First Scratch build.

[GlennGP]

Inspirational stuff, Dan. I'm planning a scratch-build for mid next year (custom body shape), and gradually assembling the equipment for it, so I find this very interesting. I have an LP-1 kit to acquire and build first, then on to the scratch. Eventually I should be ready for the Red Special!

[wokkaboy]

looks great Dan, well done and you get so much more satisfaction with a scratch body. I started building pine body scratch builds, just glued 4 pieces of 600 x 90 x 40 mm pine together and only cost about $20 from the big green shed so if you stuffed up was no great loss. Dan is right its not that hard, you just have to get a few basic tools (jigsaw to cut templates), a router with pattern following bit, and slowly route the cavities. I use a bandsaw to cut the basic body shape then lots of orbital sanding and it takes shape.
A coat of stain on the body should look excellent Dan !

[DanMade]

Hey woks, I saw you mentioned in another thread somewhere about how you started with pine bodies. I saw that post the nite after I had prepped the blank. Made me think I was on the right track. Got to start somewhere.

I was at the local hardware this morning. I got ahold of some 45mm pine. The 35mm I used for this first body was too thin. But it was good practice.
I told the guy at the hardware what I was doing with the timber and he gave me it free of charge. You wouldn't get that kind of service a bunnings now would you.

I've docked the pine to length and squared up the edges. And it's now in clamps.

[wokkaboy]

sure sounds good Dan, good work getting the pine from your hardware for free !
here's some pics of one of the pine scratch bodies I built, I got it wrong mine was 45mm thick as well. You can still get some nice grain from $20 worth of wood.
Come on forumites have a crack at a scratch body !

[DanMade]

Here I have just cut the template of my original body shape. First cut was done with a jig saw and then sanded to the final shape.

[keloooe]

Nice shape Dan, it looks really nice! I better start planning my first scratch build too...

[wokkaboy]

love the shape Dan, very original with a bit of musicman shape, should look good. Keep the update pics coming !

[DanMade]

Once the glue has had enough time to cure, (I only left it for 10 hours on a hot sunny Qld day. I use titebond and it recommends 24 hours in mild conditions.) I sanded the faces to a flat surface. It's a good idea to use a straight edge to check your progress so you don't end up with any dips and bumps.

Next I've rough cut the shape on the bandsaw. You could use a jigsaw here, but take care to make sure the blade is cutting at 90* square. When cutting thicker depth timber with a jigsaw the blade can tend to start flexing and cut at an off angle. A sharp blade can help this.

It's a bit late to fire up the router so I will do that tomorrow.
Please know that this isn't exactly a how to instructional. It's just how I'm going about it with limited tools.

If you want to see how a pro goes about it, check this thread http://www.pitbullguitars.com/?page_...iewtopic&t=357

[wokkaboy]

looking good Dan, love how the grain worked out with the joins can now barely be seen

[DanMade]

Now on to routing the body shape.

I've attached the template using double stick tape.
First I make a pass from the top with a top bearing router bit, then I flip it over and make a pass with a bottom bearing bit.

If I had a 1/2 inch router I could use a longer bit and do it all in one pass. I would even set it in a router table and make life much easier. One day.