easy way to do forarm & tummy contour???

well????
any other ways other then killing your arm & wrist with a file or planer????
Ron Kirn said something about using a grinder in one of his books???anyone try it????what kind of wheels do you get??? how about something like this but I dont know what to attach to it...

http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/grinders-buffers.html

Yes, an angle grinder!

What do you mean "attach it"?

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_11753.jpg

You can do the arm contour on a large belt sander. I used to do tummy contours by making parallel saw cuts about 1/4" apart almost to depth and then I'd break out pieces since they were short grain with a hammer and chisel. The final depth was done with rasp,file, and abrasives. If you get a quality rasp...meaning really sharp... it's not as much work just to rasp it out.
Fender used a bandsaw with a decent height to just saw it out on a fixture that held it at an angle.

well????
any other ways other then killing your arm & wrist with a file or planer????
Ron Kirn said something about using a grinder in one of his books???anyone try it????what kind of wheels do you get??? how about something like this but I dont know what to attach to it...

http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/grinders-buffers.html

Funny you mention killing your arm. I did permanent repetive motion injury doing that to two consective tummy contours on two walnut bodies about 10 years ago. That is what made me start to consider CNC routers.

check the build thread on my site... I tried to make it as simple, cost effective, and easy to do as I could without buying a boatload of expensive tools... it produces contours as smooth and flowing as any cranked out of Fullerton doing the good 'ol days.

Ron Kirn

Just glue sandpaper to your arm and stomach and play some really heavy rock for three years

I did it with a random orbital sander with 60 or 80 grit paper. It wasn't fast, but it was really easy to keep from going too far.

I've use the ROSS and I have done the parallel cuts. Either way I mark the contour on the body so I know how far to sand or cut.

I like Rons way & thanks Ron. My only other question is I dont know what kind of wheel your using in the pictures on your website...I only see metal discs at Harbor Frieght...Looks like something differant in your picks....
http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt16/funkymann1/gr.jpg

I use my ROSS and a couple files...

http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx206/storyboards27/Jaguar%20build/2e3119ad.jpg

http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx206/storyboards27/Jaguar%20build/393630ae.jpg

Those wheels are called flap sanding discs. You can get them at Lowe's or HD for about $6 each. I would say go with something like 80 grit if you have never done it before, as it will keep you from ruining your body in the blink of an eye. Also, be very careful with handling the grinder, I did one heck of a number on one of my fingertips by getting repositioning my hand while it was going. It took several weeks to heal.

here ya are..

http://www.harborfreight.com/4-1-2-half-inch-36-grit-flap-disc-67639.html

and yep.. I use 36 grit but you Dooo have to be careful... that will chew through a body before you can say "Well Just shi*"..... start with 80 or 60 to get the feel of it...

rk

Ron...You are DA MAN!!!!!!
If you are ever in Miami I owe you a beer!!!!
Thanks a bunch!

HF has 4 1/2" flap discs as well. Even an 80 grit will make a mess of wood real quick, but a 120 grit disc would probably clog pretty quickly.

To prevent injury with the grinder, tip #1 is ALWAYS use the guard! If the guard is in the way, you're doing something wrong. Tip #2 is ALWAYS be aware where your hands are - don't get either hand anywhere near the disc.......which is why I suggest using the handle and keeping both hands on the grinder while the work is FIRMLY clamped to an immovable object. None of this has anything to do with guitars, it comes from years of industrial experience. Angle grinders are plenty dangerous, don't take any chances!

I do the bandsaw thing. Here's a pic of the belly cut.
130628

The forearm cut works the same way with a different holder. No pic of that.