Mattia Posted February 6, 2008 Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 Yep, that's the way to do it. (at least, that's how I've always done it...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted February 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 thanks Mattia, I'm cutting some birds out right now. I think I should have bought more than a dozen blades though, I've already killed 3 blades on the first two birds(I'm starting with the smallest ones so that I can get the hang of this.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted February 6, 2008 Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 Use the heftier blades, they cut a little better. Use some rouge or candle wax, and let the movement do the cutting; don't push the blade into the work! The cutting action's almost entirely in the wrist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted February 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 Well, i broke the 12th blade on my last bird. That sucks. Now I'm going to have to wait to finish this up. Ill probably buy 3 packs of fine blades and a pack of medium blades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 Well, i broke the 12th blade on my last bird. That sucks. Now I'm going to have to wait to finish this up. Ill probably buy 3 packs of fine blades and a pack of medium blades. I buy blades by the gross. What size are you using? Normally I use 3/0 or 5/0. Most have rounded backs to make turning easier, but you should make sure that is the type you are using. Really as Mattia mentioned, a lot of it is in the wrist. As you get more used to cutting your blades will last a bit longer. Be sure you are in a comfortable position when sawing. Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted February 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 (edited) Hey rich, I have the stewmac frame, I just ordered 4 dozen more blades and one of their dremel bases. i ordered 2 dozen fine 2 dozen medium. Inlaying seems like its going to be an enjoyable activity. I used a coping saw to cut out my first inlay after i used the jewelers saw I'm amazed i got by with the coping saw even for the small inlay that i did. Edited February 7, 2008 by carousel182 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 Heh.. As a note: my local mom and pop hardware store sells blades that fit the StewMac jeweller's saw. They're basic metal cutting blades for fretsaws (UK term, anyway, not sure if that's the same in the US of A). Jewellers supplier also sell them for a little less than StewMac at bulk prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted February 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 Ill have to keep my eyes open. Guitar making, or any type of wood working is not a popular thing in my city. I've found a pearl supplier thats 20 minutes from me but on their website it says you need a minimum order of 300$, so I'm hesitant to even check it out, it's probably more expensive than most online sites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 Lemme guess: Rescue Pearl (Chuck Erikson, Duke of Pearl)? If so, he's one of the big players. You might try calling and asking if they'll waive their 300 dollar minimum if you can walk in and pay cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 Heh.. As a note: my local mom and pop hardware store sells blades that fit the StewMac jeweller's saw. They're basic metal cutting blades for fretsaws (UK term, anyway, not sure if that's the same in the US of A). Jewellers supplier also sell them for a little less than StewMac at bulk prices. I have a rock hound shop that sells blades, frames, gravers, and all sorts of inlay supplies. Chris V. turned me onto Widget supply, and they sell various small tools(dremel bits, blades and such). Their blades are not as good as the rock hound shop, but they are cheap and do the job. It is really worth it to get a frame that suits you well(balance, handle and such). Price is not very high on any of them, but a good fit is worth looking for. A work surface that suits you is also worth working out, you will certainly make your own as there isn't much to them, but a good fit is a must. Dust collection and good lighting is important. I really found the elevation of my chair vs the work surface is very important also. When everything is dialed in cutting is really a lot of fun. I can't take much more than 6-7 hours at a sitting, but fun none the less. Peace,Rich BTW; Mattia that inlay you posted a pic of looked amazing. Great work! Always top notch my friend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted February 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 (edited) Hey guys, I've finished cutting out my inlays, I used these scroll saw blades that i had laying around, they fir perfectly in my jewelers saw, the problem was though, that they dulled very quickly for some reason. The stewmac saw seems really comfortable to me, I just use a v wedge clamped to my workbench (Well its a workbench when all of my woods, bodies, necks, parts, tools, etc arent scattered on it.) I used to cut alot of stuff out with the scroll saw, so this come pretty naturally, I love working with small saws. Ill post pics of my work space, the inlays i cut out, etc. up in a few minutss when I can find my camera. Edited February 7, 2008 by carousel182 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted February 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 (edited) my birds (copied off of PRS) my first attempt at inlaying something(cut out with coping saw) http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/st...17/DSCN0142.jpg huge coping saw blade compared to the tiny jewelers saw blade http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/st...17/DSCN0143.jpg the wedge http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/st...17/DSCN0140.jpg my sides in the mold (finally something on my acoustic lol) http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/st...17/DSCN0144.jpg my bird pattern http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/st...17/DSCN0138.jpg Edited February 7, 2008 by carousel182 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodWood Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 