gonna try to make a tele

[risingsun189]

so I was gonna try to make a tele out of recycled alluminum sheets about .5 inches thick but I dont know the specs of a tele. I know that it is about an inch and 3/4 thick but the length and width I cant find. Anyone want to give me an estimate or even someplace I could buy one of those card/particle board cut outs. I also could use some help on how to bind them together.

[risingsun189]

nobody... i thought someone might want to help

[tuuur]

You expect lots of responses after 45 minutes?
Be more patient.

[ImmortalSix]

http://terrydownsmusic.com/Archive/t...awing_revD.pdf

[Picton]

Am I reading you right, risingsun? You're talking about half-inch-thick aluminum? Like, stacked to make a solid billet? If so, this ought to be a fascinating build; I've seen hollow metal teles, but few solid aluminum ones.

Epoxy? You'd need a lot of it, and I'm sure there are better ways to bind aluminum, but my metallurgical knowledge is nil. I just know aluminum is hard to weld. There's a reason airplanes are all riveted together.

Of course, if I misread your initial post, then I beg your pardon. Either way, the tdowns template is what you're after.

[teleamp]

Aluminum neck too?


Weld or screw together are about the only ways I know to bond aluminum.

[guitarbuilder]

roughly 1.75 x 13 x 16

[julesyoung]

industrial cyano adhesive will bond your sheets of alloy
if it were me i would be using 3 sheets , each 1/2 " (approx) thick , with the middle one hollowed out for the wiring , switch cavities etc

[risingsun189]

thank you for your posts , and yes i should be more patient tuuur. I think im going to rivet them together and maybe find some way to corrode the metal just a little to give it an older look.

[Nick JD]

Aluminium is 2700kg/m3. Ebony is 1100. Light Ash is 450.

You'll need a lot of air in there - about 5 parts air to 1 part aluminium.

Sounds cool - do a build thread!

[risingsun189]

i think im going to make it from a solid block of aluminum after researching prices i found that large thick pieces are cheaper than thinner smaller pieces so ill be getting a 1.25x19x19 ,im going to make the body less thick and also less heavy. when im finished i "hope" it comes out something like this but with a brass pickguard. http://www.specimenproducts.com/inst...m_guitar2.html Obviously even getting the supplies will take a while but I'm trying to get jump on it since itll probably be my first "from scratch" guitar, great way to sink or swim in my opinion.

[flatfive]

Your project is fascinating, but listen to what Nick just said
about weight! Making the body 1.25" thick instead of 1.75 will
reduce the weight by slightly less than 30%. If you're using
material that's 5 times heavier than normal tele wood, then
this means your body will be about 3 1/2 times heavier than
a normal tele -- that's really heavy!

Originally Posted by risingsun189

i think im going to make it from a solid block of aluminum after researching prices i found that large thick pieces are cheaper than thinner smaller pieces so ill be getting a 1.25x19x19 ,im going to make the body less thick and also less heavy. when im finished i "hope" it comes out something like this but with a brass pickguard. http://www.specimenproducts.com/inst...m_guitar2.html Obviously even getting the supplies will take a while but I'm trying to get jump on it since itll probably be my first "from scratch" guitar, great way to sink or swim in my opinion.

[risingsun189]

Originally Posted by flatfive

Your project is fascinating, but listen to what Nick just said
about weight! Making the body 1.25" thick instead of 1.75 will
reduce the weight by slightly less than 30%. If you're using
material that's 5 times heavier than normal tele wood, then
this means your body will be about 3 1/2 times heavier than
a normal tele -- that's really heavy!

i did some calculations and itll be around 35 pounds if im correct of course. i really dont intend to play it standing up...or for it to be carried by the neck ill try to put one of those "handles" like the JEM. i think its the JEM anyway

Edit: I wonder if i use a magnetic metal for the body i could turn the body into a huge pickup probably would get alot of interference (did i spell it wrong) from other guitars and such am i right?