toddler68

Garage sales, flea markets, and pawn shops. While you're in the pawn shops, be sure to look for cool guitars for cheap.

I couldn't agree more. Some might say I sound like a broken record, but estate auctions are also an excellent source for cheap tools. Got a Delta 14" enclosed base wood/metal cutting bandsaw for $170 at an auction. Oh, and eBay. I just bought a really nice 6" Jet jointer off eBay for $200. So your price points are achievable, just maybe not buying brand new tools. Check out your local 'trading post' publication or auctionzip.com to find upcoming auctions in your area.

100 grit on a random orbit sander. Easy as cake.

By the way, I love the look of that spruce. I think I saw a Parker Fly artist model with a natural spruce top on it. Looked stellar. Nice choice.

That is awesome! I have seen similar setups sold at Rockler and such, but if that thing can really do a compound surface like that... well I must invest in one. They're not even $60!!

Judging by that first log pic, there's likely more figure in it than you realize. Definitely get it debarked and milled ASAP if you want to salvage it. Looks like spalt starting in the heartwood in pic 2...could be interesting

I have always wanted to build something with wood from a tree I actually chopped down myself. Something fascinating and primitive about the whole process...

Dude, that is smokin' hot. I especially love the raw look of the body wood. I have been a great fan of your Milk Dud design. It is unique and looks very ergonomic, like it wants to snuggle up to you and have you rub its belly! Nice contrast with the neck binding too.

FYI...there is a veneer press on eBay for $89 and I want it but have no room for it. Besides, my wife will cut me off if I buy any more used equipment. It looks to be big enough to do guitar bodies and such. Someone in the Indy area please buy this and put it to good use. The seller also has a nice Delta band saw for sale for $315. It is identical to the one I just picked up at an estate auction last week. Great machine to restore, although I think it's about $50 too expensive.

Don't buy the guy's jointer though because I think I might want it.

I second the gunstock oil. I used it (Tru-Oil) to finish my entire first build. The neck is especially nice playing and still preserves the open grained look and feel.

Right on, man! Don't forget to pass on what you learn to the rest of us.

:)pretty cool. what colour you going for? I love black hardware it rocks. should be a great guitar

Most probably white, although metallic silver comes in a close 2nd.

I second the metallic silver. Very classy, especially contrasting with the black hardware!

Toddler, I scored this a week ago

Nice! Did you get as good a deal as you got with the dye?

By the way, where do you work that there'd be a bunch of LMI and StewMac dyes lying around?

I just scored a 14" Delta at an auction and I'm trying to pimp it out. Where are you guys buying your Timberwolf blades? I've seen some online outlets selling them for around $17, but at Woodcraft they're like $29! Any recommendations?

Also, is there any significant difference between 3 TPI and 4 TPI? I'm just looking for an all-around good blade for resawing and cutting out body blanks, etc. Thanks,

Todd

That's a good score! Those things are like $15 a bottle.

I've only used the alcohol soluble kind, so I can't really comment on the water soluble. I used denatured alcohol which worked great, but I think I saw on the Reranch site that lacquer thinner is OK as a solvent too. I also read somewhere that water-soluble is more resistant to fading. Don't know if it's true, but that's what I heard. Just my $.02.

I'm surprised no one has provided an image to illustrate their suggestions.

yeah, check out GOTM, or his website

I'm digging the guitar in your avatar too. Got any other pics?

Thanks, I posted that guitar on the guitar of the month post: http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=22620

Who feels like an idiot? Yeah, that'd be me...

Must've snuck it in when I wasn't looking. I really like it!

Nice! Love that sick green color... and the LED's.

I'm digging the guitar in your avatar too. Got any other pics?

I'm diggin' it, Matt. You might have to change the name, tho.

Schecter

My dilema is simple, $15 for the possiblity of fixing the Craftsman or $90 for a new Bosch.

When in doubt, get both. You could put the Craftsman in a router table and use the Bosch for hand work. Definitely give the brushes a try. They are an inexpensive first step. I bought a 'broken' Porter Cable 690 for $15 at an auction, put new brushes in ($11 I think) and it worked like a champ. I use it to this day.

Absolutely beautiful! Where do you get your burl from?

It has been so long, I can't remember. Some guy on eBay. About 80% of the wood and parts for this and my last guitar is from eBay.

I've never seen a dyed burl top before, but I have to say, it's just stunning. Excellent work as always, and that color is just dead on.

Yeah, I couldn't really find any info on dying burl. I wasn't sure I even wanted to attempt it, but I'm really glad I did. If anyone else has done it, I'd really like to compare notes.

Do you mean Alsacorp?

http://www.alsacorp.com/products/crazer/crazer_prodinfo.htm

Wow, that's some cool stuff. Looks like alien skin or something. Wicked!

i like the grain and finish of your first one better, but damn, that's a nice looking guitar. not usually one for purples, but it's a very nice shade.

Yeah, I'm more of a natural finish kinda guy myself. When the guy said purple I was like ? Uh, OK. But he really picked a nice shade. I'm just glad I could come close to matching it.

WOW!!!

Leave it like that!!! its perfect

That looks amazing!

I wouldnt dare burst the outer edge, I woulnt want to hide that figuring. Maybe a small thin burst but no more. Of course its your guitar, so whatever you chose to do, good luck!

Looks great so far!

Thanks! Actually, it's not my guitar but you'll be happy to know that the guy I'm making it for decided to leave off the edge burst... for the same reason you mentioned.

It has been quite a while since I made any progress on this one (moved to a new house... right before I lost my job ) but I thought I'd give you guys an update. This is my first experience with aniline dyes and I am very happy. I am going to seal this with some shellac and then burst the very outside edge darker. Wish me luck. Oh, and let me know what you think...

Man, I can't believe nobody replied to this. Well, I hope you haven't been waiting this whole time, but here's my $.02.

Clorox is not as strong as you think. One of the best recommendations I've gotten from the forum is this - Kleen Strip 2-part wood bleach. Don't get the Liberon stuff they sell at Woodcraft. It's worthless. The Kleen Strip will make your wood (maple, in my case) almost white after about 3 applications. However, I made a similar mistake to yours and even 6 or 7 applications would not take the stain out. It says right on the package not for removing stain. Mine was alcohol based Transfast and it holds like a mofo. My orbital sander was the only thing that could touch it. Hope you have better luck than me.

Are you talking 1/2" diameter with a 1/2" depth of cut? If so, I just bought one at Rockler. It's a template bit so it's got the bearing too. Most of my templates are on 3/8" inch MDF and all the standard bits cut too deep or I had to 'thicken' the template to do shallow cuts like control cavities etc. It works like a champ and only $20. Just FYI...