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("YOINK" and the "Ping" of a lightbulb illuminating sound somewhere above the head of FrankenWashie)
So the vac draws a vacuum in the bucket, dust goes in through the white hose and the pressure drop as it exits the hose drops it out of the airstream into the waiting bucket for collection. DO you get much blow through into the vac itself?
Yes that's right. There are better designs involving a simple cyclone but this was easy enough for me. I'll take a pic of the insides soon.
Yes the vac is still quite powerful too despite the bucket. Check YouTube for some diy dust extractors.
Just cut out the neck today. I had to use my hand saw for most parts because the jigsaw kept burning the wood.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psqkwrhtq3.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psorwjikmr.jpg
The flames here aren't as great as the top but they should look much better once a finish is applied.
I also managed to route the neck out. Curly maple chips easily and I had 2 spots on the headstock where I had chips. :(
I'm not sure if you can see, but the end of the neck is made for a 24 fret fingerboard with an overhang.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps7tjtbzef.jpg
wow looks awesome Simon, how come you are working on necks and not at work ?
Haha the reason why I'm able to build so quickly is because I'm taking some time off before I start work in September. Sadly from then on I probably won't be able to do any more and will most likely disappear from this forum! :(((Quote:
Originally Posted by wokkaboy
nice one Simon, the reason I ask is because I am so damn jealous you are in a man cave and I'm not !
surely you will have time to keep building after your job starts, no where near as many hours no doubt
Murphys fourth law of Luthiery states,
No matter how many clamps one has, there will still be a need for more clamps....
So damn true!Quote:
Originally Posted by dingobass
that's it, there is always room for at least one more clamp !
Today I managed to thickness down the headstock to the correct thickness of 15mm. I used a router sled for this. I then drilled the truss rod access hole and glued up the fingerboard.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psyzjl3aqt.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psnt4hdhgo.jpg
And I'm not sure why I've been such a muddle-head these few days. You would think I would learn from mistakes but I stupidly made some unforgivable mistakes. My truss rod channel was 1mm off centre at the headstock. I don't think 1mm will make a significant difference but it's just little errors like this that make me disappointed in myself. :( And I thought I had measured, measured, cut.
Another stupid blunder was during the fretboard glue up. In the midst of all the adrenaline in trying to spread the glue as quickly as possible and scrambling to get everything lined up and clamped, I forgot to remove the masking tape I put over the truss rod channel. While this shouldn't be a problem (People used to do it back in the days. Ben Crowe from Crimson Guitars deliberately did it before.), I was shocked at how I missed it out.
I guess I had an off-day or even an off-week. Hopefully I'll slow things down next week and make sure things are perfect.
On the bright side I think I had even glue squeeze out and no gaps. Hopefully I won't get a surprise tomorrow!
1mm off?.......
Go straight to the cupboard under the stairs in the naughty warehouse. 😝
I wouldnt stress about it, especially if it is on the Bass side.
As for the tape, I reckon everyone has done that at some point.
I use sellotape these days, being so thin it makes no difference if it is left on.
Only thing I am wary of is that it is only 2mm wider than than the rout so I end up with just 1mm either side.
You know you can buy Sellotape that's about 20mm wide don'tcha?Quote:
Originally Posted by dingobass
1mm out won't make much difference Simon but in case DB sent you to the Naughty Warehouse, what beverage would you like ? I'm the NW barman.
Poking the Dingo, that'll get you Warehouse time.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Muzza
clamps you have - y
clamps required to do job - x
x=y+1
that equation is spot on Stan !
or on a bigger job x = y + 5 !!
Stan, can the Cats upset the Crows tonight ? no pressure on Dangerfield !
I just realised I made that as clear as mud...Quote:
Originally Posted by Muzza
It should have read I use sellotape that is only 2mm wider than the rout channel.......
So 10mm stuff and I trim a few mm off after I apply it.
I need a beer, is it beer oclock yet?
Looking good Simon.Quote:
Originally Posted by stan
Ah yes, the ideal number of guitars equation!
I'm already crying in the naughty corner over my silly mistakes :'(
@Stan and woks - let x be clamps you'll need. X=infinity
@andrew - haha there can never be enough guitars!
Obligatory guitar memes:
http://memeshappen.com/media/created...meme-35752.jpg
https://cdn.meme.am/instances/57263091.jpg
https://cdn.meme.am/instances/65671617.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...cdfd907aa0.jpg
Anyway today I managed to trim the fretboard. I'm really happy with how it turned out. No gaps that I can see at the moment! Solid glue joint.
I used a flush trim bit in a router sled to make sure the router is 100% stable.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...pso1ntzslx.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...pspuikajlk.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psq1fool5a.jpg
And is it just me, or whenever I work with timbers I always think of food? When I was routing the Fijian mahogany, it smelled like smokey bbq sauce and I thought bbq ribs. When I was sanding the flamed maple neck it smelled like candy. And now working with ebony just reminds me of oreo crumbs and dark chocolate! Yum yum!
