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GhostofJohnToad · April 29th, 2009, 04:08 PM

I am assuming some spokeshaves or the like? But how do you design for them? Is it like picking two points on the body and sanding a chamfer to the edge retaining a certain thickness when you get to the edge?

Getting close to starting a build from scratch and wondering whether it's worth it or not to try. I'd hate to do ok on everything and then botch it big time trying.

jwells393 · April 29th, 2009, 04:40 PM

I actually copied this one from a Japanese Telecaster that had the back coutour. I roughed it out with a 7 in. disc sander then cleaned it up with an orbital sander.

......

.......

The back contour on a Stratocaster is drawn by drawing an arc with a 7 3/4 in radius connecting two points 12 3/4 in. apart. The center of the contour stops 5/8 in. short of the front.

This Stratocaster blueprint might help.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P2642x1757.jpg

Shepherd · April 29th, 2009, 07:03 PM

Are you building a Strat? I just did a couple and just went off the blueprints and used one of these on a grinder. It's actually really neat to see it take shape. Alot of people use belt sanders. If your doing something custom, probably just draw it out until you get something your happy with. If you do screw it up you can always use filler. Dont ask me how I know this

jefrs · April 29th, 2009, 07:20 PM

Freehand on cushion drum sander and flap sanders.

GhostofJohnToad · April 29th, 2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shepherd

Are you building a Strat? I just did a couple and just went off the blueprints and used one of these on a grinder. It's actually really neat to see it take shape. Alot of people use belt sanders. If your doing something custom, probably just draw it out until you get something your happy with. If you do screw it up you can always use filler. Dont ask me how I know this

actually a jazzmaster. Shhh.

jkingma · April 30th, 2009, 07:59 AM

I do my forearm cut on a jointer. It takes about 2 minutes. It requires removing the guard, so if that makes you nervous, don't try it!

First, which double sided tape I stick on a piece of 1/4" scrap along the line where I want my cut to begin.

Then I draw a line on the back following the same line on the front for "eyeballing" purposes so that I can keep the body lined up with the fence of my jointer.

Then using a push pad to tilt the body I make 10 or 12 passes on the jointer to shape the forearm cut.

Lastly, I round over the cut with my random orbit sander.

The result is not as "round" as a normal Strat cut... but a couple more minutes with the sander can fix that.

Don't forget to put the guard back on your jointer!

Ronkirn · April 30th, 2009, 09:44 AM

how I have done it. . .

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stratocas...sed-strat.html

Ron Kirn

ramseybella · May 1st, 2009, 01:12 PM

I did mine with a rasping file and sand paper.

GhostofJohnToad · May 1st, 2009, 01:50 PM

Good advice guys thanks. I guess I need some more tools.

Joel Terry · July 28th, 2009, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramseybella

I did mine with a rasping file and sand paper.

Ah HAAA! So it CAN be done this way! I've thought about doing it this way. I just bought two a couple of trem-loaded Tele bodies, and I simply can't afford to have me (the incompent oaf that I am) let a disc sander get out-of-hand and mess them up!

Call me a sissy about the disc sander, but I figure I'm safer taking the ol' manual route.

Thank you for letting me know that this can be done, you magnificent southpaw.

And, apropos de bottes, thank you falletin me be mice elf agin.

Joel

MikeMurray · July 28th, 2009, 12:27 PM

I used a rasp, surform and lots of sandpaper on my body. Will definately use a larger surform next time, it really does the trick.

guitarbuilder · July 28th, 2009, 12:32 PM

There is a tool sold called a Ferrier's rasp ( for horseshoeing and woodworking) and it is a couple of inches wide with big sharp teeth. It won't take too long doing contours with that, but it requires some muscle power. I'll use that on less denser woods like swamp ash, basswood, and pine.

craigoslo · July 28th, 2009, 01:23 PM

I used a hand saw and a vice,then a sander for a forearm cut. I was shocked at how good it came out.

fletch · July 28th, 2009, 10:00 PM

I use an angle grinder with a flap disc attached and finish up with an orbital sander

http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/u...d/DSC_2145.jpg

fishtownmike · July 28th, 2009, 10:53 PM

I use a spoke shave. I just pencil in the back and sides where the cut will be and shave away then sand. I'm thinking of getting one of these in the link below to help do this. I also have a few other ideas for it.

http://grizzly.com/products/7-1-2-x-...-Sanders/H2882

shoretyus · July 29th, 2009, 02:02 AM

A good rasp is hard to beat. Never had to replace a cord on it !!!!!

fishtownmike · July 29th, 2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronkirn

how I have done it. . .

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stratocas...sed-strat.html

Ron Kirn

I like this idea. I have a grinder and one of those sanding flap disk. I just never thought of using it for that. Good tip!

Nicktarnow · August 3rd, 2009, 03:54 PM

For mine i used a coping saw, rasp, really small plane, and a sander

blimpo · August 4th, 2009, 12:32 AM

Sand, sand, sand...

Bought real rough sand paper (60 maybe). Put it on a palm sander and went at it.

Came out nice and my forearm and gut like it.

