donald k wilson Posted May 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2005 Another picture of truing the neck to the peghead making sure there is no twist over the nut. The plate is a grounding plate used in setting up the z depth to 0. It is a really handy feature for working on different sizes and shapes of material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted May 28, 2005 Report Share Posted May 28, 2005 The cutter is an old version of safe-t-plane that is NOT safe, I run it on the cnc machine and keep the fingers on the Keyboard! ← Safe t plane that's not safe... you should see the cylinder block planner (is it call like that) that Imade with our machininst, back in '89. It was an old VW beetle flywheel lighthened, and notched to accept 4 cutters on the sides. worked like a charm, but keep your fingers out of its way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Definitely not OSHA approved... Sorry about no progress for the week, I was out of town but I actually got to play a little guitar live. It's been a long time for me... Pictures of the neck progress, I wanted to machine this on the cnc as well. I tried several different versions of jig and approach. This is one of the jigs, the prototype neck and the cherry neck all posing. The truss rod slot slips on the spline on the jig and the heel is indexed to the edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Here is the proto neck on the jig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 This is the cutter in action. I didn't use this jig for the finished neck. The 1" ball mill doesn't have enough clearance for the collet so the neck had to be cut in two setups left and right. The heel is too high laying flat and the collet hits it cutting around the base of the neck at the heel block. The solution is a larger diameter ball mill and a new setup which I'm working on right now. Lot's of first time mistakes and experimenting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2005 Neck and body have to be joined up. I decided to go traditional and use a dovetail. This scared me but no guts no glory so I started measuring and designing the jigs. The dovetail has to be cut on the neck before the neck extension is glued on or it gets in the way. Here is the neck in the jig, the jig automatically cuts the 4 1/2 deg. neck angle into the heel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2005 a closer shot of the dovetail in the jig. there is a 1/4 " spline that the truss rod slot rides on which aligns the neck in the jig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2005 Now for the mortice in the body. The jigs were designed in the cad program and cut on the cnc machine por exact offsets based on micrometer measurements of the shaper collar and dovetail bit. It got fairly involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2005 This is the body in the jig, I just cut the dovetail mortice and that giant sucking sound is me holding my breath... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2005 Actually I did a test fit with scrap and everything seemed ok but this is the real deal, still nervous. Here is a closer view of the mortice in the body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 This is the finger joint used to attatch the neck extension to the heel of the neck. The joint shows, it is a great looking piece and is very strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 (edited) this is the new neck setup so I can cut the whole neck in one pass. It is a complex toolpath and I didn't like cutting it in two passes side for side, too much margin for error. You can see the prototype in the foreground and the collet/ neck heel interference requiring the 2"dia. ball mill. Edited June 10, 2005 by donald k wilson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 Just another look at the neck jig from the other side. It's been a long haul and I feel like I'm getting close to the "f" word... I don't dare say it. (finish ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jer7440 Posted June 10, 2005 Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 Donald how fast are you spinning that big mother end mill? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2005 18,000 rpm but it wants to take off. I'll probably slow it down on the return flight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2005 I'm back... Lots of sanding at this point, nothing too exciting. A couple of small steps forward on the little things. I decided on a logo for the headstock and I'm doing it a little differently. I have a simple letter carving program for sign making and I "v-carved" the logo. this was fun during all the sanding monotony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2005 (edited) Here is a quick jig for sanding the back of the neck. It has a 12" radius carved into it which cradles the fretboard keeping it from rocking and I can get all around the neck at the same time. There is another neck jig and a carved top for a single cutaway on the cnc table in the background... Edited June 17, 2005 by donald k wilson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2005 This is the beginning of setup. I am checking the bridge location and height relative to the neck angle, body c.l. and scale. So far so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jer7440 Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Looking great Donald. I really like your headstock shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Thanks jer, it was pretty straightforward design work in the cad program, I just mixed and matched curves and components until I got something that seemed to balance. Here is a picture of the other neck jig in use for cutting the headstock shape and tuner holes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted June 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Straightedge in place on the neck to check neck angle/ bridge ht relationship and centerline alignment. All's well. On to the nut, tailpiece, endpin, final sand and finish. I'm playing with stains and transparencies right now, I'm still thinking the antique look but I haven't decided 100% yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted July 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2005 All the fussy little stuff, lots of time little apparent progress. side markers in the fretboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted July 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2005 (edited) And finally... into the finish room. 3 layer stain transparency and pad applied spirit varnish for the antique look. I have 4 applications of varnish so far and at least two to go. This finish is not a money maker!!! The color is a little off in this pic, the light in my finish room is not condusive to photos. Next stop final assembly and STRIIIIIINGS. Edited July 1, 2005 by donald k wilson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StratDudeDan Posted July 2, 2005 Report Share Posted July 2, 2005 I don't care what that thing is or was or could be made out of. Wow...beautiful work. I would play it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted July 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2005 Thanks much, I'm trying!!! I'm still finishing. I like the look of this finish but I will never ever again do another (unless someone wants to PAY for it) If I had gone waterbased I'd be playing this right now. Hopefully finished guitar pics soon... thanks dkw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.