised to almost horizontal position, like old fashioned parallelogram drawing boards. It seemed to me a much more ergonomic than the table top -model. Too bad the shop tour -pictures have been removed from their web site.

    Check out www.durhamrobotics.com....I bought one of his cnc,s for about three gee,s .You can see a pic of a L.P. top being cut out of MDF as a test.He makes to suit your needs,cheers.

  10. Well, got the plans. I dont know if i want to build it like he has it or use linear bearings like ive seen myka and other guys do. Linear bearings are way more expensive, but do look a little bit nicer. Does anyone use this thing for necks yet? Thats my main reason for building one is neck duplicating. What bits you guys use? and what get the best results? Also where do you guys get yoru stylis at? In the plans he says you can make them, but i also say guitarfrenzy say he bought his at terrco but i couldnt find them on the site.

    Check on MIMFs site they have a set of plans called Sargent duplicator. It's in PDF format and free it's in the archive library.

    edited to add: It's in the Instrument plans section, subsection is tool plans and pictures.

    Mike

    Gemini makes a copy carver and sells stylus with proper dimensions related to whatever bit you are using,check them out on the net,cheers.

  11. I'm not sure anyone makes a living selling just kits.

    I forget who said it first, but it was someone wise:

    "In guitar building, the best way to make a small fortune is to start with a large one."

    Thanks for replying, erikbojerik. I have heard that quote. :D I've also experience first-hand that many luthiers just eek out a living. (The one I apprenticed with certainly did. Then again, he seemed to really love his job.) I just keep looking at this hobby of mine and keep wondering if there is some way to make a decent living at it. Perhaps it is just a pipe dream.

    Paul

    Focus on what you want ,see yourself doing what you want everyday,practice what you want to do everyday even if it,s only a few hours,and clearly see in your mind where it is you see yourself in the future.If you see it ,you can percieve.Fifty years ago someone started building guitars,and you know what,fifty years from now someone else will be wanting to do the same thing as that other guy.Just do it gradualy.Cheers.
  12. Just heat up the fret with the soldering gun and slowly pry one end lose first, then move the soldering gun down the fret as you follow with the pullers prying back and forth with the fret, until the whole fret comes out. On the bound neck, stay away from it with the soldering gun, if it's like a Gibson, as depending on what it's made of, might melt.

    Strat_fretpull1.jpg

    Thanks for the info brother ,I,ll be getting to it within the next week,cheers. :D

  13. Hey all or anyone with lots of experience.I,ve got a Yamaha SG 1000 and the frets are at the point they no longer can be crowned and the notes are pretty much flat sounding.The fret board is bound and they are the original frets.I,m considering pulling the frets and refretting the board ,and my ? is this.Would I need to put some heat to the frets with a soldering iron prior to pull them?Is there a chance that they were glued in at all ?and if so how much heat applied by the iron would be too much that the heat might ruine the binding.?I,ve done quite a few fret instals with success,but never a refret.Your advise would be great,thanks and cheers to all. :D

  14. I'll be honest with you... this stop bar is slow in the making, cause I'm meanwhile building a semi-hollow, finishing a neck-thru, and dealing with hurricanes a la miami.

    But yeah, watch out for when I post my finished neck-thru (will be called MeuX L-Series) and chances are I'll GOTM it... so yeah, when you see that pop up... ask me about how the stop-bar came out then, cause then you'll be sure it's done and I can show you it, and also I'll forget myself by then, hense why I'm laying the ownus on you :D

    Chris

    Ok Chris,can,t wait to see.
  15. Nope, mine's a stop bar ebony for a TOM. It's gunna work where there's a hole connected to a cut out line. And you drop the ball of the string into the hole, then when the ball is under it (there's hole under the stop bar) you move it forward down the line which is too thin for the bar to be pulled out through. Then ya string it like normal. I thought it quite a nice idea. (hope ya'll understand)

    Chris

    Good Idea Chris,would like to see a pic of that.I think I,ll try that before making one out of brass.I might make one like on a bennadeto with a hinge at the base of the body,this will be for a set neck strat with angled head stalk,but your Input has given me some good Ideas to think about .Cheers to all. :D also forgot to mention the strat is chambered,mahogany body with birds eye top pau ferro board and pau ferro headstalk venner.

  16. I'm in the process of making one out of ebony.  Haven't run into TOO many problems as of yet.  As for brass, I dunno.  I figured ebony was hard enough to hold the strings and not have them really dig in too much.  But brass... never worked with that...

    Chris

    Thanks for the reply,have you got any pics of what you are up to.Is the tail piece going to be like a regular stop bar?I also thought of copyong a regular one out of a thick piece of ebb but wondered about longevity,coulc,nt hurt to try I guese.

  17. Hey all,was just wondering if anyone has made his or her own tail stop bar.I have some brass kicking around and thought I,de have a go at it,but before procceding I,de like to see if anyone has done this and if so can you give some suggestions,cheers and thanks. :D

  18. Also its a Output jack and not an input jack. I would ground everything to the switch and not straight to the jack, maybe used screened wire from the switch to the jack too. You could fit small tone pots inside the caviyt if you find the tone a little bright.

    A big thanks to all for your advice,cheers from :D

  19. Hi all,what is the proper way to wire -up two humbuckers and and a input jack using no tone or volume controls?Would you solder the hot from pups to selector switch and then to hot pin on jack and then ground everything to jack?Am I missing something,thanks and cheers. :D

  20. Hi all ,nice to be part of this forum.Have seen some outstanding work here.Congrats to all.Although CNC has a high cool factor,especialy if you build your own ,it can get not only expencive it can get hair raising as well.Especialy when the program you are running decides to freak out,or the machine has a machanical failier half way through the part being cut .I,ve got my own tabletop machine and have had some good succes cutting L.P. tops ,necks and backs,but when the machine goes down and you just can,t stand around,you,re back to hand tools .I,de like to share some pics but not sure how to post them,Cheers. :D

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