More of a taper than a cut though.

April 29th, 2009, 04:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
GhostofJohnToad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toledo, Ohio Age: 36 Posts: 1,150 7 Photos	How do you make tummy cuts and forearm cuts? I am assuming some spokeshaves or the like? But how do you design for them? Is it like picking two points on the body and sanding a chamfer to the edge retaining a certain thickness when you get to the edge? Getting close to starting a build from scratch and wondering whether it's worth it or not to try. I'd hate to do ok on everything and then botch it big time trying.

April 29th, 2009, 04:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 65 Posts: 14,282 101 Photos	I actually copied this one from a Japanese Telecaster that had the back coutour. I roughed it out with a 7 in. disc sander then cleaned it up with an orbital sander. ...... ....... The back contour on a Stratocaster is drawn by drawing an arc with a 7 3/4 in radius connecting two points 12 3/4 in. apart. The center of the contour stops 5/8 in. short of the front. This Stratocaster blueprint might help. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...P2642x1757.jpg __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person.

April 29th, 2009, 07:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Shepherd Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maple Ridge, Canada Posts: 1,033	Are you building a Strat? I just did a couple and just went off the blueprints and used one of these on a grinder. It's actually really neat to see it take shape. Alot of people use belt sanders. If your doing something custom, probably just draw it out until you get something your happy with. If you do screw it up you can always use filler. Dont ask me how I know this Last edited by Shepherd; April 29th, 2009 at 11:06 PM.

April 29th, 2009, 07:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
jefrs Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Newbury, England Age: 54 Posts: 2,137	Freehand on cushion drum sander and flap sanders. __________________ There's two kinds of people, those that hear the music and those that don't.

April 30th, 2009, 07:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
jkingma Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: N43° 11.943 ~ W079° 35.285 Posts: 3,083 18 Photos	I do my forearm cut on a jointer. It takes about 2 minutes. It requires removing the guard, so if that makes you nervous, don't try it! First, which double sided tape I stick on a piece of 1/4" scrap along the line where I want my cut to begin. Then I draw a line on the back following the same line on the front for "eyeballing" purposes so that I can keep the body lined up with the fence of my jointer. Then using a push pad to tilt the body I make 10 or 12 passes on the jointer to shape the forearm cut. Lastly, I round over the cut with my random orbit sander. The result is not as "round" as a normal Strat cut... but a couple more minutes with the sander can fix that. Don't forget to put the guard back on your jointer! __________________ Creator of Fine Sawdust and Expensive Kindling.

April 30th, 2009, 09:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ronkirn VENDOR Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Age: 63 Posts: 3,921	how I have done it. . . http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stratocas...sed-strat.html Ron Kirn __________________ www.ronkirn.com

May 1st, 2009, 01:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
ramseybella Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Santa Fe New Mexico Posts: 1,427 39 Photos	I did mine with a rasping file and sand paper.

May 1st, 2009, 01:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
GhostofJohnToad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toledo, Ohio Age: 36 Posts: 1,150 7 Photos	Good advice guys thanks. I guess I need some more tools.

July 28th, 2009, 12:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
MikeMurray Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South Africa - Free State Age: 19 Posts: 171	I used a rasp, surform and lots of sandpaper on my body. Will definately use a larger surform next time, it really does the trick.

July 28th, 2009, 12:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
guitarbuilder Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hemlock, NY Age: 55 Posts: 941	There is a tool sold called a Ferrier's rasp ( for horseshoeing and woodworking) and it is a couple of inches wide with big sharp teeth. It won't take too long doing contours with that, but it requires some muscle power. I'll use that on less denser woods like swamp ash, basswood, and pine.

July 28th, 2009, 01:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
craigoslo Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: oslo, Norway Age: 31 Posts: 304	I used a hand saw and a vice,then a sander for a forearm cut. I was shocked at how good it came out.

July 28th, 2009, 10:00 PM	#14 (permalink)
fletch Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wollongong, NSW , Australia Age: 42 Posts: 219	I use an angle grinder with a flap disc attached and finish up with an orbital sander http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/u...d/DSC_2145.jpg

July 28th, 2009, 10:53 PM	#15 (permalink)
fishtownmike Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Philadelphia Age: 43 Posts: 177	I use a spoke shave. I just pencil in the back and sides where the cut will be and shave away then sand. I'm thinking of getting one of these in the link below to help do this. I also have a few other ideas for it. http://grizzly.com/products/7-1-2-x-...-Sanders/H2882

July 29th, 2009, 02:02 AM	#16 (permalink)
shoretyus Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: canada Posts: 554	A good rasp is hard to beat. Never had to replace a cord on it !!!!!

August 3rd, 2009, 03:54 PM	#18 (permalink)
Nicktarnow TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Near Albany, NY Posts: 66	For mine i used a coping saw, rasp, really small plane, and a sander

August 4th, 2009, 12:32 AM	#19 (permalink)
blimpo TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: southern indiana Age: 57 Posts: 70	Sand, sand, sand... Bought real rough sand paper (60 maybe). Put it on a palm sander and went at it. Came out nice and my forearm and gut like it. More of a taper than a cut though.

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