jimdkc's 2012 Former Build Thread

I hereby announce my intention to participate in this glorious event!

I have a couple ideas rattling around in my noggin! One for the source of my body wood... And another for a pretty unique technical feature I intend to include....

Good luck everybody!

Jim

Good luck to you too, Jim. can't wait to see what you've got up your sleeve...

Good to see ya' in this year, good luck :grin:

Dave

Very cool!
I'm eager to witness the unfolding of the mystery.

Best of luck! Can't wait to see what's causing the rattling in your noggin... :razz:

Should be getting my body wood tomorrow. In honor of Tuuur (hey... where is he anyway???) I'll be using my mom's old cherry-wood tea cart. My mom (who passed away about 3 years ago) gave the tea cart to my wife. We didn't really have anyplace to use it, so it's been disassembled and stored in my step-father's garage. I asked my wife if I could make a guitar out of it. Mom loved music, so I think it will be a fitting tribute.

I've ordered some Rosewood for a fretboard, and I'm scoping out Maple for the neck.

More to come...

That sounds like a great tribute. Looking forward to this...

Yeah, me too.

Here's Mom's old teacart. It originally had a transparent reddish-tinted finish. When I was in high school (early 1970's) Mom had painted it with avocado green enamel to go in our kitchen. It did many years service as her microwave oven stand.

It used to have casters, and it has 2 drop-leaf side pieces so it could be used as a round table. The handle (stuck on with double-sided tape for these pics) was hinged and would drop down out of the way when used as a table.

As I mentioned earlier, Mom had given it to my wife and they had stripped the finish in preparation for a re-finish job that never occurred.

The top and 2 shelves are roughly 3/4" thick, so I can laminate those and they'll be plenty thick for a body. The top and shelves are all made of strips ranging from 2" to 3-1/2" wide. The top is roughly 30" x 18" and the shelves are roughly 26" x 16" -- plenty of space to cut out a tele body shape.

I'm planning on probably staining it red and applying a Tru-Oil finish. I will be using black hardware. Probably no pickguard, rear route with no front control panel. Black Tele-style tone and volume knobs and a Gibson-style pickup toggle switch. Black hardtail bridge. Black locking tuners.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1j6uTa60Plk/T2Y0G0nODII/AAAAAAAAADg/Y_FdliXNQ_A/s720/Cherry1.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xm_wo2p8CLo/T2Y0GJmnY4I/AAAAAAAAADY/pNOgkgOjNYQ/s720/Cherry2.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-H8gAfbFe1cQ/T2Y0FpZMlwI/AAAAAAAAADQ/FZsqLd9RKiI/s720/Cherry3.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-srQIfYe__mI/T2Y0E0F0FpI/AAAAAAAAADM/wcbUMBePovI/s720/Cherry4.JPG

Hmmm... I forgot to mention pickups...

Hey, I guess I'll be going to flea markets and garage sales to find some old furniture like that. Nice way to get some older wood. Looking forward to see more of this!

That's cool! Reclaimed wood with a personal history. That should make for a memorable guitar.

In honor of Tuuur (hey... where is he anyway???) I'll be using my mom's old cherry-wood tea cart.

I'm right here, only not into guitar building anymore... good luck, at least you have solid wood to build from! :wink:

The mailman brought me a nice new rosewood fingerboard blank today!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UOhfQekgHn4/T2fsYR9ze6I/AAAAAAAAADk/483RskuXwJM/s720/Rosewood.jpg

It's hard to decide what pickups to use...

Maybe a nice twangy Tele set?

Or maybe a hot wound humbucker set for rocking out?

Or how about some nice P90's for classic rock?

So hard to decide!

It's hard to decide what pickups to use...

Maybe a nice twangy Tele set?

Or maybe a hot wound humbucker set for rocking out?

Or how about some nice P90's for classic rock?

So hard to decide!

P90's do it all -- even jazz!

I like your concept a lot. Maybe you should have a
pickguard that could be used as a coaster for a cup of tea?

