So after much ribbing and concerns for the blades, etc. Here is the end result of the cleanup work. I used a high powered jigsaw and cleaned it up. Now I need to get the edges sanded and the connection point planed.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd5/rahaz/100_7561.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd5/rahaz/100_7563.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd5/rahaz/100_7564.jpg

With the fretboard
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd5/rahaz/100_7568.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd5/rahaz/100_7571.jpg

Here is the before shot. :D
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd5/rahaz/100_7415.jpg

Mucho betterness

Did you figure out why the bandsaw was running a little hot?

Mucho betterness

Did you figure out why the bandsaw was running a little hot?

Thanks. Nah, I haven't made it back over to that guys house yet. I will be stopping by this weekend sometime so I'll check it out before putting the new blade on.

Any tips on routing around the edges and tight corners?:help:

Did you figure out why the bandsaw was running a little hot?

Maybe a dull blade?

Nice center sandwich

Do you have a template for the body wings? If so, secure that sucker to the top and use a router bit with a guide bearing ( sometimes called a template bit ) to follow your pattern around the body. Free hand with a router is asking for disaster. You can use this method on the straight edge also - but it's better to run that edge through a joiner.

Do you have a template for the body wings? If so, secure that sucker to the top and use a router bit with a guide bearing ( sometimes called a template bit ) to follow your pattern around the body. Free hand with a router is asking for disaster. You can use this method on the straight edge also - but it's better to run that edge through a joiner.

No template for the body. I'm using a drum sander to flush out the edges. I will be routing for the roundover. Probably 1/2" then go back and cut my reliefs for arm, leg and belly. Tips? tricks? grain to watch for?

Yes, always pay attention to the grain when routing. The less work the router has to do, the less chance you'll have of tear-out. You wont want to take that entire body thickness in one pass, but this also greatly depends on the size of the router bit you'll be using. I usually do bodies in 4-6 passes (1/4" or so increments) and very rarely have issues with tear-out. Nothing a little hand sanding can't fix.

Just take your time and pay very close attention to how the wood is reacting with the router bit. If it's chipping / shooting wood out, you're probably going in the wrong direction. All the times I have had issues with tear-out is where the body is at it's widest point. Also, I make sure to sharpen my router bits every time before I use them. More time, sure, but I have had great success going about routing this way.