stijnkenens 's 2012 Challenge Build Thread -- COMPLETED

[stijnkenens]

Indeed, birch ...




All those wood names who sound the same ...

s.

[mkhhunt]

Nice, I'm looking forward to the multi-scale neck. That will be cool. Nice design too!

[stijnkenens]

It would look like this:



First attempt on a tele, second attempt on a multi-scale guitar.
With this TDPRI challenge there are 3 multi-scale guitars in the running (another tele for a friend and a selmer macafferri copy ...)

s.

[stijnkenens]

Started to cut out everything I need ...

Top and back, without veneer:




I've copied the core design on a semi see-through paper, and translated to the mahogany birch sandwich:






No pictures of cutting it, my mind is focused on the line and not cutting my fingers ...

Layout on the back:




close up:



My first idea was to put veneer on both sides of the top and back, but now I think I just glue a piece of veneer on top and bottom of the core units ...

So You will have a light inner side and a mahogany outside .


s.

[stijnkenens]

Forgot one pic ...

Total weight of the body, not routed/sanded, without cavities and outside veneer ...




1.490 kg ...


s.

[axedaddy]

Wow, very interesting and a true skill challenge. Can't wait to see it and hear it!

[jpbturbo]

Any progress?
I want to see what it looks like finished.

[emoney]

Good bump cuz I almost missed this one. Great planning and I can't wait to watch
this one develop!

[stijnkenens]

Whoo ... Pressure

There is a lot going on in the shop, so I have to work on it on evenings ...

Ok, here we go:

After glueing the sandwich core together, I sawed the components, and glued a few pieces of veneer on the outside.

Cutting through the sheets:




And after that I sanded the sides square:




Now it looks like this:



First I thought to mirror the center-core, but it looks more natural like this !!!

Next step: glueing veneer on back and top.
I'm thinking to use a thinner birch laminate for top and back, 4 in stead of 6mm, So I'm missing 4 mm in thickness... Have to rethink some details ...



s.

[stijnkenens]

Ok, so much for the 4 mm laminate ...
Used a band saw with big teeth ...

Looks good ...




Not so good ...




To the lathe:







This looks nice:




To the big fellah:

first cut veneer:




Glue:




layers of veneer:




Ad some pressure :





s.

[Barncaster]

Stijn,

Can I borrow your press to glue my top on? I promise Ill bring it right back. Im heading over on my bicycle now.........

Barncaster

[stijnkenens]

Haha, I thought I would see you yesterday, still on your bike? :)

It's an old furniture press, for glueing veneers on to cupboard doors.
I think we use it maximum 5 times a year ... but it is handy when you need it !


s.

[nosmo]

Very interesting guitar, I can't wait to see this finished.

[Barncaster]

Originally Posted by stijnkenens

Haha, I thought I would see you yesterday, still on your bike? :)

It's an old furniture press, for glueing veneers on to cupboard doors.
I think we use it maximum 5 times a year ... but it is handy when you need it !

s.

Stijn,

It looks like you could squeeze an elephant into an ant with that thing!

Barncaster

[stijnkenens]

Probably ...
And it is one of 3 ...
You can veneer a whole door in it ...


s.

[stijnkenens]

fresh from the press

a veneered top and back ...
3 sheets were to small for one top, didn't like to match them perfectly, so i'm gonna route 2 slots and ad some other veneer between the sheets.






And the occasionally shop shot:
This is my daily heaven / shop ...





s.

[Picton]

I've got no idea what this is going to look like in the end, but it's fun watching you get there. Make sure you document your method for laying out the frets; inquiring minds want to know.

[stijnkenens]

I'm feeling the same, no idea what so ever how it is going to look in the end.

I will document every step of the multi scale neck preparation !


s.

[stijnkenens]

Ok, did some work today ...
I have some projects drying on the wall, so we go one with this one...

I spend the day in this cave:




Routing the 2 slots for the maple veneer:





But I found the top and back to tick so sanded it down...


7 mm:




sandin'




5 mm, it can bow again ...




prepared some maple veneer and glued it in the slots:






After a few hours let them loose and sanded the outside of top and back, now we have this:



And smooth inside:



Still have to deal with something predicted, but didn't think it was this large ...




s.

[Ike57]

Originally Posted by stijnkenens

I spend the day in this cave:

That's not just a cave. That's a real Man Cave !! Exactly how a workshop should look like. Perfect!

I envy you mate