Winter Build Off 2025 Tele

[Beej]

I took a (very) non-extensive look at what was out there and saw whole systems from $585 (presumably not up to "healthcare" PPE standards) on up to $2500+

If rolling your own I suspect you'd want a squirrel cage fan to handle the back-pressure (friction) of the hose effectively - axial fans (the usual computer fan, though there are very whiny little squirrel cages they put in rack servers) does not deal well with back pressure. I think the built-to-purpose machines use a turbine fan of some sort (but I repeat, this was a very not extensive look.) Put the fan inside a box with a good filter, and let the filter suck air that's not full of dust/fumes so it doesn't have to work too hard or be too perfect.

My last sidetrack in this thread, I swear! I found the 3M replacement motor, ain't cheap, but I think you nailed it.

3M POWERFLOW MOTOR

Safety Express is a leader in providing equipment and chemicals for the abatement, restoration, cleaning, and environmental industries.

safetyexpress.com

 

[mapleglo]

OK, Got some more walnut, on sale no less.



I'll start on the new body later today or tomorrow.

 

[Beej]

Some really nice figuring and grain on that board too

 

[Flying B]

Could you not just make a new wing, rather than a whole new body?

 

[mapleglo]

Cut some new pieces. Tomorrow, I'll rout the wiring path, and glue them up.

Could you not just make a new wing, rather than a whole new body?

Yes, but it's as much trouble to do that, as it is to just make a new body. There's a couple of other things I can fix as well, like make the pickup rout ever so slightly larger to allow for the thickness of the finish, and make the neck rout ever so slightly smaller. There was a little too much play.

 

[mapleglo]

OK, wire channel routed.



and new body epoxied and clamped.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Yes, but it's as much trouble to do that, as it is to just make a new body. There's a couple of other things I can fix as well, like make the pickup rout ever so slightly larger to allow for the thickness of the finish, and make the neck rout ever so slightly smaller. There was a little too much play.

And besides, you get to enjoy the thrill of controlling a screaming router. It keeps you feeling young!

 

[MPU]

Oddly enough, the sander accessories were in a clear plastic container that I had stared at multiple times previously, but neglected to open because "they couldn't be in there - it's a clear plastic container, and if they were in there, I'd see them" situation.

I’m not going to say how many times I’ve done the same. So, so familiar.

 

[mapleglo]

I had an eventful morning. First I took the new body out of the clamps and cleaned it up.



Then I applied the paper template to the body with double stick tape.



Then I clamped down the neck cavity template.



And started routing. I've decided the next band I'm in will be called the Screaming Router", thanks to @Bruce Johnson for the idea.

And then the template slipped.



I just can't seem to get a break here.



I decided this was yet another unrecoverable mistake. So I cut off the walnut wings just past the neck cavity, and cut out the center maple runners, and started again. First I routed the wire path.



Then I mixed up some more epoxy and glued up the body. Again.



I also poured the remaining epoxy in that shallow on the left side of the lower body. Most of it will likely be removed when I carve the arm contour, but we'll see. Now I'm going to watch some Star Trek with my Teddy Bear.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

And then the template slipped.

Aargh. Since you still have the excess wood around the outside of the blank, just put two screws or pins in opposite corners, to lock the template down to the blank. It's a good reason to not cut out the body perimeter until the internal routing is finished.

I think Nexy and the Screaming Routers would be a good band name. As long as they are doing the screaming, not you.

 

[mapleglo]

Aargh. Since you still have the excess wood around the outside of the blank, just put two screws or pins in opposite corners, to lock the template down to the blank. It's a good reason to not cut out the body perimeter until the internal routing is finished.

I think Nexy and the Screaming Routers would be a good band name. As long as they are doing the screaming, not you.

Yeah, the screws or pins in the corners is a great idea. I'll do that tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[mapleglo]

Removed the clamps this morning and cleaned up the slab.



Applied the body template and clamped (and pinned) the neck cavity template.



Of course, I set the template about a 1/4" too high - there's a bit of a gap between the previously routed pocket and this one. But I'll be able to cover that with the pickguard.



Neck pocket complete. Next, to the control cavity, probably tomorrow. We have a few appointments later today.

 

[BTL]

I’m a big fan of your builds, always have been. Very nice!

 

[mapleglo]

I routed the control cavity this morning.



And then put together another pickup routing template that offers a tad more room for the pickups.



I'll need to let that cure for at least a few hours before I use it. I may just wait until tomorrow. I have an appointment in a few hours so I need to get ready for that.

 

[mapleglo]

I progressed a little more on the build this morning. First I started getting ready to rout the pickups.



I could not pin the template down like I did with the neck cavity, so I clamped blocks to help maintain the position of the template.



That seems to have worked. Of course the top pickup rout is ever so slightly too small. I'm not sure what it is with me and pickup routs but this is an ongoing problem in many of my builds. I remember one build several years ago, the pickup was so tight I had to break it to remove it. And it wasn't a cheap pickup. In any event, I'll have to spend a few minutes sanding it a bit. The bottom one seems to fit normally.



Then I spent a few minutes doing a rough cut around the body on the band saw. I'll sand it closer either later today or tomorrow. For now, I'm pretty tired.

 

[mapleglo]

Sanded the body a bit this morning.



Even though I have some pickguard material, I may go without the pickguard. Of course, even though I wrapped the pickups with a few layers of masking tape, and made the template accordingly, both cavities are still too small. I guess I have some sanding in front of me.

 

[Flying B]

I hear you on the pickup routs. Mine are always too tight, then I spray it and they get even tighter!

 

[DonaldR]

No pickguard on such nice wood please?!?!?!

 

[mapleglo]

So I decided I'd work on the headstock this morning. First, I taped on the template to drill the tuner holes. I also drilled a hole in a test piece to make sure I had the right sized drill bit.



After I drilled the holes, I went to test fit all the tuners.



Once again, I just can't seem to get anything right on this build. I needed to reverse that last tuner, but it appears it can't be done.



I think these may be the import versions, not the USA versions. And thinking back, I do seem to remember buying a set of imports, just to see how they are. Well, they do seem to be heavier than the USA versions, and they are NOT reversible, without some machining.

Looking at Amazon for today or tomorrow delivery, because I am not very patient, I can buy a USA Hipshot for $36 (because they don't have single imports) , or two sets of Guyker Cloverleaf tuners (because no one offers a 4+1 set) for $23.24 x 2 and it'll get here tomorrow. I'm tending toward the Guyker tuners because they'll match each other. They may be heavier than the Hipshots. Or, I can order a Licensed Ultralite tuner from BBG for $21.78 (plus tax and shipping) and it'll be here in probably a week - turns out shipping is over $10 so it's cheaper to get the USA Hipshot from Amazon. Decisions...

 

[mapleglo]

I found a set of tuners that work, though I'm not thrilled with the appearance.



I'll use these for now.