2010 TDPRI $210 Challenge-????Caster

[Jack Wells]

The side of the anchor is black. In the second picture you're looking at the cut end of the anchor after it had been filed while spinning in the drill press as shown earlier. Nothing was done to change the color of the truss rod. Any difference in the looks of the rod are due to lighting. Before I installed the truss rod permanently I polished the top of the anchor on the buffing wheel. Now it's so shiny I can see my face in it .............. not a pretty sight.

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Thanks for the tips Terry. I thought my cutters cut pretty close but I just looked at them and they could definitely use the first mod. I had a little trouble cutting the higher frets so I'll definitely be doing your second mod.

[sean79]

Originally Posted by Jack Wells

Let me preface this by saying that when it comes to installing frets, I'm a complete novice. This is only the second neck I've fretted. The first was last night.

Great looking guitar. None of your build/lesson threads would ever make me think it was only the second time you had done any of this stuff. Any guesses on the final weight of this one?

[robt57]

Great shot, Tele neck pocket/locket pictures for your builds.

Originally Posted by Jack Wells

[Stuco]

I'm really liking this one Jack!

[Jack Wells]

Anyone who has viewed this thread in the last few days probably noticed the lack of pictures. Before this post, this thread had around 160 pictures. Combine those with the thousands of other pictures I've posted over the years, some of which have been viewed in these forums during the past month, and I've run out of bandwidth in my Photobucket free account. The Photobucket bandwidth counter should reset next Friday so the pictures should reappear then. I'm using another account to post the following.

I've never made a nut before. Guess it's a good time to start. I start with a bone nut blank from StewMac. I use the sand and try method until I get it to fit snugly into the nut slot.

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Here I'm using to half pencil method of marking the fret height on the nut blank.

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With files I give the blank a curved top stopping before the line.

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For a nut vise I'm using this little clamp on Bessey vise I picked up at a yard sale. I've cut away the corners so I have better access to the nut blank. It works great.

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I put the blank into the nut slot and marked the width. I then sawed off the excess sawing outside the line.

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I then sand the nut ends to match the fingerboard width.

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After checking some of my Fender guitars, I use a nut file to mark the outside string location. I chose 1/8 in. from the edge.

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I've marked them with pencil for better visability.

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Here I'm using the StewMac nut slot locater to mark the locations of the other four strings.

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I then use the nut file to make permanent marks. That's all for now. I'll do the final nut slotting and shaping when I've got strings on it.

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[oigun]

Lookin' good! My subconcious always count to six when I see the stewmac nut ruler I have the feeling I'm not the only one....

[Jack Wells]

Yeah ........... it's good to count. Don't want to make a Telecaster banjo.

[CJFearn]

Lets see, for six strings you need five spaces, or was that seven spaces? Or maybe four....???? I think my head hurts!

[GregB]

Jack. I'd say that this thread has answered more questions for me than any book. I'm really looking forward to building my first Tele and this thread is helping a lot.

Also, we have a lot of the same tools in our shop. I too have a drill press table extension. Although my favorite specialty tool is my Perfomax 16/32 belt sander. I sand one side of a plank 16" wide in a single pass and do it with 1/32th inch accuracy.

The part I'm really looking forward to is the finishing process (My least favorite part of woodworking) I've always wondered how to finish a Maple neck without having the finish pool against the frets. I assumed that the neck was slotted, then finished, then the fret slots cleaned up and THEN fretted. But then you have the problem of filing the fret ends on a finished neck. So I look forward to seeing how you finish yours.

[Jack Wells]

Thanks Greg. In finishing this one, I'm trying something a little different and unconventional. A few months ago, I refinished the stock on a Marlin lever action 22 rifle. I was really impressed at how smooth and how great it felt. I decided to start on the neck. I begin by staining the neck with ColorTone liquid stain mixed with alcohol ............ ~ 3/4 teaspoon to 4 oz. alcohol. I apply the stain with a rag going over any uneven looking areas until it looks pretty even.

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The color was pretty intense. The following tones it down a bit. I'm using Watco oil finish and using an application technique that used to be on the cans several years ago. After applying a liberal amount with a paper towel, I rub it in with 600 wet or dry sandpaper.

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I then dry it with a paper towel and let it sit a few hours before repeating the Watco treatment. It feels increadibly smooth and has a soft satin appearance.

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One thing I didn't forsee is that areas where endgrain is showing turned out darker. However this does give it sort of an 'antique" look. Hmmm......... maybe that's the way I planned it...........Yeah ......... that's the ticket.

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[hackworth1]

That's a good looking neck you've built, Jack. Very nice.

[GregB]

I've never used Watco. I should give it a try. I usually make my own shellac by mixing a 2 pound cut of shellac and alcohol in an empty spaghetti sauce jar and letting it dissolved for about a week. I've used is as a standard french polish and as a brush on finish.

The Watco looks really good on that neck. And I like the idea of a satin finish on a neck rather than the glossy nitro finish.

Now I'm really interested in seeing how you're going to do the fretboard.

[Jack Wells]

The fretboard was finished at the same time and in the same way as the rest of the neck.

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[robt57]

I have used that Watco golden oak on ash and maple myself. I love the jump start on the patina which is on the money IMO. ;)

[sean79]

Great job on that neck. The body, in that most recently posted shot, reminds me of Honeycomb cereal. Love it (the guitar, not the cereal).

[Leigh]

Originally Posted by sean79

Great job on that neck. The body, in that most recently posted shot, reminds me of Honeycomb cereal. Love it (the guitar, not the cereal).

Or monster munch

Neck looks great Jack, lovely colour to it

[Jack Wells]

Originally Posted by robt57

I love the jump start on the patina .....

Hey Robert, I like that description. The uneven coloring does seem to appear as patina.

[GregB]

That's nice. And your method eliminates the finish pooling up along the frets.

Very nice indeed.

[CJFearn]

Very nice work Jack!!! Gorgeous neck! Can't wait to see the rest done!!!

[myronpro]

Since your Photobucket account reset, I've gone back to see all of the photos I missed. Nice work. It brings to mind the Schecter Genesis that Joe Perry used in Run-DMC's "Walk This Way" video.