verhoevenc Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Grain filling with tru-oil's a breeze. Did it on my acoustic's neck. Literally just wet-sand with oil instead of water. That'll create a sludge that as you sand will get into the pores and harden... be sure to wipe it off the surface before it gets hard there though. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmrentis Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Wicked! That came out excellent! I really like the shark fin cavity shape and honestly I think you should make that a staple for most of your builds, if it isn't too much of a pain to do compared to a common cavity shape. Something that comes to mind for a future build, I've seen a lot of mahogany, bloodwood, padauk, and similar colored wood laminates recently and a few of them used the little strip of black between the laminates and it looks excellent. I think this could also look pretty cool for those cavity covers, just a thin strip of black binding around them might look pretty neat. Just a thought for future stuff because I don't think this one could be any better, looks amazing! So, whats next on your to-do list for this one? J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted April 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Thanks! I'm sure I'll be building another Sharkfin in the future, so the cavity cover shape will be used again. I'm also working on a modified Sharkfin body shape that's more of a symmetrical double cut, with the bass side horn ("fin") matching the treble side. So there'll be at least a few more sharkfin cavity covers. Don't know if I'll use it on other builds... if it fits, sure, but I have some other ideas too. Next to do: drill the rest of the holes (string through ferrules, back and front, tuner holes), partial headstock inlay, profiling the neck, fretboard inlay (I'm having a little difficulty with runout on my cheap drill press... I may buy a better one in a couple weeks), finishing the body while I'm working on the neck profile, fret work, hardware installation, and... finding a case. (Actually, now that I think about it, finding a case should be easy, since it'll definitely fit within the footprint of a Les Paul.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted April 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 Got the screws/magnets for the cavities installed. The reason for the weird inner control cavity route should now be apparent. There's room for nine magnets in the control cavity, but I think five will be sufficient, so I left the other four tabs undrilled. Can always add them later if needed. Now I'll attach the magnets to the covers by putting a small drop of CA on top of each magnet and pressing the covers into place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 Depending on what kind of magnets you got, that might even be too many But we'll see, I guess. Where are you placing the thumb tab, to get the cover off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmrentis Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 (edited) Depending on what kind of magnets you got, that might even be too many But we'll see, I guess. Where are you placing the thumb tab, to get the cover off? Those magnets are amazingly strong and in using 5 sets on mine, I felt it was a tad much, but it looks like my magnets were bigger than those and my cavity smaller. In using a shape like that I would want a magnet in each area to make sure it sits nicely and doesn't rattle or lift in any section. I bet I would have used that exact same magnet placement for that cavity, it just looks like it suits it perfect. I will likely probably still use 5 on my next project, however I will be buying some smaller magnets as they stand out less, mine were a bit too large. FWIW Rick, if you are adding a little scoop to get the cover off, I found it helpful to have either no or just a little bit of the cavity rim left where the scoop goes. For example, in your picture there are three little indentions where the cavity ledge nearly disappears and those would be good areas. I ended up just routing the ledge down at the spot I put my scoop, it just enables you to get your finger under there better. With the ledge there its very tough to get it off, especially if the cover is snug, which yours looks like. I just wanted to mention that, as I ran into that issue. I'd probably try it without it first so you don't have to mod it, but if its tough you can always try that. Its looking excellent Rick, keep those pics coming, its a beautiful instrument. J Edit: Here is a pic that kinda shows what I mean, you can see where the finger scoop is that the ledge is ground down at an angle. It looked best this way, at first I was just going to route it deeper there, but it would have looked more like a mistake that way, well at least I think so. Cavity finger scoop Edited April 7, 2008 by jmrentis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted April 9, 2008 Report Share Posted April 9, 2008 omg its a turtle guitar! does so one else see the resemblence? :] just to say, I think this guitar is looking fantastic! You use your wood very well indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted April 9, 2008 Report Share Posted April 9, 2008 I would be tempted to put the cavity finger scoop on the end of the plate perpendicular to the grain instead of parallel to it, as the strength of the magnets might put stress across the plate, perhaps cracking it the more you prise the cover off. Probably a non-issue, but one i've considered previously on these. I'm still using screws so i've not put it to the test :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted April 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 Yes, I see the turtle shape. I thought it looked more like a very hungry Pepperidge Farm Goldfish cracker though. I was considering putting in a scoop to make it easier to get the cover off, but its soon-to-be owner wants it without one. There's enough room to pry the cover off with a guitar pick anyway. By the way, if you decide to use those magnets, keep them away from kids and pets. If they swallow one it's no problem, but more than one, and they're in for surgery... they'll get lodged in the digestive tract and do all sorts of nasty things. (Just a precautionary warning--this hasn't actually happened in my shop. But I started thinking about it when my dog ate an entire 10-pack of watch batteries and I ended up having to make him bring them back up. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshvegas Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 I would have thought your entire workshops worth of sharp tools flying across the room at your dogs stomach would be a more immediate concern! Stupid question but how do you get the cover off? it's bad enough with a recessed cover thats just held in by screws! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted April 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 I'm not where the guitar is at the moment... I'll illustrate with a pic next time I get a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted May 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 After much drill press trouble (the old crappy one and the nice new one), I'm on track again and got some work done today... Drilled for inlays: Starting to rough shape the back of the neck: Heel Volute (both still just roughed in) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyManAndy Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 That is going to be a stunning guitar, Rick! Awesome! CMA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted May 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Got the neck shaped this evening. Still my favorite part of a build. Few more pics: 1 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattharris75 Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Neck's looking great. Can't wait to see it all together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Very nice. I've got to say that I do like those little inclusions here and there. It adds character, and assymetry makes everything that much more natural and "real". To me it does anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted May 26, 2008 Report Share Posted May 26, 2008 That's a pretty tight-fitting contour template. Looks like you carved it right to the mark. Looking good, Rick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted May 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2008 It was just the easiest way to show the curvature of the neck in the pic. And it still didn't really show well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted June 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 (edited) Inlay done. Obviously still some finish sanding to be done. pic 2 pic 3 Edited June 1, 2008 by Rick500 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted June 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 Wow, those Stew-Mac micromesh pads are just awesome. Here's the board, no finish or anything on it, just cocobolo sanded with micromesh pads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Sorbera Posted June 16, 2008 Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 Of for sure dude. Micromesh is the only way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyManAndy Posted June 16, 2008 Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 Awesome! And excellent job on taking the pic too. CMA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted June 16, 2008 Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 next time I make a stewmac order im definitely going to get some of those micromesh pads, some nut files, and some acoustic tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted June 16, 2008 Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 All the way up to 12000? I should've done it to my board before fretting. I might tape it off after I'm done, polish the frets, then tape the frets and hit the board with some mesh, before lemon oiling it. Looking good, Rick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted June 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 Yep, 12000. I was only planning on going up to 2400 but I couldn't stop. 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.