Custom Grabber - 1st A to Z build

[Hopkins]

any recomendations on the type of epoxy i should use

For a hole like that, I would just use any quick set epoxy. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Loctite-0-85-fl-oz-Quick-Set-Epoxy-1395391/100371815

 

[ThaCoast]

I got the wood for the neck. Solid one piece maple neck. Nicest grain look is in the back of the neck so i can clear coat it with satin once the shaping is all done. But for now, calculating the angle once again, and then scarf joint will be cut and glued for 24hours. Then the real fun on the neck begins.

 

[ThaCoast]

Scarf joint cut, not yet glued. Possibly tonight. Any tips on how to get both surfaces smooth and straight?

 

[flameworker]

I haven't pulled one off yet, been practicing with oak flooring and pine.

But that's because I'm not sure how to get the cut straight, I made a miter box at nine degrees, maybe my hand saw is too flimsy, ordered a Japanese saw.

if your cuts look right I guess just a lot of clamps and put boards on the side so it doesn't slide around I'm sure somebody can explain it better.

Mine keep coming out a little bit crooked.

 

[Hopkins]

I haven't pulled one off yet, been practicing with oak flooring and pine.

But that's because I'm not sure how to get the cut straight, I made a miter box at nine degrees, maybe my hand saw is too flimsy, ordered a Japanese saw.

if your cuts look right I guess just a lot of clamps and put boards on the side so it doesn't slide around I'm sure somebody can explain it better.

Mine keep coming out a little bit crooked.

I rough cut mine on my band saw, then clean them up in a router jig.

 

[ThaCoast]

My wood blank standing tall won't fit in my bandsaw's feed since it's max is shorter than the width of the blank. Also, a router jig? How's it look like, cause i was thinking of like using a hand plane or belt sander to even it all out...

 

[Hopkins]

My wood blank standing tall won't fit in my bandsaw's feed since it's max is shorter than the width of the blank. Also, a router jig? How's it look like, cause i was thinking of like using a hand plane or belt sander to even it all out...

I don't have a picture of my actual jig, but it looks like this drawing. I made a wide base for my router out of 1/4" ply that will let the router slide from side to side without falling off the edge. Double sided tape is used to attach headstock to the rest of the neck blank, and the neck blank to the jig

 

[ThaCoast]

Little update on this, scarf joint smooth out is slow but coming along. In the mix of lacking sleep, which is kinda all right, im already behind schedule so i'm hoping to catch up and finish this joint by tomorrow.

Take two on the scarf joint. First attempt was too weird and one side of the long neck blank wouldn't sit flush with the headstock blank. So i just drew my headstock template onto the small blank and i'm clearing it still and just enough. IT's close as hell but i'll succeed this time around. Same thing with the neck it's all good. I'll post pics when i can and get around to.

 

[ThaCoast]

So Recap of the day: The body - Edges have been rounded over after i tested on a scrap piece of wood to find the perfect depth for the 1/4 round over bit. All the way down was too much although nice, it left a ledge, too little was barely noticeable, so i opted for somewhere in between both and it worked like a charm: Perfection, looks bit less bulky all around. Also, i've drilled the strap pin holes and did a test installing them and strapping a strap on haha. IT feels pretty good so far, very big. I forgot how big they actually were, and given the added thickness of 2 inches, this thing really is becoming a beast.

The neck - Scarf joint after the first attempt, i've cut the excess on both pieces and now i'm waiting til tomorrow to start for few reasons: 1- during the first attempt, i had filed away a bit too much on the neck portion so i'm waiting for the wood filler to set and cure overnight, 2- I need the proper saw for the job which i'll get tomorrow hopefully. 3- I've been lacking sleep for the past month and half, + i hadn't eaten much all day. So with all that in mind, the scarf joint will wait til tomorrow.

Also, I've got a fretboard!!! It was heavy packaged with bubble wrap and the board itself was placed in between two cardboard pieces to keep it intact. I guess they realized how flimsy the first one shipped out, & with my conceled note of exchange request, they sent me this. I'm glad i have it, the grain is really nice, it's a thing of beauty

 

[Hopkins]

What are you doing with the wood filler? Its not going to be in the glue joint of the scarf is it?

 

[ThaCoast]

What are you doing with the wood filler? Its not going to be in the glue joint of the scarf is it?

not at all. It's cause in my first attempt, i shaved away a bit too much on one end so i'm filling it up just a tad, it's on the edges anyway, and won't be in the scarf joint unit itself.

 

[Hopkins]

not at all. It's cause in my first attempt, i shaved away a bit too much on one end so i'm filling it up just a tad, it's on the edges anyway, and won't be in the scarf joint unit itself.

Wood filler in the neck doesn't sound good man. The neck is just to structural

 

[ThaCoast]

Wood filler in the neck doesn't sound good man. The neck is just to structural

I'm aware, but it's really just on the edges of the blank just to get the scarf joint right. Once the neck is cut out, the wood filler i applied will not be a part of the final neck.

 

[Hopkins]

I'm aware, but it's really just on the edges of the blank just to get the scarf joint right. Once the neck is cut out, the wood filler i applied will not be a part of the final neck.

Ahh ok

 

[ThaCoast]

So today is scarf joint attempt two. Also, pickguard got cut. Now i'm just shaping it to it's edges then i'll bevel the sides and cut out the pickup hole. Marking the screw holes as well and control locations.

Note to self: acquire forsner bit to dig much wood from the cavities

 

[ThaCoast]

Nothing on the scarf joint yet, as i have to flatten down a bit of both surfaces before i can hand plane them equally. Hopefully i'll be done with that joint in the next days. The pickguard is done. After scrapping the first one (used my router to do the bevel cut, scrapped two corners D: ) i retraced, cut, drilled, & beveled by hand!! ANd now it's mounted onto the body for now. (no seperate work space other than my room & that's pretty crowded with loads of gear and essentials). So the cavities should commence possibly tomorrow/this weekend.
I've also went ahead of myself, & i guess the norm of building, by locating the bridge and drilling the holes for it (mounting screw holes (4) & the string through (4) plus the enlarged holes at the back for the ferrules 3/8 drill bit size, lucky me that was my last drill bit from the small kit xP )

 

[ThaCoast]

So both Guards have been shaped and cut. Cavities aren't routed out yet, most likely next week.

 

[ThaCoast]

Got a forsner bit and electric sander. NEck starts officially tomorrow, and body cavities have been drilled out.

 

[ctmullins]

So how did the scarf joint turn out? Got pics of that?

 

[ThaCoast]

scarf joint is being done today. ALcked tools and was focus on the body more since. Also, my 1/8 drill bit broke off in the body while drilling for a ground hole from controls to bridge (but it's my smaller one not the long one) Is there an effective way to drill a ground hole so that it doesn't pierce the body all the way throuhg cause it feels like i'd start drilling then be too much on an angle for it.

p.s. i'm getting one of those screw extractor things to remove the drill bit stuck inside.