My first Router .......

Jalapeno

Advice please.

I thought I'd get a cheapo body or body blank from Ebay and practice pickup/cavity routs, and some pickguard blanks to practice shaping..

These and possibly routing a (flatish) body for some binding

Any other Dos/Don'ts ?

streethawk

Have you got a router?

Some good advice from the likes of Feline in this thread:

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/20676/

Jalapeno

Yep, Draper 80002 230-Volt 1,500-Watt Variable-Speed

Ta for the link

WezV

• use templates where possible
• always clamp the workpeice of use a router mat
• don't remove too much in one go
• always route downhill
• use good quality bits
• know where you are going to put the router when done

 

 

routing downhill:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/jwells393/NewAlbum2/BodyRouting2.jpg

TTony

I hate using a router on the plastic pickguard material, because the bits go everywhere, and I'm still finding them 6 months later.

Get some decent templates, but always copy them before using them and use the copies ... that way, if the router slips slightly, you've not wrecked your (first gen) template.

GuitarMonkey

TTony said:

I hate using a router on the plastic pickguard material, because the bits go everywhere, and I'm still finding them 6 months later.

It seems to generate static too so it clings to clothing and skin.

Jalapeno

Any alternatives for scratchplates ?

TTony

Jalapeno said:

Any alternatives for scratchplates ?

That's the problem!  

You can try using a saw and sandpaper to shape the plastic (longer, but less messy) or use a different material (wood) or just do away with the scratchplate - which is by far the best option if your body wood has any interesting pattern or colouring, IMHO.

I've tried doing the routing inside a jig-container, to stop the bits of plastic flying far and wide, but that didn't really work.

streethawk

Jalapeno said:

Any alternatives for scratchplates ?

Yeah, cnc.

Jalapeno

Yeah, might have to outsource that bit !

A5D5E5

Take it very gradually as you start to get used to how it feels - nibble away and cut shallow - the torque generated by the router if you get it wrong is totally uncontrollable.  once you are confident of how it feels - and sure that you will get the direction of cut right, you can take a little more in each pass, but slow and gradual is always better.

Buy decent bits.

Wear eye protection.

Be confident - they can smell fear.   

jd0272

Watch yer t-shirts. I 'lost' a lovely '80's ACDC tour T to a router. Very messy business.

I'm still coming to terms with it..

I rout my pickguards, the solution to the mess is to do it in yer Dad's shed.  

Andyjr1515

A5D5E5 said:

Take it very gradually as you start to get used to how it feels - nibble away and cut shallow - the torque generated by the router if you get it wrong is totally uncontrollable.  once you are confident of how it feels - and sure that you will get the direction of cut right, you can take a little more in each pass, but slow and gradual is always better.

Buy decent bits.

Wear eye protection.

M

Be confident - they can smell fear.   

^^^^^^ wot @A5D5E5 said ^^^^^. Very wise words

Marktigere1

When routing Acrylic or other plastics, you need a variable speed router and use on the slowest setting.

This prevents the plastic melting.

My 2p:

Wear Ear protection

Wear Eye protection

Wear a good face mask (You don't want to breath in any hardwood dust)

Go slow and use decent bits

Cheers

Jalapeno

Thanks all