Crusader Posted August 21, 2022 Report Share Posted August 21, 2022 So when I saw the Ash on Stewmac I completely forgot about my desire to make a guitar out of this old timber I saved from going to the tip. So now it will become the Telecaster I didn't make with the Ash And the Single Mens Quarters - these days I don't even have a garden shed! The landlords daughter used to come over and look around and say "Doug and all his friends" 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akula Posted August 22, 2022 Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 Nice! What kind of timber is that? - Jam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusader Posted August 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2022 On 8/22/2022 at 11:19 PM, Akula said: What kind of timber is that? My father says its Oregon (Douglas fir) To me it looks like Cedar Its from an old bed and whatever it is, I reckon it must be over a hundred years old Here is the manufacturer's label, it might help find its identity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iommichild Posted August 24, 2022 Report Share Posted August 24, 2022 I'm pretty sure thats fir. Its pretty ubiquitous here in the Pacific NW, and SVG fir is used a lot as mouldings/trims and stuff. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted August 25, 2022 Report Share Posted August 25, 2022 13 hours ago, Crusader said: My father says its Oregon (Douglas fir) To me it looks like Cedar You may both be right, conifer woods tend to look similar and as with other species the naming may vary even cross species. Wasn't there some wood down there called "pine" or "fir" despite not being of the same family? I guess "mahogany" is the most widely spread name, describing looks rather than species. When renovating my house I bought an inexpensive lot of spruce panel but ran out of it for one wall so I had to buy some pine for that. They're all natural but after 25 years it's hard to tell the difference if you don't know where to look. The biggest difference is in the knots, spruce has small round ones whereas pine knots are of lighter colour and often slanted. In first grade knotless wood the difference is much harder to tell. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistermikev Posted August 25, 2022 Report Share Posted August 25, 2022 idk what kind of wood it is but my guestimate would be fir. really should consider somehow preserving and incorporating that label... just so cool... but perhaps late for that. really just came in here to ask: "really? no one else gonna address the elephant in the room? I'm the only one who noticed the most epic clamps in clamp history? those bloody things look like they would take effort to lift!" hehe NICE CLAMPS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusader Posted August 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2022 1 hour ago, mistermikev said: ... really should consider somehow preserving and incorporating that label... just so cool... but perhaps late for that. I haven't used that piece of wood because the sides are rounded, but I'm glad about that for the reason you mentioned Oh and the clamps are made in Germany, I love those things! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistermikev Posted August 25, 2022 Report Share Posted August 25, 2022 38 minutes ago, Crusader said: I haven't used that piece of wood because the sides are rounded, but I'm glad about that for the reason you mentioned Oh and the clamps are made in Germany, I love those things! noice and noice-er. those are about as heavy duty as I've ever seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusader Posted August 29, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2022 To me the piece on the left looks like Cedar, on the right Oregon. But a quick google I conclude its probably all Oregon, also because Cedar is usually used for window frames etc. Had to bring out the sash cramps for this job! Finished the template and got the body all routered today I used a piece of thick card to locate the screw holes of the Stratocaster neck and bolted it to The Telecaster body. Then measuring from the nut I located the bridge and pickup locations With the neck attached I put it on the scales along with all the hardware I could think of and what a surprise, just over 7 pounds! I am really excited about this project I can't wait to get strings on it but drats it will have to wait till another day 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Crusader Posted August 31, 2022 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted August 31, 2022 Got right into it yesterday arvo routing pickup wells and wiring channels It got late and had to stop using the router so I did the wiring channel for the neck pickup the same way as a Les Paul...very scientific The drill bit didn't go on the angle I hoped for but its fine, at least it didn't go through the top or anything stupid The trickiest bit was the holes for the string thru body. Drilled through from both sides, on the template first and the body and.........ta da! its alive! Oh yeah and speaking of Cedar, heres a door I fitted 15 years ago and now ruined by the dog. I had to replace them. Looking at the grain of the veneer it makes me wonder if that is really Cedar, it could easily be Fir 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADFinlayson Posted September 2, 2022 Report Share Posted September 2, 2022 That is some impressive drilling! