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Further power tool question - I don't have a bandsaw yet (and it may be a while) and I am planning to cut out the body with a jigsaw. Do I need any particular kind of blades that people would recommend? I think the body will be something like poplar, neck maple or similar and fingerboard - whatever is cheap! Will a jigsaw go through all that at the depth of a body/neck blank? Anything to watch out for?
Thanks all in advance - your help is always much appreciated!
I’ve built a fair few guitars now, and my bench top(s) is(are) still fine.
A sheet of thin (cheap) sacrificial MDF?
Router bits.
Mostly, people build using templates. You get / make the templates, and then copy the shape of the template onto the blank using bearing guided router bits. Sometimes the bearing is above the cutter, sometimes below it.
Wealden Tools is a good source. You’ll probably need 3-4 bits of varying length.
Are you following a plan / approach for this build, or making it up as you go along? Building a guitar is complex, but simple if you break it down into the 100-odd simple jobs that come together to make the guitar. The trick is doing those 100-odd jobs in the right order.
Thanks, I will check out Wealden. I assume I need something good quality and sharp to avoid damaging/gouging the body. In terms of radius of the bits, what is the biggest/smallest I will need for straight and what roundover?
I watched a Crimson 5 video series on Triton tools channel of building a Tele style and whilst there were little bits skipped over a bit quick, I think the general flow seemed to make sense. It was this one
PS
If you really get into this building thing, Mark Bailey runs courses just down the road in Ayr.
As with all tools they can be expensive. I’d buy what you need when you need it. If your working area is damp then keep the edged tools in the house.
it has a 1/4” and 8mm collet apparently
I’ve got a big 1/2” jobbie too, but it’s not necessary for guitar building. Manoueverability is more important. Make yourself a decent router base - that’ll make some of the jobs a lot easier.
Mark is a brilliant teacher. Website is crap. Best to phone them (and it might take many attempts to get through!) or email.
Are there better bits? Sure, but that set was fine for me. From what I remember it was the cost of roundover bits that made me look at it.
Got some templates and timber on order. I'll update when I have them.