Ha Hah!

I just got a great idea of something to do with the turned legs and carved cart handle!

:mrgreen:

Jim

It's hard to decide what pickups to use...

Maybe a nice twangy Tele set?

Or maybe a hot wound humbucker set for rocking out?

Or how about some nice P90's for classic rock?

So hard to decide!

What if I didn't have to decide???

:shock:ooooohhhhhhh

Jim, did you know there is a wood store where Pier 1 used to be over on South Noland Road? Maybe you mentioned it on here before.

Jim, did you know there is a wood store where Pier 1 used to be over on South Noland Road? Maybe you mentioned it on here before.

Yes! I did... Metro Hardwoods. Unfortunately, they close earlier than I usually get off work, and they're closed on Sundays, so I've only been there once. Great selection. Prices seemed a bit high!

http://www.metrohardwoodsinc.com/

I've decided on a finish: a Black Cherry Burst done with water-soluble dry dye. I've ordered Homestead dyes from Rockler (just 2 days before my "Free Shipping" code expired!) in Scarlet, Antique Cherry Brown, and Black.

If you're not familiar with a Black Cherry Burst, just Google "Black Cherry Burst" and click "Images"... there are lots of examples.

Ha Hah!

I just got a great idea of something to do with the turned legs and carved cart handle!

:mrgreen:

Jim

What if I didn't have to decide???

Oh my! You're going modular on us! Aren't you?

Oh my! You're going modular on us! Aren't you?

It's anyone's guess...

:twisted:

That may be my favorite materials shot this year.

I vote P90's. coffee tables and p90's are a winning team!

Time to make some templates. New quarter sheet of 3/4" MDF. First I'll cut off a piece wide enough to make a neck template.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-657dhPmmCSo/T29mvHGwgnI/AAAAAAAAADw/hHyji-Jatis/s512/TemplateMaking1.jpg

You might recognize that neck... It's the one from my 2010 Challenge entry... I'm making a promise to myself to finish that guitar after the 2012 Challenge! (So embarassed! :oops:)

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uyD7Q4rWrN4/T29mvVNlMgI/AAAAAAAAAD0/YJg42MHRQuo/s512/TemplateMaking2.jpg

First Official Sawdust made! I know how much Tele-makers love the Porter Cable router... Gotta say that their circular saw is no slouch either!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x8P7Ix7wCpM/T29mvp01Z1I/AAAAAAAAAD8/q4wyMjlDOj8/s512/TemplateMaking3.jpg

Mark off a piece big enough for a body template. (That's my master template from 2010, also.)

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZIpP7Dywvos/T29mxqHYKTI/AAAAAAAAAEM/gkWmJoJGcMg/s720/TemplateMaking4.jpg

Cut it, traced the tele shape on to it. Repeat again for a neck pocket routing template.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8S3PehToOrA/T29mxnyFAjI/AAAAAAAAAEI/i7chbzkw5u8/s720/TemplateMaking5.jpg

I've decided to re-make my master template. I'm not really happy with some of the holes drilled in it. Plus, it was based on the Rev. D Tele drawing... can't have that when Rev. E is available! (Sheesh! Fastest Build is already won and here I am moving BACKWARDS!)

So, here's how I do a large drawing when I don't have a large printer. Use the old sliding-glass-door-as-lightbox trick! First I taped up some wax paper to keep glue off of the window. Next I printed the Terry Downs/Ed Hawley Tele drawing using Adobe Reader X. Nice that it now has a Poster print feature now that lets you specify overlap and show cut marks. I used the Snapshot feature to just capture and print the section I wanted.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GywgblaDwG8/T2-cOrRptSI/AAAAAAAAAEk/aqTEj8jVlrM/s512/TemplateMaking6.jpg

Used Scotch tape to affix the drawing to the window, then an Elmer's glue stick on the overlapping portions.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VbJ5YQgCvLE/T2-cNYLu4hI/AAAAAAAAAEY/Tc24nngEO2o/s512/TemplateMaking7.jpg

The Ed Hawley neck PDF file printed out too light for this technique... so, I opened it in Illustrator, Selected All, and changed the stroke to 1 point Black, then re-saved it as a new PDF file. Worked much better after that!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vpUjjap5qAY/T2-cOXeF4KI/AAAAAAAAAEg/8uWvvLjLKhQ/s512/TemplateMaking8.jpg

I'm attaching the revised neck PDF, in case anyone wants a copy.

