The Emeraldcaster Project (aka Son of Meloncaster) - Page 2

Buckocaster51 · October 3rd, 2007, 10:14 PM

We just work our way around the body.

By the way, I am putting some serious pressue on that tape trying to get the binding to conform to the channel. That's why I use strapping tape. If I use regular old masking tape, the stuff just tears. Strapping tape is STRONG stuff. Almost as good as spray epoxy.

All the way around the body.

The cutaway is fun.

It just takes massaging, pressure, and tape.

It can be done.

Patience and time.

Buckocaster51 · October 3rd, 2007, 10:21 PM

Then we get to this. The last corner.

Once again, we just go slow and try to apply pressure in the right places.

Notice how my fingers look by now. Plenty of glue on them.

Then we have to match up the second end with the first end. In this case I left the first end a bit long, so that will have to be trimmed. The handy old good old #11 blade will do that.

We'll mash it into place. Apply some glue. The hold it in place with plenty of STRAPPING tape.

Buckocaster51 · October 3rd, 2007, 10:23 PM

Then we'll set the entire mess aside to sit and dry.

Maybe...just maybe...tomorrow we'll start on the front.

That will be much more fun...we will have that checkboard to deal with.

JOHNNY FOWLER · October 3rd, 2007, 11:09 PM

mr dithers, where you butt the ends of the binding together how would a diaginol {sp?} cut work as oppossed to the stright butt. or would it even work . man i wish i would of had teachers like you way back when i was in school, watching your work makes me feel lke a caveman thank you for all you share with us . johnny fowler

BarnesTO · October 3rd, 2007, 11:24 PM

Lookin' good, Bucko! Can't wait for more....

getbent · October 4th, 2007, 12:28 AM

bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!,

That is as close as I come to a cheerleader!

Trimmed&Burnin · October 4th, 2007, 09:09 AM

Another great thread Bucko!,,, are you using heat of any kind to bend the binding?

Atrox · October 4th, 2007, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOHNNY FOWLER

mr dithers, where you butt the ends of the binding together how would a diaginol {sp?} cut work as oppossed to the stright butt. or would it even work . man i wish i would of had teachers like you way back when i was in school, watching your work makes me feel lke a caveman thank you for all you share with us . johnny fowler

Personally, I usually just cut straight, clean up the joint a bit, then fill any gaps with binding "melted" in acetone.

Jellecaster · October 4th, 2007, 10:28 AM

I don't feel like any less of man for saying - Bucko, I love you.

I just finished my first binding and I couldn't have done it without you. I used a Dremmel with Stew Mac's precision router base and it was okay. I think I might need to get their binding bits for my "real" router.

Great thread - as always.

Question - would it be easier to route the binding channels using a router table?

maestrovert · October 4th, 2007, 10:39 AM

Hot Diggity !

Q 1: why not checkerboard binding front and back ? jes' curious is all...

Q 2: any problems with adhesive residue from the strapping tape ?

Thanx once again for your time & efforts documenting your builds....i'm enthralled, seriously !

Marco_NL · October 4th, 2007, 12:14 PM

Just love your projects! Can't wait to start building my own tele when I see your pictures!

Are you shure this is going to be a Emeraldcaster? Looks to me you are building a Grinchcaster! LOL

Keep up the good work!!

Hockey Rocker · October 4th, 2007, 03:03 PM

Hey Bucko. Great tutorial as always. Thank you, it's a big help for us less experienced, and perhaps less ambitious, partscaster assemblers. One question: I see both of your hands in some of the pictures. How do you do that? Does Mrs. Buckocaster help out in documenting these projects?

I may be able to build my latest effort, a classic 60's Tele partscaster, but I don't think I could persuade Mrs. HockeyRocker or the little Rockers to take photos for me. You must be doing something right over there besides building guitars.

Buckocaster51 · October 4th, 2007, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atrox

Personally, I usually just cut straight, clean up the joint a bit, then fill any gaps with binding "melted" in acetone.

Great point.

Binding that "melts" in acetone (not all of it does) can be easily patched up with this method. Once dry, sanded and finished...the seam will be invisible.

Some people keep little containers of an acetone/binding mixture handy for such things.

I'll try to show you how it can be done after I get the top done.

Buckocaster51 · October 4th, 2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellecaster

Question - would it be easier to route the binding channels using a router table?

Probably.

Right now I just like having the router on top...doing the cutting where I can see it.

I might try the router table for the top binding and see how it compares.

One thing for certain...after I started using the router table to shape the bodies, I wondered why/how I ever did it with a handheld router.

Buckocaster51 · October 4th, 2007, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maestrovert

Q 1: why not checkerboard binding front and back ? jes' curious is all...

Q 2: any problems with adhesive residue from the strapping tape ?

A1: I don't know. I've played Martin Style-45 guitars that have pearl binding at every body joint. I've played Martin Style-42 guitars that have pearl binding at every body joint the audience can see. To the audience they both look the same. One is filthy stinking expensive, the other is stinking expensive.

To tell you the truth, when I did the first Buckocaster, I didn't know THE REAL THING had checkerboards front and back, so I only did the front.

This one will only have it on the front. One coming up soon is going to have it front and back. I'll know then if they sound any differently!

