ok, I've got a blank piece of pickguard material. a template cut our of posterboard, and thats about it, LOL. I don't have a router, and can't afford one :[ whats an economical way to cut out a pickguard, I don't want to spend any more than I have to. Since this will VERY likely be the ONLY pickgaurd I ever do, theres no point investing any more than I have to right :]
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poor mans way of cutting pickguards
- Thread starter poomwah
- Start date
Go to your local high school wood working shop, they should do it for you or at least let you use the tools.
If someone asked you two years ago whether you'd be cutting a pguard you pro'lly would have said no. Tools are always good to have.
wal marts open, hehe
Dremel will work, but it takes a steady hand and it makes a big mess. Rough it out first with another tool, and then zip it down to shape. Wear a mask. Good luck.
Thangfish
...overly qualified for janitorical deployment...
actually I would have said yes, LOL , its the SAME project thats been kicking around for about a decade now, that I FINALLY decided to undertake. I do see your point though.
A band saw is WAY out of my price range. That trim router is close to my budget (super limited) but I'd rather find something I can get sooner than having to order it and wait. What dremel bits would work? How about a saber saw with a fine blade?
Years ago I made all of the plastic cover thingys for an Ibanez Moderne copy, that were all Gibson style, out of brass sheet.
Rectangle with round ends, circle, and bell shaped Trod cover. I roughed it with a hack saw, got closer with a grinder, and finished with hand files. Took a lot of time but turned out really nice.
So, there is more than one way to skin a kat, and the plastic would be much easier to work with than brass.
I saw that guitar again this summer and forgot to look if they are still on there. I need to check that the next time I see it.
Rectangle with round ends, circle, and bell shaped Trod cover. I roughed it with a hack saw, got closer with a grinder, and finished with hand files. Took a lot of time but turned out really nice.
So, there is more than one way to skin a kat, and the plastic would be much easier to work with than brass.
I saw that guitar again this summer and forgot to look if they are still on there. I need to check that the next time I see it.
- Jul 11, 2006
- 433
- 12
- Disclosures
- Tech Director, dBm Pro Audio Services, New York
The idea is to have a stationary tool and move the workpiece. Don't know how you would do it otherwise. Perhaps a coping saw with a fine blade. A scroll saw works nicely too.
Why even invest in ANY tools for one pickguard? Just have it cut trimmed and finished THE RIGHT WAY for $60 by WD.
Why even invest in ANY tools for one pickguard? Just have it cut trimmed and finished THE RIGHT WAY for $60 by WD.
my template is poster board :[ I used scissors. warmoth is out, because for the pickguard I want I'm sure they would want more to cut it out, its not exactly a "standard" shape, sure isnt stock ,I'll tell you that much, LOL. That and I've already got the material.
Tools I have currenty that might be involved in this... disc sander, die grinder, dremel, angle grinder (just kidding, I know I'm not using that for this) coping saw, single speed jig saw, files, drill
Tools I have currenty that might be involved in this... disc sander, die grinder, dremel, angle grinder (just kidding, I know I'm not using that for this) coping saw, single speed jig saw, files, drill
well, I busted out the dremel, and roughed it out with a cut off wheel, then used sanding drums to smooth it out, and then filed the edges. I was really happy with the way it came out, until I pulled the protective covering off the pickguard and found a defect in the surface of the pickguard :[ theres a definite low spot and its painfully obvious. Maybe I should have bought from warmoth instead of stew mac.
anyway, here it is so far, still need to drill it
anyway, here it is so far, still need to drill it
A coping saw should do fine. It would take longer and your hands would be killing you by the end, but it's doable. Then you'd just have to take some sand paper to it...
- Aug 25, 2004
- 940
- 1,342
- Disclosures
- Builder: Martin Keith Guitars
Beware! These routers are very cheaply made. I've
had a few of them come through my hands, and every one
was scary to use. One of them had a massively out-of-line
spindle, and it went straight from the box to the trash.
(This was the blue-plastic version of the same piece, which
sells through Homier for something like $9).
We have another one set up in a table for doing 1/4" roundovers
on spruce braces, and it's still really unpleasant.
The noise, vibration, and overall flimsiness make it a drag to use.
I know this is off-topic, but if you need a router, save your
money (and maybe some fingers) and buy a decent one.
A Porter-Cable or Dewalt laminate trimmer is a far, far better
version of this tool. Check eBay. Anything.
Or, figure out how to do it without one.
I really can't recommend these things in any way,
other than as an easy way to get rid of some extra money.
Cheers,
Martin
Add to the list a scraper made by turning a hook on a single edge razor blade. Great for creating or cleaning up the bevel.
Wow! What kind of bass is that? Is it a homebrew? Looks like a neck thru version of a Ripper, I'd love something like that.
well, I busted out the dremel, and roughed it out with a cut off wheel, then used sanding drums to smooth it out, and then filed the edges. I was really happy with the way it came out, until I pulled the protective covering off the pickguard and found a defect in the surface of the pickguard :[ theres a definite low spot and its painfully obvious. Maybe I should have bought from warmoth instead of stew mac.
anyway, here it is so far, still need to drill it