Boy! Am I ever glad I did that... after comparing my new drawing to my old template, something didn't quite look right. So I got out the calipers and did some measuring. Turns out that my old template printout was actually distorted! It was about 1/4 inch to narrow and about 1/4 inch too tall! All the measurements on my new printout are perfect.

In keeping with the long-standing tradition of including a sandwich shot in your build thread...

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--faPhN-WE-E/T2_VEFl2xSI/AAAAAAAAAEw/jlJYy3rAm2w/s512/Sandwich.jpg

Firehouse makes a great Meatball Sub!

Headstock design... It's not easy! I've tried many times to come up with something decent that doesn't look goofy. I think I've finally sketched something I like! here's my sketch over a standard tele outline:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OBQnbHOga4Q/T3AhCyxFtgI/AAAAAAAAAE4/Nl5HqOXQxho/s512/Headstock.jpg

I think I'm gonna use this!

I think you've done a fine job on the headstock, and yes, it's a real bear trying to come
up with something original.

Hey, thanks emoney! Interestingly enough, it was reading your build thread that inspired me to put pencil to paper again and try to come up with a headstock design of my own!

Boy! Am I ever glad I did that... after comparing my new drawing to my old template, something didn't quite look right. So I got out the calipers and did some measuring. Turns out that my old template printout was actually distorted! It was about 1/4 inch to narrow and about 1/4 inch too tall! All the measurements on my new printout are perfect.

Great job. I tend to fail in the double-check department.

I agree, headstock design is the bane of my existence. I've tried to come up with something several times but have failed miserably at coming up with anything new while being aestetically pleasing :neutral:. You've done a fine job, however.

We have maple! Flamed maple for my neck. Here's my final materials pic:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LfP39JVqWMY/T3EwQMuk8YI/AAAAAAAAAFE/FE8sXnwzEdU/s720/Maple.jpg

Also shown here... some Corian scraps destined for a nut... and maybe a tone bar? Anybody ever make a tone bar out of Corian?

If nobody has, then you're gonna be the 1st, which is always cool! Corian seems like
a perfect tone bar material. Like that piece of flamed maple. Don't tell me you got it at
either Home Depot or Lowe's because if you did, then I'm moving.

Oh, no! Definitely not at any Lowes or Home Depot near me!

Nice maple ! That corian should make a great tone bar , and its pretty easy to work , good idea :)

Oh, no! Definitely not at any Lowes or Home Depot near me!

:wink: Other than the one that shares a parking lot with Firehouse Subs?

:wink: Other than the one that shares a parking lot with Firehouse Subs?

I meant there's no flamed maple at the Lowes or Home Depot near me! (You do know the area!)

This neck blank was an eBay purchase...

Oh, no! Definitely not at any Lowes or Home Depot near me!

I actually feel a little better then. I was starting to think Florida was the only
state that's Home Depot/Lowe's stores didn't sell the stuff. I still think down here
it's a conspiracy between them and Woodcraft, lol.

Teacart... Meet Rubber Mallet...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TP_zkbeJusM/T3MIRQ1KRgI/AAAAAAAAAFY/FeK-lGDbJtc/s720/Demo1.jpg

Old girl didn't go gently... both of the bottom shelves split during the disassembly. Fortunately, they were clean breaks.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QgspHq0HRGw/T3MIR4MouaI/AAAAAAAAAFo/cABUnOZ84Eg/s720/Demo2.jpg

Nothing a little Titebond won't fix!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l3-8pMTf85E/T3MIRRQSE1I/AAAAAAAAAFc/PDzkWj5SaPk/s720/Demo3.jpg

In retrospect, I suppose I could have dismantled the cart with a saw... however, I didn't know whether I'd run into screws or anything. I didn't; it was all dowelled and mortise-and-tenon joints. But, that wouldn't have been as much fun!

