Elias Graves
Common misfit
Woo hoo! Success! We have a partial neck blank.
Guitar Build 2017!
- Thread starter Elias Graves
- Start date
Elias Graves
Common misfit
I gotta dig out the planer, which is going to suck.
The old Buick is parked in the garage, blocking my way to the shelf where the planer sits.
My garage door busted the other day and, of course, it's not a standard size. The new one won't be here for three more weeks. I may have to go garage spelunking.
The old Buick is parked in the garage, blocking my way to the shelf where the planer sits.
My garage door busted the other day and, of course, it's not a standard size. The new one won't be here for three more weeks. I may have to go garage spelunking.
jelloman
Couch'd Tater...
Send one of the boys in...tell him no more xbox until you have planer...
Elias Graves
Common misfit
We'll see what happens when they stop laughing.
Elias Graves
Common misfit
Lol. No, but I did break out the hand plane and sanding block. That's some slow work on hard maple and walnut.
Yikes! That's why this will take until 2017. LOLLol. No, but I did break out the hand plane and sanding block. That's some slow work on hard maple and walnut.
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Elias Graves
Common misfit
Exactly.
Elias Graves
Common misfit
There we go. Nothing a little elbow grease can't smooth out with a block plane and sandpaper.
It's officially a board now. Lol.
Now on to the third piece!
It's officially a board now. Lol.
Now on to the third piece!
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Elias Graves
Common misfit
This maple has some figure to it. I thought those were just machine tool marks but smoothed out with some mineral spirits on it, you can see the flame. This neck is gonna look killer.
And it's giving me an idea to do a maple fretboard and maybe a maple stripe down the front like this.
And it's giving me an idea to do a maple fretboard and maybe a maple stripe down the front like this.
Elias Graves
Common misfit
Caught up with my buddy Rodney The Cabinet Shop Guy and he generously allowed me to use some tools.
Got the rest of the neck blank cut.
And three boards to make the main body. Woot.
And made some scraps. This is about half the leftovers. The rest was knots and sap wood.
Got the rest of the neck blank cut.
And three boards to make the main body. Woot.
And made some scraps. This is about half the leftovers. The rest was knots and sap wood.
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CBHScott
How did I get here?
Elias Graves
Common misfit
Well, the piece I cut for the neck is a reject. :(
Two big issues.
First is this 3" long split that showed up when we planed. It's actually in a location that gets cut off if I lay it out right. But it just gets cut off and if the split follows the grain, it will show up in the headstock.
Second is this.
See how the grain changes orientation toward the bottom on that left piece? I thought I was going to get most of that out with the planer but it didn't happen.
I have another board here to use. (The orangey looking one in the background of the pics). I was afraid it wouldn't be wide enough when planed but it will. The grain is straighter. I want it as straight as I can in the neck.
Two big issues.
First is this 3" long split that showed up when we planed. It's actually in a location that gets cut off if I lay it out right. But it just gets cut off and if the split follows the grain, it will show up in the headstock.
Second is this.
See how the grain changes orientation toward the bottom on that left piece? I thought I was going to get most of that out with the planer but it didn't happen.
I have another board here to use. (The orangey looking one in the background of the pics). I was afraid it wouldn't be wide enough when planed but it will. The grain is straighter. I want it as straight as I can in the neck.
Guitar Heel
Demented Trick
Argh. Glad you have a plan B
Elias Graves
Common misfit
It happens. Always have a plan B.
The body boards turned out to be a lousy match after planing.
I have two boards with an orange hue and one with purple. I can't find an aesthetically pleasing arrangement for them, either. And I only have a few body length slabs remaining...I'm not cutting into more just to see if it mates up better so what I have is it.
Oh well, gives me the excuse I've been looking for.
Chrome yellow with black pick guard.
The body boards turned out to be a lousy match after planing.
I have two boards with an orange hue and one with purple. I can't find an aesthetically pleasing arrangement for them, either. And I only have a few body length slabs remaining...I'm not cutting into more just to see if it mates up better so what I have is it.
Oh well, gives me the excuse I've been looking for.
Chrome yellow with black pick guard.
Elias Graves
Common misfit
Look what I found. A super straight piece of very hard quartersawn walnut just the right size for a fingerboard. It's fate. I'm gonna do it. What's the worst that could happen? It fails and then I have an excuse for another project...
Plus I saved $15 I can now shift to other things. That's a Kluson bridge instead of a Wilkinson.
Plus I saved $15 I can now shift to other things. That's a Kluson bridge instead of a Wilkinson.
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Elias Graves
Common misfit
Been experimenting with the walnut fretboard idea. Here's a sample I made up, partially in gloss clear (but not buffed or polished) and partially in danish oil & wax.
It took the radius just fine. I'll cut a couple of fret slots and see if it'll hold wire.
It took the radius just fine. I'll cut a couple of fret slots and see if it'll hold wire.
jelloman
Couch'd Tater...
I'm sure it will function just fine as a fingerboard...the problem you are going to run into is a matter of low oil content in walnut as opposed to rosewood and ebony...you will probably have to treat it quite regularly to keepnit from drying out and getting damaged from finger grease...
Elias Graves
Common misfit
Without a doubt. I imagine it'll need wax regularly. It is softer than the maple for sure. I doubt it would last long for a heavy bender. I'm gonna see if I can destroy it with my hands for a while and see how quickly it damages. I don't have to decide for a while and Woodcraft carries 3/8"x3"x24" hard maple in stock for $9 if I decide it won't work.