emoney's 2012 Challenge Build Thread -- COMPLETED

[Muzikp]

Wow another great head stock design. There are a lot of really cool designs in the challenge this year. Looks great so far.

[emoney]

Thanks Dave! And Muzikp, I actually like this one better than it's "father" the 3+3.
It's frustrating to me to do a headstock because my mind is so locked into the "proven ones".
I suppose that's why I'm no design engineer or the like, lol.

[Olav]

Decided to join the party anyway huh? Have fun E!

[Bowensby23]

E, I too am struggling with the headstock. But I really do like what you came up with here.

[Playpunk]

Duder. Don't be so original - it makes hacks like me feel bad.

[czook]

Nice wood. Looking forward to seeing this one progress.

[emoney]

Originally Posted by Olav

Decided to join the party anyway huh? Have fun E!

I went back and forth 20 times and once I started reading all the other threads,
knew I'd be mad at myself if I didn't, so here I am.....all exposed and everything

Originally Posted by Bowensby23

E, I too am struggling with the headstock. But I really do like what you came up with here.

I really did get lucky with this one. It's just one of those "trial and error" things,
I guess. If it hadn't been for the other one, I would've probably saved this step
until as late in the build as I could

Originally Posted by Playpunk

Duder. Don't be so original - it makes hacks like me feel bad.

Don't worry, Play, there'll be plenty "hack-ishness" to come out of this thread
I can assure you

Originally Posted by czook

Nice wood. Looking forward to seeing this one progress.

Thanks, czook. I hope I can do the wood and the Tele justice.

[Olav]

You'll be allright, E.

[RogerC]

Looks good to me! I'm really digging that top, and your headstock is pretty sweet. I'm kind of stuck for a design myself. I've tried sketching one out, but it always end up looking like... well, just something not pretty

You've done awesome!

[gitlvr]

Love the headstock design! And the woods. The Ambrosia is beautiful, of course. But I've gotta say, I'm kind of envious of that mahogany. To most folk it's pretty plain, I guess, but around here it's $8 or $9 a board ft. Not gonna buy any of it anytime soon. But i love working it, especially building a neck with it. Carves beautifully, real strong, and lightweight.
Good luck on your build. Looks like it'll be a beaut!

[emoney]

Originally Posted by Olav

You'll be allright, E.

I'll be following you (and copying ideas on the down low...wait, did I just type
that out loud?)

Originally Posted by RogerC

Looks good to me! I'm really digging that top, and your headstock is pretty sweet. I'm kind of stuck for a design myself. I've tried sketching one out, but it always end up looking like... well, just something not pretty

You've done awesome!

I found out that everytime I drew something, it was awful, so I just started
cutting scraps until I ended up where I ended up. Even a "blind squirrel"
sometimes gets a nut

Originally Posted by gitlvr

Love the headstock design! And the woods. The Ambrosia is beautiful, of course. But I've gotta say, I'm kind of envious of that mahogany. To most folk it's pretty plain, I guess, but around here it's $8 or $9 a board ft. Not gonna buy any of it anytime soon. But i love working it, especially building a neck with it. Carves beautifully, real strong, and lightweight.
Good luck on your build. Looks like it'll be a beaut!

Mahogany ranks right up at the top of woods to actually work with. Like you
said, carves like butter, but it gets a smidge on the pricey side. However,
I just picked up two 8/4 pieces, that are 7 1/2" wide and about 20" tall for
$10.00. My "guy" was finally in his shop today, and that's usually the only
place I buy wood from. He's one of those "old-school" cabinet makers and
even though you can't walk very safely in his shop, which btw is big enough
to house between 8-10 cars, it's stacked to the rafters with old wood he's
accumulated over 30-40 years. I'm trying to become one of his "closer" friends

Now, if I could just find that wood that works like Mahogany, but looks like
Flamed/Figured Maple, I'd be all in!

[gitlvr]

Yeah, I think I'd do whatever I could to cultivate that friendship!

[emoney]

Originally Posted by gitlvr

Yeah, I think I'd do whatever I could to cultivate that friendship!