Mom would have been quite upset that I set that glue bottle on her cart without a coaster!

Lots and lots and lots of sanding today (probably my least favorite task!)

First, I found that my neck blank has a slight twist to it. Fortunately, it's over an inch thick and I'm using a 1/4" fingerboard, so I have some room to work with it.

Not having any fancy planing or thicknessing tools, here's my solution. Before I can use a router sled jig to surface it, I needed to make one side of it as flat as possible. I found a long piece of particle board in my garage... and verified that it was flat. Stuck some 60 grit sandpaper to that with 3M Super 77 adhesive. Scribbled pencil marks on one side of my blank to see what I was taking off. And applied liberal amounts of elbow grease...

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4K2Hqj8zUFA/T3i396KG0xI/AAAAAAAAAF0/wTd4l-6_7rg/s512/FlattenNeckBlank.jpg

More to come...

So many threads this year its hard to keep up. Glad I stumbled on your's. That's a really cool idea to re-purpose your mom's old tea cart into a tele. Can't wait to see how this comes together this is gonna be cool.

Are you going for the same red as the original stain? I was gonna laughingly suggest avocado but then i did a quick google search for avocado guitar and found 2 in a avocado burst that actually looked better than i expected.:shock:

Good luck on your build.

Hey, thanks, Steve!

I know what you mean... so many treads! I'm doing a poor job of keeping up myself!

I think I'm going to go for a redder color than the original stain on the cart. I like red guitars, and I don't currently have one.

And that avocado burst Strat with the walnut pickguard and chrome pickups does look surprisingly good! Even if it does bring up memories of my mom's kitchen in the early 70's!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L7_lLU74UCA/SkoOJ210esI/AAAAAAAABI0/dh7hujkL6GI/s400/70%27s+1.jpg

Mom would have been quite upset that I set that glue bottle on her cart without a coaster!

Haha!

You need a mallet cozy too!

Wow... I need to get a move on! I think there may be some behind me... but not many!

Continuing the re-making of my master template:

Attached the drawing to a piece of 1/4" MDF with spray adhesive. Gave it a shot of clear lacquer and let it dry.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oycvTXPrPwc/T4Hp_RYdWdI/AAAAAAAAAGs/bUZIMcTIMeA/s512/TemplateMaking9.jpg

Jigsaw around the edges. Had to use the cheap HF jigsaw. The Bosch decided it didn't want to keep the blade pointing forward!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-56KgC_TiVYk/T4Hp9w2mbSI/AAAAAAAAAGU/ou8w7HYwEWc/s512/TemplateMaking10.jpg

Scored the outer lines with a utility knife, then sanded to the lines. Used a large drum first, then this small one for tight spots.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-riSDnKz7YyA/T4Hp-ByQFuI/AAAAAAAAAGg/6tkTD2NLkXw/s512/TemplateMaking11.jpg

Sanded the last remnants of finish off of the cart top and shelves.

Here's the top, down to bare wood. This will become the middle layer.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZHoOrDEpH28/T4Hp7Hey9rI/AAAAAAAAAGI/qxyvMU_Dx28/s512/BodyBlank1.jpg

Here's a shelf. This will become the back.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ko_Gn8L4pG4/T4Hp6kwBNqI/AAAAAAAAAF8/bGnSUS8vKS4/s512/BodyBlank2.jpg

And here's the other shelf. This will become the front.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SvmsZpyr-G0/T4Hp6w2bw1I/AAAAAAAAAGA/5OQvPZ2lJ-A/s512/BodyBlank3.jpg

I traced the tele shape onto each shelf and rough-cut them to size with my circular saw. Here's the glue up of the back and middle layers. This is most of the clamps that I own!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o1rz6jdNkZk/T4Hp-AX_wjI/AAAAAAAAAGc/aWb2FpBzcuI/s512/BodyBlank4.jpg

I'll let that set for a while, then glue on the top layer.

