Building Season Begins

[Victory Pete]

I am determined to get these dots perfectly centered and spaced to line up with the strings on this guitar. I can walk the initial holes I made with a punch over to the exact point they should be in. I will also make sure they stay centered when I sand the sides of the neck. Using calipers as a gauge gets it perfect

[DickHutchings]

I think I'm a long way from that worry 😅

[Fathand]

Originally Posted by Victory Pete

Fretboard trimming and sanding

Interesting, I use a template and a router with a pattern bit to trim the fretboard. Then use the fretboard as a template with the router on the neck taper.

[Victory Pete]

Originally Posted by Fathand

Interesting, I use a template and a router with a pattern bit to trim the fretboard. Then use the fretboard as a template with the router on the neck taper.

Do you have photos?

[Fathand]

This is actually a pair of sides being cut to a template with a router and flush cut bit but it's the same process.

On top is a 1/2" MDF template with the 2 rough cut sides underneath attached with double sided tape. The router bearing follows the template and reproduces the shape of the template.

For the neck, once the fretboard is cut and attached to the neck, you can use the same process to cut the neck taper using the fretboard as a template but a pattern bit instead of a flush cut.

I use the same method to cut the peghead, electric guitar bodies, mortise/tenon joints, etc.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194462...etaken-public/

[Victory Pete]

Originally Posted by Fathand

This is actually a pair of sides being cut to a template with a router and flush cut bit but it's the same process.

On top is a 1/2" MDF template with the 2 rough cut sides underneath attached with double sided tape. The router bearing follows the template and reproduces the shape of the template.

For the neck, once the fretboard is cut and attached to the neck, you can use the same process to cut the neck taper using the fretboard as a template but a pattern bit instead of a flush cut.

I use the same method to cut the peghead, electric guitar bodies, mortise/tenon joints, etc.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194462...etaken-public/

Thanks, I love to look at other people's methods and shops.

[Victory Pete]

After a little break I have the top all braced up. I have done it a bit different this time. I did X braces and bridge plate all at once. I used 2 bars to center the X brace and then clamped the ends. I then used one brace on the center of the X brace. This way guarantees it will not move.

[Victory Pete]

Waiting for 25 36" 1/4 20 threaded rods to get delivered today from Home Depot. I will be able to do more at once

[Neil K Walk]

Originally Posted by Victory Pete

Waiting for 25 36" 1/4 20 threaded rods to get delivered today from Home Depot. I will be able to do more at once

If you have a Harbor Freight nearby pick up a couple sets of these for about a dollar apiece:

https://www.harborfreight.com/3-16-i...kit-65326.html

Each kit has 10 nylon rods that are 39" long. There's another kit with shorter segments but they're only 12" long. I one end off and usepeg board on the underside of the roof of my DIY Gobar deck so that they don't slip.

[Fathand]

Originally Posted by Neil K Walk

If you have a Harbor Freight nearby pick up a couple sets of these for about a dollar apiece:

https://www.harborfreight.com/3-16-i...kit-65326.html

Each kit has 10 nylon rods that are 39" long. There's another kit with shorter segments but they're only 12" long. I one end off and usepeg board on the underside of the roof of my DIY Gobar deck so that they don't slip.

Fibreglass driveway markers can work and are sometimes 99 cents each. Also snow is falling soon so there will be a lot around the neighborhood .

[Victory Pete]

I got the entire top brace clamping session done without reusing gobars. Cutting and cleaning up the threads and installing the end caps took up a bit a time. I think I have 50 gobars, it's hard to count. I had to keep adjusting them, as they loosen a bit as the top and bottom boards are flexing. They are 2 pieces of 3/4" plywood glued together. I think it's time for bed.

[Victory Pete]

Originally Posted by Neil K Walk

If you have a Harbor Freight nearby pick up a couple sets of these for about a dollar apiece:

https://www.harborfreight.com/3-16-i...kit-65326.html

Each kit has 10 nylon rods that are 39" long. There's another kit with shorter segments but they're only 12" long. I one end off and usepeg board on the underside of the roof of my DIY Gobar deck so that they don't slip.

Great idea with the pegboard. I often wondered what happens when one of them slips or pops out. That light looks like what I have on my Ryobi band saw.

[Neil K Walk]

Originally Posted by Victory Pete

Great idea with the pegboard. I often wondered what happens when one of them slips or pops out. That light looks like what I have on my Ryobi band saw.

When one lets go it can split a top or brace. You certainly don’t want to be in its way.

[Fathand]

Originally Posted by Victory Pete

They are 2 pieces of 3/4" plywood glued together. I think it's time for bed.

Is there no radius to your top? Glued against flat board?

[Victory Pete]

Originally Posted by Fathand

Is there no radius to your top? Glued against flat board?

The braces being radiused, glued to the flat surface achieves the same internal stiffness that using flat braces glued to a radius dish does. One may be better than the other but this works well for me.