razzark Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 What are some options to shape bodies if a bandsaw isn't available? A hell of a lot of sandpaper???.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skibum5545 Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 Router with top bearing pattern bit (some possible depth issues) Jigsaw (edges aren't 90 degrees) Break out the coping saw! (not reccommended) Go to a local college, cabinetry/carpentry store, mill, or lumberyard and either borrow their bandsaw or have them do it for you, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truerussian558 Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 you guys missed the best alternjative, a scroll saw. it is powered and move the part you are working one instead of the tool, plus its useful for small jobs, like making your won truss rod cover and other more presice jobs that a bandsaw cant do or you risk cutting your fingers off, or it being not precise. also its better because you can cut shapes out aof a block without going in from the sides (like for making templates), you drill a pilot hole and then take off the blade and replace it through the pilot hole, quick and easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razzark Posted June 3, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 Jigsaw (edges aren't 90 degrees) What do you mean by edges aren't 90 degrees? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skibum5545 Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 you won't have square corners on the edge. THey might be angled in, out, or alternating. Generally you want the sides square with te top. You'll need a GOOD sander if you choose this method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirit Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 Take the word "bandsaw". Remove the 'b' to get "andsaw". Put an 'h' at the begining of the word. You get "handsaw". There's your answer! (Or maybe what these other guys suggested) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 drill holes all around .keep around 1/8" outside the body outline. Then cut the parts between the holes with whatever will do the job; Jig-saw, coping saw, etc Then use the router to clean it up, or sandpaper. But I always keep the sandpaper to a minimum, because it's way too tedious trying to remove 1/8" of wood with sandpaper. You probably should have listed tools that you DO have, or have access to. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddie-7 Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 i got my little bandsaw FOR FREE from a construction company who closed its workshop it's a small three-wheeled metabo thingy but great for body-forming! go and ask joiners or carpenters or look for those lil machines on the 'bay, good luck! eddie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fizzy_elephant Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 What i noticed when i built my bass was that time and money are inversely proportional to each other... The more time you spend, the less it potentially costs and vice versa. The more you spend on tools, generally the quicker the project will move along. I made the big mistake of sacrificing some quality to improve time and cost together. What im trying to say i guess... is that you could use a lot of sandpaper, but to get good results it would take you a hell of a lot of time. Alternatively you can spend a little money on the right tools and the job will take less time. Like these guys say.. find a bandsaw or scroll saw to save a lot of time, but if you have the time to spare, you can try a hand saw of some kind. hope that helps... or at least makes some sense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGM Guitars Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 Man, there is no way I would want to try and cut a 2" thick body blank (or 1.800") with a scroll saw. It would barely fit under the head at the bottom of the stroke (that really sounds sick doesn't it?) that would be sloooooow going I think and I've got a wicked scroll saw. Besides, a good scroll saw can cost nearly as much as a band saw in the end anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 LGM is right on the money with this one. I sure wouldn't dare try to cut out a 2" hardwood with one either, you'll more than likely burn it up, burn up your wood, or break blade after blade in the process. If you don't have a bandsaw, use a jigsaw but make sure you cut enough away from your line so that any play won't cross over into an area that wasn't suppose to be cut, somewhere around 1/4"-1/2" away is safe. Then use a template and flush trim router bit to finish it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregP Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 I must have a ****-tastic jigsaw (which... actually, I DO!), because my scroll saw does a superior job to my jigsaw, which isn't bad quality. I'd rather use the scroll saw any day. On the other hand, a bandsaw's the way to go, and there are places you can go to borrow/rent time on theirs. Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 I've just brought a new Jigsaw (800w) and it cuts though guitar blanks very fast with no burning, I find using good quality blades makes all the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Santa Claws Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 Jigsaw will work perfect, i use one, i got one for 49 Euro's and Works Great, i used a bandsaw before to cut out my freinds guitar, and to be honest, i would much rather do it with a Jigsaw. ......Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 i used a scroll saw once on some maple...the blade broke within about 30 seconds,and it was quite the pain in the ass trying to set it back up for another go...bandsaw is much better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truerussian558 Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 i used a scroll saw once on some maple...the blade broke within about 30 seconds i broke about 10 blades cutting my body out of 2" alder, then i realized i didnt tensiopn it enough and that i was pushing too hard, so i tightened the blade, went a bit slower and im still using the last blade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 i was going quite slow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavnerGuitarWorks Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 I use my very old Dremel Moto Shop scroll saw. I have a 16" Delta bandsaw but I'd rather put the wear and tear on the cheaper saw. You can buy a moto shop on ebay for about $25.00 and I have to say it is money well spent. If you're lucky enough to get all the attatchments that go on it, you could build a complete guitar with nothing else. They feature a disc sander attatchment, a buffing wheel, and a flex shaft attatchment that you could get a router base for, and many more. I was lucky, my grandfather-in-law bought one brand new with all the attatchments and never used it. It's now mine and I wouldn't use anything else to cut the bodies with. I have already bought 2 more in case something happens to this one. As long as the tool you use is properly set up and adjusted for the job at hand you shouldn't experience any problems. So long as you're not trying to cut a 2 1/2" slab of purpleheart with a $10.00 single speed "Handi-Works" jig saw with cheap Black and Decker blades that you bought at walmart, 10 for $1.50. I've burnt the motors on many a jigsaw trying to cut body blanks, and will never do it again. But, that's just my experience and my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Santa Claws Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 well, i have a bosch, jigsaw for around 10 years now that we picked up in the market for 10 irish pounds. and if ya ask me, Its well worth it. Later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.