Front panel added to the body blank sandwich.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xG0ZLKpMWP0/T4Iog8QoRqI/AAAAAAAAAG4/kOEoAxWk6cs/s512/BodyBlank5.jpg

Note the broken clamp handle on the left side toward the front. I have a love/hate relationship with Harbor Freight clamps! It's hard not to grab a couple when they go on sale for $1.99. Fortunately, I have a fix that extends the life of these cheap clamps.

If you can fix those clamps, you're a much better person than me, lol. I've switched to
their "Blue" screw-tight clamps. About the same price and I've yet to have an issue (crossing fingers).

Nice work on the build, btw!

I figured out that glue spreading is best done with an old credit card. Gives a nice thin layer, plus you can scrape glue off where it's too thick and easiy transfer it to where it's thin.

Edit: OK... According to another thread, a small disposable paint roller is best! Lotsa ways to skin cats!

Sneak peak of things to come...

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y2MeyoJIdEw/T4KPhvqfZBI/AAAAAAAAAHE/NcD4oHKOhc8/s720/Pickup1.jpg

I figured out that glue spreading is best done with an old credit card. Gives a nice thin layer, plus you can scrape glue off where it's too thick and easiy transfer it to where it's thin.

Edit: OK... According to another thread, a small disposable paint roller is best! Lotsa ways to skin cats!

I wonder how many ways there really are to skin a cat? Has anybody ever tried it? I don't recall cat skinning being popular in any modern culture. Sorry my mind wanders sometimes, probably from the lacquer fumes...

Anyway I love this build and yet another classic build challenge quote "Tea cart meet rubber mallet". Hilarious, made me think of this

http://www.progressiveboink.com/jon/images/calvinhobbes/jon6.GIF

Heh heh! Thanks... Love Calvin & Hobbes!

Heh heh! Thanks... Love Calvin & Hobbes!

+1, and that's one of my all time favorite C&H strips!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KobCgbDXEF8/T4pCpEGPTGI/AAAAAAAAAHo/9skPFiB55P8/s660/Respirator2.jpg

Oops... Sorry! Wrong build thread!

Anyway, I got tired of breathing MDF dust and sawdust. Besides, all the cool kids seem to be doing it!

Oops... Sorry! Wrong build thread!

Anyway, I got tired of breathing MDF dust and sawdust. Besides, all the cool kids seem to be doing it!
I think Greedo helped write the "Office" sign on your door.:mrgreen:

Ha Ha! That's a pic I took with the built in camera on my wife's iMac using Photo Booth... I didn't even realize it was backwards!

...
Note the broken clamp handle on the left side toward the front. I have a love/hate relationship with Harbor Freight clamps! It's hard not to grab a couple when they go on sale for $1.99. Fortunately, I have a fix that extends the life of these cheap clamps.

I do too! I put them where I want to clamp something, then I put a real clamp on top of them. :grin:

A while back my local harbor freight was selling the 18" clutch style bar clamps for $3.
I only bought four of them but they have worked flawlessly.
I think I would stay away from any of the plastic clamps they sell.

Here's how I get a bit more life out of my cheap Harbor Freight clamps:

For each clamp repair, you will need:
1 - #8 x 1-3/16" Round- or Pan-head machine screw
1 - #8 Lock Nut with Nylon Insert
4 - #8 Flat Washers

First, remove the 5 black screws and disassemble the clamp.
Notice the plastic shoulders which act as the pivot for the handle. One or both of these will probably be mangled.
Drill through the center of the shoulder with a 3/16" drill bit. Even though it's damaged, the plastic here will act to center your drill bit. Do this on both the base and the cover.
Use a sharp knife to shave off the plastic shoulders around the holes you just drilled. Try to get as close to the bottom as possible.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7cwVItic00g/T41fx_4EqmI/AAAAAAAAAH8/idaoiQrdtpo/s720/ClampRepair1.jpg

