fyb Posted October 30, 2006 Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 Hey all . . . I've heard that people use piloted/bearing router bits and templates to smoothe out guitar bodies and what not. I have one (with a 1" cutting length) that is good for simple jointing type operations and cutting patterns in thinner stock. How do you use these bits for the body though? I know you should take multiple passes, but if your cutting length is too short, you can't do a whole 1 3/4" side. If it's too long, the bearing will miss the template on the first passes. How do you go about cutting/routing with templates? Any info would be great. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verhoevenc Posted October 30, 2006 Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 multiple bits. get one to do the first part, and then when it's cut enough so that you can use a longer bit without the bit missing the template, switch. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fyb Posted October 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 multiple bits. get one to do the first part, and then when it's cut enough so that you can use a longer bit without the bit missing the template, switch. Chris I know woodcraft has one with a 1.5" cutting length. Do you think that will work for body sides? Even that's almost $w30. I saw another with a little more length, but it was closer to $50. I'm already going broke trying to build a few guitars! Thanks for the info. I know it seems like a simple answer, but I just wanted some more info before I do anything drastic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primal Posted October 30, 2006 Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 If you have an adjustable depth router, you will never have a bit thats too long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fyb Posted October 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 If you have an adjustable depth router, you will never have a bit thats too long. But the bearing will miss the template for the first few passes unless you have a really thick template Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verhoevenc Posted October 30, 2006 Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 yes, it will. Check www.routerbits.com that's where I get all mine and I do it the way I said above. And I don't think they've ever been over $25..... Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prs man Posted October 30, 2006 Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 I use a couple different lengh bits. a small one to get started.rout all you can then if you take the template off you use the part you just routed as your guide and rout from there with the longer bit. you should have no trouble with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Irizarry Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 I recently purchased a 2" cutting length flush trim bit from MLCS Woodworking that I used on my guitar build project. Its from their Katana line and it cost $21. Click here to go to the specific page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desopolis Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 i Used a top bearing flush trim with the template, then without.. then flipped it, and used a regular bearing flush trim... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 I've done it a couple ways. I cut the body with a jigsaw 1/16" to 1/8" from my outline. 1" bit w/ bearing on shaft follows the template for the first cut using maybe 1/2 the bit length. Then lower the bit more for a deeper pass. From there I have the option to flip the body and reattach the template then cut the rest the same way. OR I can remove the template and rest the bearing on my first pass using that as my template. I usually wind up doing this to cut deeper cavities as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian d Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 You could also use the longer bit in multiple passes at full length. Instead of making each pass progressively deeper, make them progressively closer to the template. i.e. on your first pass you do the whole inch (or whatever length your bit is) but don't actually go near the template. If your initial cut (jigsaw/bandsaw or whatever) is close enough, you can get to the template in the first pass. As long as you're not taking away too much wood in each pass with a light touch, it can be at the full length of the bit. I hope that makes sense. Brian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desopolis Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 ehh, Id just do it in a few passes. you could wrap the bearing in masking tape to give you a bit of clearance, then when you remove the template take the tape off. then again I got pretty close to the template with a bandsaw.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 brian +1: you don't take the whole thickness off in the first pass, just take little bits off like 2mm at a time till the bearing runs up against the template. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Magni Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 This all seems like a lot of work. After cutting out with a bandsaw, why not just finish the shaping with a spindle sander? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desopolis Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 I had a oscilating sander but it never got me exactly where I wanted with the whole body. I did use it to shape my template though.. the reason I did, is because If I messed up a MDF template it was no big deal, and I could spend alot of time on the shape. If I messed up the body I was out a piece of wood that took 7 days and expensive shipping to get here. the Swamp ash one I did free hand (bandsaw, oss. sander, and a block sander) and the shape was a bit off. the next one I did was with a template, and is perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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