After that was done, I worked on the headstock transition. This time I tried using a chisel and it was fun and fast!
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...pscbaq0zwc.jpg
I think I did a better job for the headstock transition this time round. After thicknessing it, I drilled the truss rod access hole at a higher point so the drill bit wouldn't eat into the flat portion of the headstock. The last time I made the curved section of the transition and then drilled the truss rod hole. I must have started drilling at a lower point so the long drill bit actually cut into some part of the headstock. Sorry if I didn't explain it properly but basically the truss rod access hole now looks nicer and cleaner.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psspvehue2.jpg
Noice werk 😀
Thanks DB. Sorry I didn't have the guts to try a scarf joint. Haha.Quote:
Originally Posted by dingobass
Now you've made me hungry! Looks excellent.
Hey DB, in terms of measurements that looks to be about 1000mm-1100mm long and about 200mm wide (to outer edges) 200mm deep, would that be about right or am i way off?Quote:
Originally Posted by dingobass
Ok some major updates! Haven't been posting but I managed to finish the neck this week.
First up, the inlays. I cut out my "signature" asymmetrical diamonds (Not by choice. It's really hard to cut perfectly for such small items!) for the 12th and 24th fret. Then I added abalone dot markers for the remaining fret positions.
Here's a picture...Yucks! That looks gross!
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps2hymz8kz.jpg
Ah much better! She cleans up well.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psiklqv4et.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psc2ztbnaj.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psxlavusvk.jpg
And of course I'm unable to get a 100% accurate CNC slot because I'm only human and I have terrible eyesight, plus the slots are really tiny!
I also hate working with abalone dot markers because the pretty ones I select almost always get sanded down to ugly, plain looking ones. A super tiny difference of 0.5mm shaved off can be a huge difference aesthetically!
I also sanded the fretboard up to 1500 grit. And of course it has a 14" radius, which is comfortable for my style of playing, and because that's the only radius block I have at the moment.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psbsqe05tk.jpg
And this is after the frets installed. I opted for StewMac's medium fretwire this time and kinda regretted it. The first build had jumbos and I loved the feel. Anyway no harm done because most of my guitars have small to medium fretwire.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps9toc9htn.jpg
For the frets, I tried a different approach this time. I chose to hide the tangs so I cut off the tangs at the end and filled the slots with ebony dust and CA glue. Unfortunately there was one fret which I might have missed out which has its tang sticking out. I will probably paint it over with some black acrylic paint before finishing.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psulxlbrzh.jpg
As you can see above, the tangs can't be seen! I think it looks nicer this way than having the small bit of metal sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the beautiful ebony. And I also scrapped the edges to round the fingerboard in between the frets. This makes a huge difference in terms of comfort.
I also glue in my frets with a drop of CA glue, but that alone still caused a few squeeze outs here and there, which can be scraped off easily.
I am bowing as I read this Simon. I am not worthy, I am SOOOO not worthy! That side shot of your fretboard edge shows off your formidable attention to detail. I applaud and bow Sir.
And now for the neck carving! This time round was much tougher because I had a thicker neck blank to start with. I drew lines and opted for a flat profile because I love to play with the thumb behind and because I have small hands.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psm9llzv1x.jpg
Then carved out the facets...
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps7czl1lb3.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...pswqawamsf.jpg
I reckon carving the neck is probably the safest step of building a neck. There's so much wood to work with and one small slip up can be easily fixed, unless you carve through to the truss rod! That being said, it's a rewarding process as it starts to take shape. A long process based heavily on the feel of it in my opinion. Some people use routers to carve the neck but where's the tender loving care? Hand carving necks allow for a unique neck, like snowflakes - no two are the same!
Anyway, so after much filing, scraping and sanding, the neck is done!
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...pspklgrwek.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...pswq0yi811.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps6gaaxf9c.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...pslij7z9ks.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps1fwypvcr.jpg
Please don't judge me for the mess! I'm actually a neat person in other areas where the wife can't see! Haha!
I bought this flamed maple neck blank from StewMac but unfortunately the figures aren't as crazy as my top or some other flamed necks. Hopefully I can pop the grain with brown dye later on and maybe with finish the figures will come out.
The headstock looks alright though.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...pspzvporga.jpg
Some more pics in natural light:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...pspvl1xgis.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps6pgnet0p.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psfwzlcdlk.jpg
very nice looking neck Simon, and the diary is nice and detailed. Love the fret inlays and the way you hid the fret tang. Got to love an ebony fingerboard. Top marks from me !
Same from me awesome work. You've inspired me to start a scratchie. DB - I'll dedicate it to you look out for Bu****gs Caster thread!Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankenWashie
Sent from my GT-I9506 using Tapatalk
Thanks woks! Ebony is now my favourite fingerboard. This piece I got was really nice in that it was consistently black and the grains were straight.
http://gifs.joelglovier.com/clap/picard-slow-clap.gif
Super tidy work.
Hahaha are you quoting Wayne's world?Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankenWashie
Thanks Franken! Hope to see your project complete soon.