Put a flat washer on the screw.
Insert the screw through the hole in the clamp base.
Add another flat washer.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HTm37fUmyyQ/T41fzsXbXZI/AAAAAAAAAIM/LIlAluWlHgs/s720/ClampRepair2.jpg

Put the orange trigger in place, making sure the point is behind the small spring-loaded metal bar.
Add another flat washer.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wIScgWgtOrY/T41fxOXDXdI/AAAAAAAAAH0/TDZxqi_MCxc/s720/ClampRepair3.jpg

Put the cover in place, add another washer, and then your lock nut.
Replace the black screws that hold the cover in place.
Tighten the lock nut until just snug... If you squeeze the handle and it doesn't spring back, it's too tight. Back it off a little. Don't worry, it won't come off... That's why we used a lock nut!
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tR8-bpNV1pY/T41f0PzUdJI/AAAAAAAAAIE/LCGdl6rAjtA/s720/ClampRepair4.jpg

Good as (probably better than...) new!

I was walking through harbor freight and saw these clamps. I'm a sucker for low cost tools, I decided to test one by clamping it to the shelf they were displayed on. Yep it broke right there in the store, I felt bad that I broke there clamp, but I couldn't bring myself to pay for it.

That's pretty funny!

I used some of these last summer when I built a deck (seen in my early teacart posts!) to bring warped planks into line... they actually performed surprisingly well!

About to get serious about guitar building...

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CnMjUwGIQvc/T47864_PEgI/AAAAAAAAAIY/VN0PZqdtE9s/s480/ROSS.jpg

Now THAT'S a tool! I use mine for everything. If I could figure out how to solder with it, I would :shock:

I need to get one of those!
Just have to wait for some more stuff to sell on Ebay.

I just wish they were available over here :cry:

I just wish they were available over here :cry:

me too. :cry::cry:

Oh man, I hate when you guys talk about the ROSS and even Porter Cable routers ... Rigid don't even import the ROSS here and frankly there is no local equivalent (only spindle sanders OR belt sanders from what I can tell) ...and the price on those things is just a steal. I'd also love to have a decent and affordable non-plunge router to use under the table but I guess while it is "just a hobby" it aint happening.

Who'd a thunk Ned Flanders would be building guitars? Are Rod and Todd any help? Nice work. Cheers.

Who'd a thunk Ned Flanders would be building guitars? Are Rod and Todd any help? Nice work. Cheers.

Actually, It's not Ned... It's me!

Back when the Simpson's movie was released they had a website where you could upload a photo and have it converted to a Simpson's character:

http://simpsonizeme.com/

It seems to be inactive now :cry:

Ned:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CO77W4ETYp8/T5AqIJN8yVI/AAAAAAAAAIk/rhpCgBwOzFM/s80/NedFlanders80.jpg

Me:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QbH2c-Wj3-s/T5AqLAhhFoI/AAAAAAAAAIs/xrPul6XWfmM/s80/JDSimpson80.jpg

Actually, It's not Ned... It's me!

Sorry, it really is you ...though I think I've only seen a picture of you with a respirator on! As much as I love the Simpsons I don't think I've watched it for some years now ...you're much more handsome than Ned:lol:

carry on ...

I've decided that I really like building guitars and have further decided that I need better tools to do it.

So, in addition to the Porter-Cable 690 router that I bought last year, and the ROSS that I picked up on Wednesday, I've also ordered a Grizzly Router Table (on sale now for $119! - delivered and assembled yesterday!), a Skil 9" Bandsaw (I wanted a better one, but the budget says this reconditioned one at a great price will do for now! - should be delivered today!), and a Shop Fox 17" Radial Drill Press (Can drill the center of a 34" diameter object! - To be delivered sometime next week!)

We're gonna kick this thing into high gear!

I've decided that I really like building guitars and have further decided that I need better tools to do it.

