Hi From Sydney

Good afternoon
Hope everyone is doing OK

First time kit builder here. I am one of the unlucky ones who ordered a custom ES 3 kit at the start of the year. I fully understand the situation and I am not cancelling my order. If no luck by end of month may just have to buy a Pitbull tele kit to get me through.

But having all this spare time on my hands i was a little down at first but then it clicked. You see ever since i thought of buying a kit all my spare time and thoughts have been on reading Pitbull forum posts, watching hours on of youtube videos, thinking upgrades, colours etc it became a little obsession lol. Only problem was there were a few things I forgot.. like where and on what was I going to build.

The garage? As you can see by the pic this is where I ran into my first issue. lol

https://i.imgur.com/VWe9GY4.jpg

This was before the lock down. Now time to move onto the workbench. Please forgive me for the poor workmanship. I am a ex metal worker and haven't worked with wood since the late 70''s lol

All cut by hand saw only power tool used was a drill. Should have bought a power saw lol. I think I should have used smaller wood for the frame it can support a V8 engine lol

Started with the frame
https://i.imgur.com/AhfdREj.jpg

Added a section for drawers
https://i.imgur.com/WTsTya2.jpg

Top and bottom added
https://i.imgur.com/jXaMRW7.jpg

Drawers added
https://i.imgur.com/5iJIctk.jpg

Tidy Garage
https://i.imgur.com/nPz6COr.jpg

All locked down what to do? Going to Bunnings is essential is for my mental health lol.

Always need more drawers.

Drawer frame
https://i.imgur.com/ltqLUOc.jpg

Drawers complete
https://i.imgur.com/7vU8vNA.jpg

Bloody Bunnings. Went there to buy some fly screen wire and come away with a Ryobi router and more wood. Looks like I am building a router table.

Router table frame
https://i.imgur.com/7X0zp1F.jpg

Router table almost done. Sorry about the hinges had them lying around.
https://i.imgur.com/aGedV0Q.jpg

This is where I ran into my second issue. The router is a plunge router and had problems with designing a router lift that would fit into the space so used a car scissor jack. Once height is set I can just lock the plunger in at the right depth. Just have to hook a safety switch to the outside just in case lol
https://i.imgur.com/AtoMzow.jpg

Router table done. Rough I know but hey it works lol.
https://i.imgur.com/JFTpKkJ.jpg

Can we go back to work please. I have done more work at home since lock down then I would have done at work lol.
https://i.imgur.com/A0PJNfj.jpg

Hi and welcome!

Great work there.

I suppose now you've started you may as well get the pillar drill (make sure it has a throat deep enough to fit half a guitar body in between the chuck and the pillar) and maybe a thicknesser. And a circular saw table. And .... ;)

Welcome Twodogies

Welcome along - compared to that - my workbench looks totally agricultural. Great to have you on board.

Welcome aboard!
love the set up, great little story there in and of itself! Look forward to seeing how your build(s) go.

Wow! That's a transformation worthy of one of those "reality" make-over shows!!

You obviously don't things by halves! It will be interesting to watch your build. You seem to have skills with tools and wood already, so your first guitar should come along very naturally.

And welcome!

Cheers,
Mick

Welcome. You haven’t built a kit yet but I’m already jealous of what you’ve achieved. My custom ES-3 has come to a grinding Covid19 halt. Well, it came to a halt a little while ago, but it’s stopped me for now. Looking forward to seeing what you get up to.

Thanks for the welcome

Simon. Great ideas there. Need to think of something to get out of the house back into the garage.

Fretworn: Thank you

Brendan : Thanks as well

FrankenWashie: Thanks. Looking forward to seeing final build. Still many ideas in my head so I''m not even sure how it will turn out lol

Mick: Thanks. Had no say in it really. I think you need a nice clean space and easy access to the right tools and products if you want to build a nice guitar.

DarkMark: Thanks for the welcome. Only reason achieved so much was because no work. Needed to do something to stop me going crazy and getting lazy. Also needed and excuse to get outta the house lol. I have been reading your posts on your ES 3 build. It has taught me a lot thanks. Good luck with your build hope you get back into it soon.