Well, i broke the 12th blade on my last bird. That sucks. Now I'm going to have to wait to finish this up. Ill probably buy 3 packs of fine blades and a pack of medium blades. I buy blades by the gross. What size are you using? Normally I use 3/0 or 5/0. Most have rounded backs to make turning easier, but you should make sure that is the type you are using. Really as Mattia mentioned, a lot of it is in the wrist. As you get more used to cutting your blades will last a bit longer. Be sure you are in a comfortable position when sawing. Peace,Rich Have any of you ever considered scroll saw round blades? They cut in any direction, not sure if you can mount them in a jewelers saw, but you might be able to. Or use a scroll saw? Im not doing inlay, maybe torquois in epoxy though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 Well, i broke the 12th blade on my last bird. That sucks. Now I'm going to have to wait to finish this up. Ill probably buy 3 packs of fine blades and a pack of medium blades. I buy blades by the gross. What size are you using? Normally I use 3/0 or 5/0. Most have rounded backs to make turning easier, but you should make sure that is the type you are using. Really as Mattia mentioned, a lot of it is in the wrist. As you get more used to cutting your blades will last a bit longer. Be sure you are in a comfortable position when sawing. Peace,Rich Have any of you ever considered scroll saw round blades? They cut in any direction, not sure if you can mount them in a jewelers saw, but you might be able to. Or use a scroll saw? Im not doing inlay, maybe torquois in epoxy though. I have looked at round blades, diamond if memory serves. They may be good, and maybe I will try them out one of these days(generally round blades won't turn faster or tighter, because they are larger blades). Honestly the jewlers blades I use get the job done plenty fast for me. I wouldn't mess with a scroll saw, I need to slow things down to keep my control and accuracy(I could actually blaze through material faster with jewlers saws, but choose not to). If I am worried about speed I will outsource it (not really something I am interested in, although I would consider it for a logo if I wanted 25 or more of them). Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted February 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 What does your logo look like rich? I'm still trying to come up with a decent one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 What does your logo look like rich? I'm still trying to come up with a decent one. Top secret , Actually I have one I drew up, but have never used it. It is just an R and F in an elipse kinda thing (nothing fancy). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted February 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 (edited) I put a JS on one of my electric necks because all the others are bare lol. I gotta come up with something good one of these days when I'm bored. I hate when stewmac ships with usps its terrible. I'm still waiting for my base to inlay the pearl into this acoustic fretboard that i just made yesterday (25.5" scale 20 frets) Edited February 9, 2008 by carousel182 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pariah223 Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 hey carousel, could you post a picture of the fixture you used to make the radius dish.. you showed it to me a while back, but i didnt bookmark it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted February 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 I took no pictures and have since destroyed the jig and made it into templates and stuff. The fixture was basically the same as Mattias I believe. And I believe there is a picture of that in here. Oh yea http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/st...17/DSCN0151.jpg its not really sanded at all, thats going to be this guitars fingerboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pariah223 Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 could someone post the link to mattia's jig? i cant seem to locate it considering he has 146 pages of posts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 could someone post the link to mattia's jig? i cant seem to locate it considering he has 146 pages of posts You're allowed to PM me, y'know Are you talking about the radius dish making jig? I only have one decent pic: Basic explanation: the rails the router run on are radiused to the appropriate arch (Google 'long compass' or similar for a way to draw it, or there's a spreadsheet/PDF file with measurements to mark out common radii in the MIMF.com library), doublestick taped in place. The dish has a hole in the center and spins around on a bolt in a scrap of wood that's clamped in the workmate. Basically: route the arch, twist dish, route a bit more, twist dish, etc. etc. etc. until the job's done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pariah223 Posted February 16, 2008 Report Share Posted February 16, 2008 ah yes i have seen that picture before... i finally figured out how to use the mimf library as well, couldnt find it and realized i had to register.. anyway, im done hijacking this post, back to you carousel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted February 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2008 I really don't care if anyone posts in here to ask questions. There are a lot of good replies in this thread that could be helpful to anyone thinking about building an acoustic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted May 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 okay, Im going to be restarting this build within the next week. I'm once again castless and can get back to working in the shop effectively. I'm going to order some spruce today or tomorrow and get some tools from stewmac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pariah223 Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 my thread jumpstart your motivation? hehe... glad to hear your cast is off, looking foward to your progress shots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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