So, in addition to the Porter-Cable 690 router that I bought last year, and the ROSS that I picked up on Wednesday, I've also ordered a Grizzly Router Table (on sale now for $119! - delivered and assembled yesterday!), a Skil 9" Bandsaw (I wanted a better one, but the budget says this reconditioned one at a great price will do for now! - should be delivered today!), and a Shop Fox 17" Radial Drill Press (Can drill the center of a 34" diameter object! - To be delivered sometime next week!)

We're gonna kick this thing into high gear!
Nice!!!

Ah, a man after my own heart. Any excuse to buy new tools :grin:

Am I the only one who hasn't even cut out the body shape yet?

My blank was about 2-1/4" thick, so I put together a thicknessing setup for my router. There's a 2x4 screwed to the bottom of the jig to allow it to be clamped in the Workmate.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FTd-YFKVBgs/T5SM3Pk58mI/AAAAAAAAAI4/vKZHEgjphKw/s720/BodyThicknessing1.jpg

Just a tad under 1-3/4"...

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BXwjoctlqj8/T5SM3l6CMhI/AAAAAAAAAJE/wi62vr2IkRI/s720/BodyThicknessing2.jpg

Wiped it with mineral spirits to see what the grain looks like.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2ra0OXyoxOg/T5SM3bg9vRI/AAAAAAAAAJA/l7-Uz-RtOBo/s720/BodyThicknessing3.jpg

My Workmate is getting a workout! Temporary duty as a saw table. The bandsaw is one of my new toys. Got it for under $100!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DCDt4amr7os/T5Sen0s-1MI/AAAAAAAAAJU/S-UWcl0oVOw/s512/BandsawBody1.jpg

Finally! It's vaguely Tele-shaped!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dpH1vGFbbAw/T5SeoP5LLKI/AAAAAAAAAJY/-dpdqzeQQqE/s512/BandsawBody2.jpg

Good for you! You'll be a "body cutting-out Jessie" now! I think I like "NTDs" even better
than I used to like NGDs. Funny how this building bug just gets its stinger in you, isn't it?

Assembled the new drill press today!

More actual guitar work tomorrow!

Missed this build until now. Cool idea.

Hello from a fellow NWMO resident. I'm up by Maryville and have a few friends and relatives in your town.

The challenge has been a great opportunity (excuse) to buy tools :)

Hey, thanks, Chuck! The original 2009 $100 Build Challenge is what originally brought me to TDPRI. I'm enjoying the new tools!

Well... Spent the morning cleaning up my work area in the garage, then didn't feel well in the afternoon, so... not much progress today. Did do some template work.

But, I do have a plan to catch up... I'll be taking the week of May 7-11 off of work... with no plans at all except guitar building!

Whoa! Where has the time gone? It's starting to run short, but I am determined to finish!

Monday I had a heck of a time with my router. The screws that hold the top on kept vibrating out! Kinda scary when the live electrical connections are flopping around loose on a piece of high-speed rotating machinery in your hands! A couple of split compression lock washers and some Lock-Tite fixed that.

Tuesday I had a pinched nerve in my leg that kept me all but immobilized!

Got back into actual guitar building today!

Made a neck template and thicknessed my neck blank. Traced the template onto it.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-06Pk-hDR1Yg/T6sIGPVq8ZI/AAAAAAAAAJw/IgsNd9lxxJI/s512/Neck01.jpg

Used the fence on my Grizzly Router Table and the router baseplate to figure out where to route the truss rod channel.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BwcZKSBupUQ/T6sIF7g-TMI/AAAAAAAAAJs/GOzt-Y28mEQ/s720/Neck02.jpg

Routed the channel in 2 passes. It's a Bezdez dual-action truss rod from eBay.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-L43r2mDSmVo/T6sIF17N0YI/AAAAAAAAAJo/RFkTb0hIVrU/s720/Neck03.jpg

Used the bandsaw to rough-cut the neck shape. (Bandsaws make me more nervous than routers!)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zaJcV0Fyyww/T6sIHtLVrHI/AAAAAAAAAKA/6vSbnrq1o6I/s512/Neck04.jpg

Tomorrow I mount the router under the table and do some template routing...

