Learning how to build an electric guitar

[lumberjim]

Bruce, you asked about how the router is kept from lifting, and I wanted to get a picture to answer that. So here's how :


That door hinge pin a snugs into that horizontal hole in the router base. That's for attaching a fence, but it offered a solution to that concern, so I drilled a matching hole in the sled collar to allow the pin to slide in and hold it down. I can lift the sled holding onto the router only and it doesn't shift or wiggle.

I got the label printer out and made some labels.

I may do the rocker board over using pvc plywood. The holes in the edge are not as centered as I'd like, and it would look better.


The level helps keep it square on my non level bench.



I really should level the bench with shims or elevator bolts

[xoxoxoBruce]

In the video he mentioned doing a graduated fret board by putting the pin in a different pivot hole than the opposite end on the rocker. It doesn't look like there is enough room between the rocker and the frame to have it sit crooked. I guess you would never have more than one hole difference though.

[lumberjim]

It works. I tried it with the nut side on 10.5 and the heel at 18. Keep in mind that the top of the rocker board always sits exactly 1/4" below the red line. That's cuz the pin moves up and down the side board. The pivot point changes, but the board sits straight. I haven't run the router over it yet, but when I rock the board, it tilts a bit wonky, but the lateral angle is minimal. The longer radius side describes a longer arc, so that side goes farther, but the top edge is the same height the whole time. It's pretty cool.

I'll do a little video clip illustrating that tonight if I get home early enough to get out there.

[lumberjim]

might help to visualize this:





If you noticed that brown plug in the one pic, that's the result of a fuck up. I was drilling the 10" hole in the one side board, and I let the guide block slip and didn't notice, so the hole fell 1/8" off the center line. I tried inserting a dowel, gluing it in, and re-drilling that hole, but the soft white board, and the hard plug made the fucking bit shift over again. So i just lowered it a half inch.... which meant I had to re-drill the holes in the side of the rocker board and aluminum edge strips, too.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

You could do the same thing with a CNC mill....





... for half a million bucks.
Bery cleber dees Amelicuns.

I didn't realize HOW cheap they've become


a couple grand? Not sure if this one would be large enough to do a body....

[xoxoxoBruce]

OK, I got it. The pivot point can be different on each end, but it's the same in the rocker as it is in the frame for each end. That way the edge of the rocker and frame stay almost parallel.

That's not a CNC machine


This... is a CNC machine.

Even if that CNC router was big enough to do the body, how far to you want to move away from hand crafted toward automated production? Wouldn't that make it work instead of fun?
You go out to the garage shop with the intention of doing something and it doesn't come out exactly how you intended, but each time it gets closer and you're getting better, you're developing skills which is very satisfying. It's a hobby not a job.

[lumberjim]

I have no intention of buying a cnc machine. If I need one, I'll have Pete set me up. He's a genius with his.

I'm going to buy a bigger band saw from him soon.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Deeper throat?

[lumberjim]

Yup. And heavier duty. The one I have is super handy, but the blade is thin like a jig saw blade.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Deeper throat?

you know, his dad reads this thread

[lumberjim]

He probably had to supress a couple double entendre rejoineders.

I almost said, 'yes, plus it swallows'

[xoxoxoBruce]

Yes, a wider blade, half inch or more, is much more stable and less likely to wander.

[lumberjim]

Uh huh.

And it's cool looking.

[Griff]

Or glatt could make you one!

[lumberjim]

If he played guitar, we could maybe work out a trade...