KnightroExpress Posted October 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 Thank you! Back to the neck: I start by cutting the back taper to proper thickness in a little router jig, which gives me a good reference plane to work from. Then, I move on to blending the heel and volute transitions. Finally, I do the traditional faceting/rounding process. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
103801061982 Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 Damn that's classy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted October 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 Thank you! Man, I didn't realize how behind I am on posting! A bit of basic prep work on the multi 8: And back to the ash/walnut sixer, I drilled some holes, tested the hardware, installed huge SS frets, made a matching walnut back plate, and sanded a lot. I'm hoping to get through the sanding process and have some oil on this one by the end of next week, fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 Top class work as always Andrew! I'd provide more feedback if I were able to breathe and move around. Still laid up, and writing off the tablet is laborious. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psikoT Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 I should consider to get one of those acrylic template sets some day, it definitely makes the difference. Fantastic job on this one, it looks perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 Point of note re: acrylic templates. If your bearing isn't clean and free-running, it can melt the acrylic on first contact as it slows down. I use a small piece of masking tape for the "lead in" where the bearing first contacts either MDF or acrylic, and pull it off/re-apply every time I remove the router from a cut. It's another good reason for regularly cleaning bearings/cutters and inspecting their general condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 is laser cutting the only way to get acrylic templates or can they be "made" just by copying an mdf template? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 Acrylic can be copy routed from MDF, yes. You just have to do it at the slowest setting that the router can manage as PMMA is a thermoplastic. Get it too hot and it welds back to itself or melts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 PMMA routs beautifully, and as long as you're getting feathery flakes off it then you're fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 ah cool, I bought a few pieces to see if I can make some templates for myself but I started having second thoughts.. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 No second thoughts necessary. Just cut the PMMA 2-3mm short of the finished line and rout it clean. It's pretty satisfying to rout, but then again it's isotropic unlike wood! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted October 23, 2016 Report Share Posted October 23, 2016 Acrylic/Perspex shavings become statically charged as they fly off the cutter, so you end up with the world's worst case of dandruff after a few minutes working the stuff. Trying to catch up with the goings on here on the forum after a six week holiday - you've definitely ramped up the progress in the workshop, @KnightroExpress in the interim. May I ask where the bridge and pickups for the multi-8 came from? Almost looks like the bridge is a slanted Hipshot (non-production)? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted October 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2016 +1 on the charged bits of plastic, it's even worse than pickguard material! @curtisa I'm happy to share! The pickups are Bare Knuckle, they offer 10 degree slanted baseplates as an option. The bridge is a Hipshot 8 string bridge, slanted at 18 degrees. I got in on the first consumer-available production run of these. Also, I've got the only nickel-plated one as far as I know. They're not on the website yet, so you'll have to call and order directly. Hipshot is going to offer 6, 7, and 8 string bridges in a few different degree variations soon. I have a couple preview spec sheets and will have the full DWG files for everything soon, so let me know if you want any additional info! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted October 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Before I get too far in the sanding process, I like to take care of any remaining tasks that might require fixing if I screw them up Aligning the tuners and drilling for their retainer screws: Installed machine screw inserts at the pickup mounting points: Painting the control cavity and backplate with conductive paint: Aaaaand now back to sanding. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 29, 2016 Report Share Posted October 29, 2016 Sanding is a thankless task if you let it be, however it can also be the most rewarding once the wood comes up perfect from all angles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted October 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2016 Oh, for sure! I'm not complaining about the process, I just don't have much to take pics of until it's done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Natural Posted October 30, 2016 Report Share Posted October 30, 2016 nice job on all the axes. and you guys with the sick shop set ups- so jealous! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted November 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 Thank you! I'm waiting on paint and decals for the ash/walnut 6, so I've just been attempting to get the shop somewhat organized. Oh, and I've been working on a couple of my other projects: I'm going to end up completely redoing the V-inspired guitar, too many little details haven't been cooperating with me. Thankfully, I made a second set of blanks for this design, so it's not a big deal to redo the woodwork.... I'd much rather start fresh than try to kludge something together. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psikoT Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 8 hours ago, KnightroExpress said: I'm going to end up completely redoing the V-inspired guitar, too many little details haven't been cooperating with me. What??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted November 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 It's mainly the result of a templating error on my part. The neck pocket just isn't how it needs to be, which resulted in an ugly join on the neck sides. Well, that and some ugly carving on the bass side of the heel as I was working out how I wanted it to flow. It's all good, just some prototyping issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psikoT Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 Maybe you could revisit the headstock as well... ^^ I see it too classic for a V. For the heel, I'd go for something more standard and simmetrical, carved heels and belly carves are not really needed in Vs IMO. It's a pitty, I really liked that body. It was perfectly done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted November 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2016 You're too kind! With the server issue/reset thing done, I'm hoping it's safe to post. Cut, sand, rout: Drill, then rout a bit more: A quick mockup and we'll call it a day! Still waiting on decals and paint supplies...the ash/walnut guitar will get wrapped up as soon as I get those in hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted November 9, 2016 Report Share Posted November 9, 2016 Well, I hope so. It was a big screwup at Amazon's cloud service that caused it so we lost 48hrs or so of posts and even the FP GOTM entry. I've got to go in and rewrite that one. Sorry about that. It came out of the blue and yeah, not much we can do to pre-empt or fix it I'm afraid. That really is clean and controlled work, but then again we've come to expect that of you. Which drill bits are you using? That looks like a Colt TwinLand. As you know, there's been huge quality issues with those. Are they the French or German ones? I am firm in the belief that they're a step up from big box store fodder now (and a reasonable price at that) but nowhere near the standard of the originals. Your eye for design is on the mark as well. The pickguard is simple, tasteful and weighted nicely. I'm not so much of a fan of the swept inner V curve, but this isn't being designed by or for me, after all. A winning design and quality work to pull it off like it deserves too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted November 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2016 Ah, you're too kind! I've still got a lot to learn (hence the total redo!), but I appreciate the encouragement Yep, I'm using TwinLands. Mine are German, I bought them 5-ish years ago. My sets have always performed well and don't match the packaging or rough quality of the ones in your recent review, so I think I got in before the decline. I've purchased a few random Fisch HSS bits in various sizes, they seem to be very well made and will likely be my choice of replacements for the TwinLands whenever that's necessary. Back to work! More little stuff today...sanding, grain filling, paint testing. The face of this headstock will be painted black, so the rosewood strips need to have their pores filled. With that drying, I moved on to the neck and fretboard for the surf green V. I'll get some pics of the paint when I go back in on Friday, I'm really happy with the color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted November 10, 2016 Report Share Posted November 10, 2016 Slot-o-matic! hahahaha "Yeah yeah! Slots, SLOTS! Eh-heh-eheh-heheheh"- Beavis 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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