Looking good. Still love the idea of a tea-cartaster or something like that, Teacaster I dunno but I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Go get 'em, Jim!

I was actually planning on a modular, interchangeable pickup system. 3 sets of pickups: 1 Tele set, 1 Humbucker set, and 1 P-90 set mounted in die-cast aluminum enclosures (I found a place to order them for $4 each! Catch is... you have to buy 10!) plugging in from the back of the guitar.

http://www.4siteelectronics.com/category_s/264.htm

However, given the limited time left, I think I'm just going to go with black P-90 soapbar pickups. I don't have a guitar with P-90's yet.

Well then you must build a p-90 guitar. I can't argue with your brilliant logic here.

Dye tests this morning!

I've never used dry wood dyes before, so I was a bit scared of this step. I needn't have been! Very easy!

I got theses dyes from Rockler Woodworking. I had read somewhere that for water-based dyes, using a 3:1 ratio of water to alcohol was a good thing to do... I don't even remember why now! So I mixed up a small portion of my 3 colors: 3 oz. warm water, 1 oz. denatured alcohol, and about 1/8 teaspoon of dye (I used 1/4 teaspoon of the black).

I applied the dye with wiping cloths bought at Ace Hardware... Cheap... 100% cotton t-shirt material.

Here are the test results.

I wanted a bit of color on the maple neck to warm it up a bit. I hit it with the Antique Cherry Brown dye.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d9BCJ_1psqY/T6u5TWvKqKI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/wvzgAvo9a5o/s720/DyeTest01.jpg

I like this color a lot! And it makes the figure in the wood pop! Compare the dyed top surface with the pale undyed side.

Next I hit my cherry wood with the Cardinal Red dye.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-uV3Imb0PY3k/T6u5TrnLQaI/AAAAAAAAAKg/CqwuH3LhgMo/s720/DyeTest02.jpg

(It's actually a little redder in real life...)

And tried a little bursting action with Black on the edge...

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mmXrgwGc160/T6u5Tkj0miI/AAAAAAAAAKU/sEeIrxaCxCE/s720/DyeTest03.jpg

I think I'll mix up the black a bit weaker for the burst part and a bit stronger for the edges.

I'm so happy with my color choices. And so relieved with how easy this is!

After they dry a little, I'll hit them with a bit of Tru-Oil an see how they look.

With Tru-Oil...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lcNyyY75eYo/T6vBzhrROhI/AAAAAAAAAKw/0USygOgLctI/s720/DyeTest04.jpg

Nice work Jim I was scared too doing the dye on my top. Looks like your necks figuring will really pop beautifully with that color. I had no idea you could buy such a big bottle of Tru-Oil. Keep up the good work , Hope to see you at the finish line.

Nice work Jim I was scared too doing the dye on my top. Looks like your necks figuring will really pop beautifully with that color. I had no idea you could buy such a big bottle of Tru-Oil. Keep up the good work , Hope to see you at the finish line.

Thanks, Steve! Funny thing is... If I pull this off, I probably could have won "Fastest Build"!

The Tru-Oil seemed to be running about $12.50 for an 8 oz. bottle, then add shipping to that, but I found that 32 oz. bottle on Amazon from The Sportsman's Guide for under $20 shipped!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0052PW1EQ/

Man, did that TO ever take it from blah to WOW.

I regret to announce that I'm out of the competition... A physical ailment has knocked me off of my feet for a few days.

I will complete the guitar... just not in time for the challenge!

Thanks for all the encouragement!

Sorry to hear that, Jim.

Get well soon, I'll look forward to seeing the end result!

Get well soon Jim

That sucks, Jim. Hope you're feeling better soon and back at it.

Sorry to hear that... Get well soon Jim!

Your former Challenge thread has been moved to Tele Home Depot.