Gilmourisgod Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 I started a separate post about my woes with a mahogany body/Steinberger grahite neck project. I'll post photos soon, but I was wondering what other builders (not sure I qualify yet, halfway through first guitar build) do to carve relief for elbow in the upper top edge of a guitar body (a-la-Stratocaster, Jazz Bass, etc) and the belly relief at the middle edge. I have a belt sander I tried on a plywood mockup of the body, and it worked OK, a little hard to control. I don't own a drawknife or have the skill to use it yet, any suggestions? I suppose they are all CNC machined perfectly on production guitars, any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willliam_q Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 I use a hand plane. As long as it's sharp it will do a great job. It gives loads of control and you can see exactly what you are taking off. That will give you a nice flat bevel, if you want to curve it I would use a rasp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 I use an angle grinder. Removes wood fast, and is easy to control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilmourisgod Posted January 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 kILLEMALL8 Nice work! My mahogany body is about the same size, even though it's for a bass, as the neck is very thin. Is that going to be a natural finish? I'd hate to see that grain covered up. I'm nervous to start cutting these relief curves, guess I'll be OK if I go real slow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 If you're using the angle grinder/sanding disk method do it outside and wear a dust musk. It makes a lot of dusty mess. I prefer using scrapers, block planes, microplanes, rasps and/or spokeshaves. The spokeshave and round microplane get a lot of use for the body relief carve where the cut is concave. Block plane and rasp for the convex areas (elbow relief). Scraper can be used in either type of curve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Dont be nervous. That is probably the most simple thing to do on an entire build. I can do the one like pictured in about 5 minutes with an angle grinder. Probably even less, actually. It will be natural. I never cover up mahogany. You will be fine, just draw it out first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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