How Thin Can The Wood Be?

[Sobot]

Hi, I'm in for another question I was looking at different pots for the guitar I'm making, and I don't know if the one I want will work... http://www.stewmac.com/catalog/images_1lg/3479_1lg.jpg

The knob will go right through the wood (no pickguard) and the shaft on that knob isn't that long compared to ones on say... a les paul. Is it safe to make the body that thin where the knob will be? The shaft part is only 3/8 of an inch long.

Thanks.

[Doc]

I've got a walnut tele knockoff I made with a 1/4" thick tiger maple mounting plate. I have two standard length pots and a three way switch mounted in it. I haven't had any trouble with it, but I'm not real hard on my toys.

[westhemann]

Is it safe to make the body that thin where the knob will be? The shaft part is only 3/8 of an inch long.

it's safe enough that all of the other mass producers in the world(other than gibson) do it that way.

and even gibson does it on some models

and on my studio les paul...the long shafts were only used to go through both the wood and the steel ground plate they use at the same time

[frank falbo]

If you're concerned, then leave more wood across the top, but use a forstner bit, or route a special little circle to accomodate the pot. That way your thin section is no bigger than the pot itself. Sometimes a really large, thin electronics section can lead to grains telegraphing through the finish later on down the road.

[Sobot]

ok thanks for the help everyone. I think I'm just going to route a hole perfect for the pot to fit in, thanks for the idea.

with that "dual knob" pot I only need one hole for it, the rest can be shallow, because I'm only gonna have one pickup