Question on cutting pickguard material.

[ihateusernames]

What is your preferred tool/method? Or better yet, what is the best Dremel tool for cutting three ply pickguard?

Thanks for any advice.

[rappa29]

Are you doing a complete job from a template or just trimming here and there on an existing pg to make it fit?

I've never cut an entire one from a template, but I've trimmed a few in the neck pocket to fit basses.

I used the cutting disc thing.

[DrPete]

When I have made pickguards, I use double sided tape to fix it to the template (it'll bounce around if you dont') and use a router with a tapered cutting bit. Works a treat and leaves the edges nice and smooth with no need for sanding.

[Chasarms]

Originally Posted by DrPete

When I have made pickguards, I use double sided tape to fix it to the template (it'll bounce around if you dont') and use a router with a tapered cutting bit. Works a treat and leaves the edges nice and smooth with no need for sanding.

Exactly. Can not imagine making a professional looking PG in any other way.

[ihateusernames]

cutting to put different sized pickups into a bass. so router instead of dremel heh? i don't have a router, only a router bit for the dremel but not the plunge router kit.

do they cut with fresh utility knife blades?

[Chasarms]

Originally Posted by ihateusernames

. . . .do they cut with fresh utility knife blades?

If I was in a pinch and had to use a utility knife, I would be VERY, VERY patient and cut through the material in several dozen passes, with the first several using hardly more pressure than you might use with a pen or pencil. Do this until you have a deep enough etch to keep the blade in the intended patch.

Otherwise, you may end up with a huge scratch on the PG and/or blood everything else.

If I was simply enlarging the pickup opening, I might consider trying the Dremel tool. Maybe a combo of the two? Etch a fairly deep score in the PG before using the Dremel. That way if it chips out, it is most likely to chip along the intended line.

[RED5]

I prefer to use a bench jigsaw with an adjustable angle table, and then hand sand to finish.

[scuz]

The utility blade option seems a little dicey, and routers are kind of expensive unless you have a table and bits laying around your house already. I'd go with a steady hand and a Dremel.

[arcticmonkey]

use a file

[Kevinlane]

Use a Dremel tool, but go slow.