Spruce Tele

Building a tele type out of 2 pieces of solid spruce. Body thickness is 1.5 inches. Didn't use a drill press for the ferrules. Pencil, ruler and a forstner bit in a cordless. Neck is birdseye maple from Usa Custom. Rounded over the fretboard edges to give it more of a worn in feel. Maybe at a later date I'll make one from scratch.

Here's the stupid question of the day.
Can the Stewart MacDonald (part #0693 Router bit,1/2" dia) be used in a plunge router? I have plunge routing bits and they all have a small blade in the center (for mortise and tenon) but no template bearings. Stewart MacDonald's bits don't have the blade in the center. Don't want to hog out the cavities with a forstner then cleanup with a router.

Here's the pictures in in no particular order...

Are you using Sitka Spruce or just the construction lumber type?

http://www.stewmac.com/product_images/1lg/0565/Ball_Bearing_Router_Bits_sm.jpg

It looks like they do have the blade on the bottom of the bit in the photos. You can see that the tip of the cutter has a split in the middle and is also beveled. I see no reason why those can't be used in a plunge?

I use Stew Mac's 1/2" bearing on a regular old Freud 1/2" mortising bit. This setup works fine in a plunge router.

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/401904_10100914545166000_4937231_65593438_85546538 _n.jpg

Sitka Spruce 2 pc. I'll route the pickup cavity this weekend with the bit and see what happens.

Routed out the pickup cavity and controls this weekend. Used the StewMac 1/2 bearing bit in a plunge router with a template. Went with 1/4" passes till the depth was achieved. Going to sand and start the finishing process now.

how deep did you rout the pickup cavity?

3/4 inch deep. I added in the screw holes in the side of the cavity with a forstner.

New things...