a first build..

makepeace · 2012-01-29T23:02:21+00:00

Howzit dudes and dudettes ? I thought it was eventually time to start a thread detailing the first guitar build that I've been preparing for, hopefully to be able to provide you with a good read and some insight, and to hear your ideas and tips, but also for myself - just to draw some inspiration/motivation and get the show on the road :yup: You'll also have to excuse me at times, as I'll be juggling this between the studies and work :?. Ok so, a few of you might have some slight ideas of my plans - and for some insiders and good eyes, fully fledged ones even - but for the others its a surprise for the moment! But as all good surprises are preceded by hints, it only seems fitting to furnish you with some pics! The blanks are slightly darker and browner than in the photos. I bought 25mm and 50mm planks from Rarewoods, both 2.5m long and about 200 wide. I'll have enough for two bodies, and I'll be doing them one at a time to get my chops up so I'll have at least one great body. The first top has quite a plain, straight grain, however as you see the second set at the top will be a little more interesting. If you had a good eye, you'd see they've been planed to about 40mm and 7mm using an awesome friends awesome planer-thicknesser. Very cool tool. I've already joined the first top and back using a router with a flush trim bit for the jointing, and loads of clamps, wax paper and cold glue. The joints came out pretty well I think: Really love the marble-y grain of these pieces. A bit of a pity about the knots, but they have been strategically placed, and fortunately won't factor in the aesthetics of the finished product as they'll be hidden, either by things, or they'll be on the inside. I've kept some sawdust from the planing which I'll mix with some glue to use as a filler for these knots just for integrity's sake (although if anyone has other ideas, I'd love to hear them!). I also have a couple of pieces of 400x500 perspex that I'll have CNC'd to a set of plans so that I'll have a set of near to perfect templates. More soon, lets hear some guesses (although it should be pretty easy by now) ?

makepeace

Ok I have a question:

Which would be the best order in which to approach binding and finishing?

My thoughts:

Binding first would result in having to put finish on the binding - which may or may not be a problem for french polishing.

Finishing first would result in hurting the finish with routing/taping up etc.

I could rout the channel, then finish, then clean up the channel, then bind. but I would still have to stick tape over the new finish.

Should I just bind it first and then finish over the binding? Colouration won't be an issue - binding will be black. Not so sure how denatured alc and binding react with each other though..

Any enlightenment would be greatly appreciated ?

Also, does anyone know where to get a wipe on type of polyurethane finish?

rikus

The best brush on solution we figured out during our ukulele adventure was KTM9

http://www.lmii.com/carttwo/thirdproducts.asp?NameProdHeader=KTM+Product+Line+%96+Water+based+Finish

We got it from LMII and we got a great result from a not so great application method (brushing).

Slightly off topic, what's the profile like on that neck? Marc's standard is something he calls a lazy V, close to a C, but I'm not sure what that'll fell like.

makepeace

thanks Rikus! will be sure to check it out.

really like the profile on my neck. when i decided, i didn't really know what suits me best, so it was a bit of a hit and miss affair that I based on reading a lot about profiles, playing some different guitars and looking at my hands. went with a chunky U shape starting at about 22mm and tapering to about 23 and it feels great. only thing i'm a bit worried about it the width of the neck.. think i might have gone too narrow, specially at the nut :/. but i guess i'll have to get used to it.

Gearhead

The goto method seems to be to scrape the finish off of the binding, when spraying over plastic. Wood binding will obviously just get sprayed or wiped over. Wiped finishes will probably not even so much as stick on plastic and definitely scrape off easily.

makepeace

ah ok cool, i guess thats how its going to be. i assume they get polished afterwards?

makepeace

Phew its been too long.. Updates on the way soon!

Kush

Such an interesting post this. This is a great build, you have done really well so far. I hope to get an update soon?

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