Q4 Challenge - a guitar

TTony

CNC'd again.  That's the neatest cavity cover I've managed on any build!

The slot is a test to check the dimensions for the p'up selector switch.  I'm not really going to fit the switch through the cavity cover

TTony

With my ability to c*ck up even the simplest of things, I've checked, re-checked and re-re-checked this.

A few times.

Now it's time for the CNC machine to hit the wood ...




I can probably be a little more aggressive with my settings - less overlap per path and more depth per cut.  Plus I'm going to need some bigger cutters if I'm going to get into cutting bodies.

Whilst I'm round the back, I'll do the string block too




I just love the neatness and the accuracy.  Want to cut something 0.2mm deep?  Yup.  Want to cut something 0.75mm wide?  Yup (that being the smallest bit that I've got).

The idea with this one was partly practice, and partly to start to build up an inventory of objects and toolpaths that I can then combine together into a complete guitar.

Maybe.

TTony

That's a perfect fit!

paulnb57

Great stuff!

TTony

I remember the days when "a good lunch" meant we'd be off down the pub for an hour or three.

Then it meant a decent meal in a fancy restaurant.

Now it means that I can squeeze an hour out of my working day to get into the workshop!



Next job is the slightly scary one that involves long, very long, drill bits ...

Sarge

cool looking project! 

TTony

I like using the Schaller mega switches - lots of wiring possibilities and the switches always seem to be well made.

They're easy to fit into a scratchplate, but a little trickier otherwise.  

I've managed before by using a tiny drill bit in a dremel, drilling 10-15 holes in a straight-ish line, and then joining the holes up with a thin file.  It works, but it's not so neat.

This is a bit neater ..


Fitted perfectly, first time, no messing about required!

TTony

There's just a chance that I might actually complete this challenge and get this guitar built before the year's done!

Osmo white stain on the back & sides


And Crimson denim blue on the top





I've *deliberately* not done the roundover on the top yet.  My cunning plan is to finishing staining the sides & top first, then do the roundover which will (hopefully!) leave me with a natural binding effect *and* also create a nice sharp line where the white & blue staining ends at the edge of the roundover cut.

Then I'll add the (clear) top coats to the whole body.

I'm thinking of using the Liberon ready-mixed shellac product ...

LordOxygen

great work, like the idea of round over binding - might give that a try myself next time. 

TTony

LordOxygen said:

great work, like the idea of round over binding - might give that a try myself next time. 

Wait and see if it works first 

LordOxygen

TTony said:

LordOxygen said:

great work, like the idea of round over binding - might give that a try myself next time. 

Wait and see if it works first 

I will.

I'd be looking for the very best and sharpest router bit I could get my hands on with that top.
Good luck!

paulnb57

The colours are great and that switch slot…..

davros

Wow, I really love the white stain on the back, might have to steal that!

PeteC

me too , that white would make a great base too... nice work @TTony

TTony

Thanks all 


I got the idea for the blue top / white body from the PRS Paul’s that Prudd is selling at the moment.  Though mine will definitely (and deliberately) still show the wood grain through the white stain.  It’s had 2 coats on it now and needs a bit of attention from the 240/320/400.  

I used Osmo on some house stuff a while back, and bought a couple of small tins of their coloured stains at the same time but hadn’t used it before.  So far, it’s easy to apply (I rub it in with a kitchen scouring pad) and it’s looking good.

TTony

First update - happy with the way that the Osmo has built up on the back.

I applied the first coat, then rubbed back - lightly - with 240/320/400 to remove the rough spots, and have then added a couple more thin coats.




That's completely dry, so the shine is from the finish itself rather than just being wet.

TTony

Second update - Liberon Easy French Polish

I tried the blue stain (front) and Osmo (back) on a piece of scrap Ash before I started on the guitar.  Really like how the Ash took the blue stain, but that's for another day (I have another piece of the same Ash).

I then applied some of the Liberon Polish last night to see how the different stains would react to the polish, and what sort of finish the polish would create.




Again, that's in its dried state rather than a wet sheen. 

Obviously the appearance will be different on the real body, but happy with how easy it is to apply and how it looks on the scrap.  Certainly quicker than waiting for coats of oil to dry before building up the coats to get a similar level of shine, and seems to be easier to apply too.

paulnb57

That finish looks great, right up my alley, must investigate the product

Edit, Goggled, found….how do you apply it Tony?

TTony

paulnb57 said:

That finish looks great, right up my alley, must investigate the product

Edit, Goggled, found….how do you apply it Tony?

Really easily @paulnb57 ;

I made a little "pad" with some cotton wool wrapped in a small square of old cotton shirt.  Put polish on pad, rub on guitar (quite quickly) until you feel it starting to dry out, put more polish on pad, run on guitar, put more polish on pad (etc).

It was maybe 5mins of repeating that process to get the finish shown above.

paulnb57

TTony said:

paulnb57 said:

That finish looks great, right up my alley, must investigate the product

Edit, Goggled, found….how do you apply it Tony?

Really easily @paulnb57 ;

I made a little "pad" with some cotton wool wrapped in a small square of old cotton shirt.  Put polish on pad, rub on guitar (quite quickly) until you feel it starting to dry out, put more polish on pad, run on guitar, put more polish on pad (etc).

It was maybe 5mins of repeating that process to get the finish shown above.

Like proper French polishing then
I think Im going to use it on my challenge Strat 

Cheers!