I've got it to where at least he's "looks" happy to see me. He also sold me
an 8" long-bed Jointer today for $45.00. I've found that the more of his older
tools I buy, the better deal I get on the wood, and I need the tools anyway, lol.

[gitlvr]

that's a twofer then, lol. A lot of the old tools(if well maintained) are scads better than a lot of the newer stuff most are putting out today.

[emoney]

@gitlvr....you sir, are exactly correct.

Ok, this is crazy talk. I've just spent 2 hours trying to resaw via handsaw my "back piece"
and at this rate, I might be finished by next year's Super Bowl. So, in the event I'm as
frustrated tomorrow mid morning with it, I may have to go to Plan "B", which involves
a little bit thicker body. So, here's the blanks;

Got some planing to do to this lucky pair, as they're just a tad over 2" and I ain't building
no "fat boy"

They will be put on a diet come tomorrow.

[RogerC]

Really? You've got a friend how sells you wood and his old tools are great prices? You, sir, are a lucky, lucky man

[emoney]

@RogerC...technically, he doesn't actually know we're "friends" yet. However, with the
stock of wood and old tools he has, I consider him to be my BFF

[gitlvr]

Yeah, resawing with a handsaw can be....discouraging.
Assuming plan B is to thickness that thick wood to more appropriate dimensions for a body, i think it's router sled time. If you have one. If not, they're easy to make, and inexpensive. I made mine from 2" plastic plumbing pipe and a sheet of 3/4" ply. That would be what I'd do.

[emoney]

@gitlvr...great tip and I do have one, but my OCDedness usually kicks in and that makes
me go on a shopping spree (explantation soon)

**thread disclaimer: CAUTION **
The initiater of this thread has been known to take excessive pictures and provide far too
many updates. Understand this is no reflection on TDPRI, and is just another character
flaw from thread author. You will also notice there is occassional "trash talk" type verbage,
however, under no circumstances does the author feel superior to any other hobbyist, he
just likes to use phrases like, "What about that!" and words like, "Buyaaah!" (which we've
yet to ascertain definition of same. Read this thread at your own risk.

Alrighty then, now that we have the legalities out of the way, let's get down to bizness,
shall we?
This morning found a pleasant breeze coming in off the Gulf and the wife still groggy from
sleep (meaning...no chores yet!) so I figured I should sneak down into the shop. First thing
on the agenda is to slim down some of these big old chunks;


Sadly enough, with this horrible economy, a person can get a deal on used tools in the area
pawn shop. Picked this planer up for $100.00 and the blades were practically brand new.
Anyway, got the mahogany down to just over 1.5";

Remember from above, those puppies started life over 2". Wanna know where the 1/2" went?

The Ambrosia lost almost as much weight, and oddly enough, ended up with the same fate
but a little different color;

Then it was time to joint the edges so I could glue them up. I went the old fashioned
way, as my new-to-me, old jointer doesn't have a fence yet. So, I took out the handplane
and finished them off with my "flat surface sander";


Add some glue the old school way (wait..is there a "new school" way to do this?);



Ended up with some pretty tight joints;


Like everybody else, I put a strip of plastic underneath my glue joint,

but after I've clamped
it, I like to wipe off the excess like this;

And then I fold my plastic over, in half, so there's less clean up when it's all dry, like this;

THe it's just your standard, clamp them down and let them dry for a few hours;

Now we wait........

[emoney]

But, since we're practically living in the future and through the magic of the internet,
3 hours goes bye almost instantly, so now, it's 3 hours later;

TIme to whip out the handplane, and clean that glue joint up....booyah!
Let's recheck our seams, shall we?

OH yeah! Emoney is a jointing machine!!!!
ahem.....sorry, I get carried away sometimes. Anyway, let's make this wood look like
something, shall we?



I'm telling you, the kid's a natural!
Get ready for it......
wait.....


not yet.......


BAM!!!!



Still a little on the "chunky" side;

So tomorrow we'll put this little baby on a diet, if the good Lord's willing and the creek
don't rise, of course (well, technically you can translate that as "as long as the wife
either a)says it's ok, or b) doesn't know I'm in the shop).