Devon Headen Posted February 22, 2004 Report Share Posted February 22, 2004 Is it possible to cut a body out with a router? Would a jigsaw work better? My biggest problem is going to be rough cutting the shape of the neck without a bandsaw . I might try to find somebody that has one, but does anyone have other ideas? I'm gonna have to cut the angled headstock out too. The wood selection is goona be purpleheart neck, with purpleheart top/mahogany bottom wings. Bocote fretboard/binding/pickup rings/control cavity(ies). Should I go with chrome or gold hardware? Approx. wood choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernie Posted February 22, 2004 Report Share Posted February 22, 2004 I guess you would be able to rough cut the body with a router. It would probably take you a couple of passes with the router at different depths and even from both side of the body depending on how thick your wood is. Lots of sanding after that though to get a smooth shape. I cut out the entire neck of my project using a normal saw. Lots of muscle had to go intto that. The only thing that gave me a bit of a problem was getting a smooth transition from the angled headstock and the back of the neck. Took me forever to smooth sand that part. I wish I had a bandsaw too... time to start saving up. ernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanKirk Posted February 22, 2004 Report Share Posted February 22, 2004 Are there any woodworking businesses around your area? Maybe a community college with a wood shop? If the employees/teachers are cool you may be able to use there equipment long enough to cut out a body and neck. Sometimes a six pack of beer helps I've gotten to know some guys at the City Building in my town. They seem excited to see my project and help out by letting me use their equipment. They have a full woodworking and metal shop there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted February 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 What about a jigsaw? I'll get my brother to ask around at school and see if I can use some equipment there. He (my brother) works at a furniture building place, but something about insurance makes me not be able to use their machines. Hardware opinions, please. Devon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Litchfield Custom Gutars Posted February 23, 2004 Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 The body can be cut with a router, but I reccomend that one cuts it roughly with a jig/scroll/band saw first. I'd say gold hardware. Look here at my purpleheart. I am willing to sell you a top set if you are interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithb Posted February 23, 2004 Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 I used a jigsaw to cut the body for my project bass. Be prepared to go through a blade or two, but it worked fine for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Litchfield Custom Gutars Posted February 23, 2004 Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 So...is this a guitar or bass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted February 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 Guitar...I already have the purpleheart, but thanks for the offer. Jigsaw it is Devon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Litchfield Custom Gutars Posted February 23, 2004 Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 No prob man. I have a bunch of the figured stuff...I bought it for necks, but it is so top worthy, I gotta do it or sell a topset. Keep us updated in the progress section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted February 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 I'll start a thread as soon as I get the stuff together. Devon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted February 23, 2004 Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 Make sure you cut at least 1/2" away from the line because the blade of a jigsaw won't cut straight down at all times. That way you have enough room for mistakes. Then line the template back up and use either a roto-sander or flush trim bit to go around it to get the edges perfect. You do have a template don't you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted February 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 Gonna make one. Devon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted February 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 Actually, how would I go about making one? That just occured to me . Smart one here. Would I use close to the same method as used on the body? Devon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted February 23, 2004 Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 We'll you can get someone to cut you out a good template from plywood with a scroll saw after you have drawn out the pattern you want. Or if you want to get more accurate you can draw it on CAD and then get someone who can laser cut you one out of acrylic or wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted February 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 I might can get the scroll-saw idea to work, but I don't know many people with laser cutters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted February 23, 2004 Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 There are alot of company's that will laser cut from a CAD file. Company's such as this are easy to find you'll just have to do some research to find a good price. Doing a search on Google will give you alot of contacts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted February 23, 2004 Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 purple heart is a tricky wood to rout depending on the grain and how you want to cut it.... it can chip out like a mother _______ ..... it's fine for doing hum, and bridge routes but those are all enclosed areas, some thing like body wings i'd be very cautious and ruff cut on a saw of any kind, then just try and sand to the line Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted February 23, 2004 Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 I have found what KrazyDerek to be saying the same as I have discovered. I have never had a tearout, but then again I haven't routed with only 1/4" from the line of my body drawing. When cutting out the body, I tend to stay 2 to 3 inches away from the outline drawn from the template. It seems like if you take too much wood away, it'll end up grabbing and tearing. I'm not sure if this is correct, but I've found it to be true. I just route straight to the template, with a small amount of depth, then go around the body of the guitar following the template. Then making multiple passes till it's all cut out. I guess what I'm saying is that the router bits work best when it's wood all around instead of just one side of the bit. Anyone else notice this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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