Started my first bass build with wood I have on hand. maybe making firewood, but maybe something cool.
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What's On Your Workbench?
- Thread starter HaMMerHeD
- Start date
Well, ya cain't be sure what's in the pickle barrel till ya git the lid off'n it.
Already looks like the start of something pretty cool.
Already looks like the start of something pretty cool.
You just beat me in the "smallest workbench" category. Yours looks to be about a square foot. Mine's nearly twice that.Started my first bass build
Walray finished so far. I have to use side jack when the second preamp arrives.
A bigger bench might be nice, but I can move this around to get light, or stay in the shade as needed. It’s also easy to clean up wood chips and dust outside. The top is almost carved out on the inside and it’s developing a nice tap tone, if that means anything.
I finished the guitars I've been posting about.
Walnut body:
And cherry body:
Really pleased with how they turned out. The walnut body on the first one looks good enough to eat.
Walnut body:
And cherry body:
Really pleased with how they turned out. The walnut body on the first one looks good enough to eat.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,964
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Or cheap…
But organic sounds cooler.
the leaf and vine “f” holes lean that way…. I’m a biologist so the plant thing works for me.
Also, my wife does not approve of sawdust or wood chips, or much of anything I do in the garage or the front yard where I might get seen. So, if I want to do stuff and keep the peace, I stay mobile and out of sight when possible.
But organic sounds cooler.
the leaf and vine “f” holes lean that way…. I’m a biologist so the plant thing works for me.
Also, my wife does not approve of sawdust or wood chips, or much of anything I do in the garage or the front yard where I might get seen. So, if I want to do stuff and keep the peace, I stay mobile and out of sight when possible.
Those are really beautiful. I like the way you’ve carried the curve of the cutaway into the upper horn. And yes, that walnut is something else!
Thanks. I'm really happy with the shape, I've built a few of these but changed the template for this pair to adjust some of the curves. The upper horn doesn't photograph well, sometimes the angle of the camera makes it look bigger than it is. But I like it. Hats off to everyone who designs their own body shapes, it's hard to get something cohesive that doesn't look like something that's already been done!
First practice with my router.
First time I ever used a router. I was aware of the usual horror stories about accidents and improper handling, so I was careful. Still managed to give myself a scare: I unplugged in order to change the bit, then plugged in again, and then I reached for the on/off button to verify it worked...
The router jumped an inch toward me. Always hold the router with two hands!
Questions:
1. Do you wear protection glasses when working with a router? I did, and it didn't seem necessary.
2. Do you use a router as a surrogate drill press?
3. What is this bit for?
First time I ever used a router. I was aware of the usual horror stories about accidents and improper handling, so I was careful. Still managed to give myself a scare: I unplugged in order to change the bit, then plugged in again, and then I reached for the on/off button to verify it worked...
The router jumped an inch toward me. Always hold the router with two hands!
Questions:
1. Do you wear protection glasses when working with a router? I did, and it didn't seem necessary.
2. Do you use a router as a surrogate drill press?
3. What is this bit for?
1. Hell yes, I always wear safety glasses when I am working with power tools.
2. No.
3. It is a roundover bit to put a rounded edge on a board.
Good luck. The router is one of the most fun tools to use!
And one of the most dangerous. Use protection and caution using all power tools and you'll won't create any of those cautionary tales.
A router is an extremely versatile and potentially dangerous tool. When accidents happen with a router, they typically happen very quickly and with little or no warning. Always err on the side of caution.
Whenever possible, use a guide or fence to avoid using the tool freehand.
Pay close attention to the rotational direction of the cutter and the direction of the grain to avoid tear-out and the possibility of the tool kicking.
Always use sharp bits to avoid above as well.
Take small bites! It’s often recommended not to make larger than 1/8” cuts but if there’s no hurry, you’ll get cleaner, safer cuts if you cut in even smaller steps. Four light passes will take longer than one deep pass but it will yield better results.
A router table, home-made or not, will increase the versatility of the tool exponentially.
1. Yes, always. I wear glasses anyway so I’m always wearing some degree of protection but I’ll wear actual safety glasses when I’m using machines.
2. No. A wrench shouldn’t be used as a hammer and a router shouldn’t be used as a drill press.
3. A round over bit for radiusing corners. The ball bearing guide rides along the outer edge of the piece being radiused.
Have fun utilizing your new tool!
Thanks for the responses, all.
I thought that's what it was, from the way it looks. I tried to use it to radius an edge, but achieved a mess. A matter of experience I guess. Maybe it's also the cheap wood.
Some things to try:
Don't try to take the complete cut in one pass. Make a pass only taking some material off, then come back on a final pass taking the rest of it off.
Make sure you are moving in the correct direction. The router bit spins a specific direction, you can't be working "against" that. If you look at a router table, they always have a "feed direction" arrow to show you which way you are supposed to feed the wood, that's why. Read up on that and think through it, with the understanding that a hand held router is "upside down" from a router table.
I'll add that when using a router, always clamp the workpiece down if the router is freehand, or use a router table. If freehand, always place the router down where it will start doing the work before you turn it on. Always turn it off when finished and let the bit come to a complete stop before lifting the router off the workpiece.
Eye protection is a must - those little wood chips come off at many hundreds of miles per hour. And if you ever blow a bit, trust me you want something between that super fast piece of metal and your eye.
Eye protection is a must - those little wood chips come off at many hundreds of miles per hour. And if you ever blow a bit, trust me you want something between that super fast piece of metal and your eye.