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akula Posted September 3, 2022 Report Share Posted September 3, 2022 I agree - drilling string through holes without a press is quite the talent. I got myself a DrillMate for about fifty bucks and it helps out heaps. But looking at the product of your steady hand in these photos, I don't think you need it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted September 3, 2022 Report Share Posted September 3, 2022 He's a DrillMate indeed! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusader Posted September 4, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2022 I've just had a really busy week so tonight I'm just chillin with a couple of Coronas and a few Youtubes. Managed to drill a few holes in the Tele earlier, I'm getting there inch by inch. Control cavity done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusader Posted September 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2022 Just for the record, yes it does sound like a Telecaster! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusader Posted September 18, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2022 I finally got around to making a neck I could have used this piece of maple for a top but it was the right length and thickness for necks. Decided to stick to a traditional Tele shape headstock just a bit oversized Happy with results so far 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Crusader Posted February 20, 2023 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 5 Months! it is too long and I am glad to get moving with The Telecaster again. Recently got progress with the neck Every time I do something its a little different to the previous time In this photo its the blocks of wood to hold the neck in place to keep it central These frets were marked out using the Tape Measure, lets see how it intonates! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusader Posted March 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2023 I did some work on this today and its turning out really nice The only thing that annoys me is the glue (or oil) stains across the lower bout. The thought crossed my mind to do that all over and have an effect like Leopard spots...but I think I will leave it as is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted March 16, 2023 Report Share Posted March 16, 2023 1 hour ago, Crusader said: The only thing that annoys me is the glue (or oil) stains across the lower bout. Most likely oil since it's so evenly spread/spaced. Aren't we talking about wood reclaimed from a bed? I'm thinking about a steel mesh stretched to a frame, oiled to prevent squeaking. I'd call them beauty marks that tell about the history of the wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusader Posted March 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 Yes its most likely oil And I like how the bottom section has blended with the rest after sanding. I hope it stays that way after spraying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 4 hours ago, Crusader said: Yes its most likely oil And speaking of beds with spring loaded mesh bottoms, the darkness comes from iron dust caused by the original squeaking. Some horizontal mambo involved... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusader Posted June 4, 2023 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2023 I did the tuning peg holes on the Strat with a drill press but that didn't turn out all that good. A bit of a cheap tool, a bit wobbly and besides it was raining bucketloads today so I wasn't going out to the shed in that. Decided to use my own ingenuity for The Telecaster and its turned out pretty good One or two years ago I took a 25/64" drill bit and made it tapered to match the tuning pegs. Not sure if thats a good idea or overkill but I like it Its a bit blunt now so I started off with 1/16" then a 9mm hole. I actually managed to drill straight and square from both sides with the 1/16" and they met up perfectly, and the 9mm followed. I'm sure if I tried the 9mm without the 1/16" pilot hole they would have been misaligned. The final drill bit tended to grab a bit so I had to drill with some caution but it all turned out well 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusader Posted June 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2023 Found this is a previous build, doh! it would have helped stop the drill bit "grabbing" What did I do with that block of wood?....goodness knows! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusader Posted October 6, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2023 Getting a lot of work lately due to another carpenter going off to live in Cervantes. However I still manage to get some progress on important things now and then, and I don't mean mowing the grass Here's my effort at drilling String Ferrules. I think I need a drill press that can reach far enough to drill the body, never mind...... Not perfect but its done If I do any more Fender style guitars I don't think I will bother with Ferrules. Its nice to think you're getting more vibration into the wood but its quite a hassle to do and I keep forgetting they're there. Like when putting the guitar on a table top. I wonder why its rocking and suddenly realise the ferrules are probably scratching the table! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted October 6, 2023 Report Share Posted October 6, 2023 12 minutes ago, Crusader said: I wonder why its rocking and suddenly realise the ferrules are probably scratching the table! You don't countersink them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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