The FrankenWashie is dead....

[FrankenWashie]

some part of our psyches is on the same wavelength Simon. I have lots of little Merbau blanks. i found three with a common grain structure and what i think i will attempt to do is laminate these together along they matching grain lines a create a sort of a raised Merbau plug that I can laminate into the front, and then blend to the contours. It will sort of tie the differing woods together some what.

Or I could just throw body filler in it like Dedman says and fire a copper accent plate over the top.

Either way the FrankenWashie reboot is turning into a Saga, though I have a while to go to rival Doc's Epic "The Gold Standard Strat" thread.

Stay tuned intrepid Adventurers! This is liable to get SILLY.

[Simon Barden]

A Strat style jack plate might make life a bit easier as it would cover up any slightly rough edges (not that I expect you to leave any rough edges).

[FrankenWashie]

A Strat style jack plate might make life a bit easier as it would cover up any slightly rough edges (not that I expect you to leave any rough edges).

The body contour is a bit severe for a strat jack plate, it really drops way at the edges. Teenage me went for cool over practical (in virtually everything) hence the pickle I find myself in.

I have three strategies to pursue now, the out of body epoxy experience, the in body body filler or the on body Merbau doings. SO we shall see which can be worked to the best result.

This build was always gong to be problematic, and this aspect was going to be the biggest problem. It would have been nice if I'd managed to not rout through in the first place, but it is what it is. Thanks for your suggestions @Simon, @Dedman

[Simon Barden]

With a mould, you may even be able to cast in the circular jack passage (or at least a guide passage) - though if not, drilling the hole in either a resin block or the laminated wood would probably be a lot easier if done out of the guitar before fitting. Though it then might make it a bit too weak, but a smaller guide hole could be drilled first to start you off.

[FrankenWashie]

Yes, I'm considering whether to just run with casting the resin and seeing how it turns out. there will be copious clean up no matter what i do but i hope that if i cast it thicker this time that it will avoid the cracking issue i had with the test.. Either way i will need to re-bore the jack hole, so we shall see.

[Dedman]

moulded pickguard/cavity cover? Acrylic sheet in the oven.... lay in place......

[wazkelly]

Hi Frankie, have you ever considered using Plasti Bond. It is similar to car bog and when I was a teenager my old man used it a lot as a filler on his timber and later fibre glass sailing boats and saw first hand how good the stuff is and also how easy it was to work with. No good if you are wanting to keep a timber look around the repair as it would need a solid paint to cover and hide things.

http://www.selleys.com.au/trade/buil...nd-heavy-duty/

[FrankenWashie]

moulded pickguard/cavity cover? Acrylic sheet in the oven.... lay in place......

Sheet copper is the go to at the moment Dedman, have a test piece shaped already just in case.

[FrankenWashie]

Hi Frankie, have you ever considered using Plasti Bond. It is similar to car bog and when I was a teenager my old man used it a lot as a filler on his timber and later fibre glass sailing boats and saw first hand how good the stuff is and also how easy it was to work with. No good if you are wanting to keep a timber look around the repair as it would need a solid paint to cover and hide things.

http://www.selleys.com.au/trade/buil...nd-heavy-duty/

I hadn't been aware of this stuff, though I must have passed it at the BGSFOS a thousand times.

The other option is epoxy putty that someone sprung up with ( May have been Tweaky?) and there are some marine chandlers near me that should carry it. Thanks for the heads up, it might be a starter if the acrylic resin fails.

[wazkelly]

They all have similar properties and most likely an epoxy derivative or thereabouts.