A2: All sorts of adhesive and filament residue. But the body has to get sanded top, back, and sides before I begin to apply the final finish. It doesn't bother me. (Too much.)

Buckocaster51 · October 4th, 2007, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marco_NL

Are you shure this is going to be a Emeraldcaster? Looks to me you are building a Grinchcaster!

I am actually shooting for a sparkle version of that green I remember seen on shutters and windowboxes when I visited NL in the early 90s.

As you can tell from my last name, I have a connection there!

Cheers

Steve Dikkers
aka Buckocaster51

Buckocaster51 · October 4th, 2007, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hockey Rocker

One question: I see both of your hands in some of the pictures. How do you do that? Does Mrs. Buckocaster help out in documenting these projects?

I'm just fast. I can push the button, then get my hands in frame before then light from them gets to the shutter!

Yeah! Sure! That's the ticket!

Actually, I use a tripod and the self-timer on the camera.

I set up the shot. Turn on the timer. Hit the button. Get my hands where they belong. Then wait until the shutter fires.

A veritable piece of cake!

Buckocaster51 · October 4th, 2007, 05:17 PM

Thanks for all of the kind comments.

Sammy the Squirrel connected two ends of a transformer fuse on a utility pole not far from school this morning. While Sammy winged his way to Heaven, the power in town went down. Here at school, it was off long enough that my UPS ran out of electricity, and my servers in the server farm shut off. One of them...never really came back to life...the entire district uses it for mail, data, and web services...so the old Buckocaster is probably going to be playing computer weenie tonight instead of Telebuilder.

Amazingly...it is the same server that serves the pictures in this thread...and they are appearing! So I guess it isn't really hard-broken! But the stuff the bosses need to use isn't working...so that is making my day interesting!

<---- that it happened

<---- that I am getting it fixed

Buckocaster51 · October 4th, 2007, 05:19 PM

Here's another "by the way."

Today is my 1000th day as a TDPRI member!

A pat on the back to anybody who can tell me how I know that!

getbent · October 4th, 2007, 05:31 PM

2260 posts at 2.26 per day = Anne of a thousand days...

sorry to hear about your server... but I know you'll get it fixed.

Ronkirn · October 4th, 2007, 06:03 PM

Did Sammy Say Bzzzzzzzaaaaaaappppppp! as he waived B-bye....

Ron Kirn

maestrovert · October 4th, 2007, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronkirn

Did Sammy Say Bzzzzzzzaaaaaaappppppp! as he waived B-bye....

i wonder if he got to see the "Blue Flash" 'fore he checked out ?

October 3rd, 2007, 10:14 PM	#41 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 56 Posts: 3,841 1 Photos	We just work our way around the body. By the way, I am putting some serious pressue on that tape trying to get the binding to conform to the channel. That's why I use strapping tape. If I use regular old masking tape, the stuff just tears. Strapping tape is STRONG stuff. Almost as good as spray epoxy. All the way around the body. The cutaway is fun. It just takes massaging, pressure, and tape. It can be done. Patience and time. __________________ "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

October 3rd, 2007, 10:21 PM	#42 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 56 Posts: 3,841 1 Photos	Then we get to this. The last corner. Once again, we just go slow and try to apply pressure in the right places. Notice how my fingers look by now. Plenty of glue on them. Then we have to match up the second end with the first end. In this case I left the first end a bit long, so that will have to be trimmed. The handy old good old #11 blade will do that. We'll mash it into place. Apply some glue. The hold it in place with plenty of STRAPPING tape. __________________ "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

October 3rd, 2007, 10:23 PM	#43 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 56 Posts: 3,841 1 Photos	Then we'll set the entire mess aside to sit and dry. Maybe...just maybe...tomorrow we'll start on the front. That will be much more fun...we will have that checkboard to deal with. __________________ "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

October 4th, 2007, 12:28 AM	#46 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Age: 48 Posts: 7,754 35 Photos	bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, bucko!, That is as close as I come to a cheerleader! __________________ Be big... like Jupiter.

October 4th, 2007, 09:09 AM	#47 (permalink)
Trimmed&Burnin Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bellingham Wa Age: 53 Posts: 775	Another great thread Bucko!,,, are you using heat of any kind to bend the binding? __________________ Keep your lamp Trimmed And Burnin Shannon,

October 3rd, 2007, 11:09 PM	#44 (permalink)
JOHNNY FOWLER Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: panama city, fla Age: 52 Posts: 111 18 Photos	mr dithers, where you butt the ends of the binding together how would a diaginol {sp?} cut work as oppossed to the stright butt. or would it even work . man i wish i would of had teachers like you way back when i was in school, watching your work makes me feel lke a caveman thank you for all you share with us . johnny fowler

October 3rd, 2007, 11:24 PM	#45 (permalink)
BarnesTO Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yuma, AZ Age: 29 Posts: 637 4 Photos	Lookin' good, Bucko! Can't wait for more....

October 4th, 2007, 10:28 AM	#49 (permalink)
Jellecaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Hampshire, USA Age: 39 Posts: 1,731	I don't feel like any less of man for saying - Bucko, I love you. I just finished my first binding and I couldn't have done it without you. I used a Dremmel with Stew Mac's precision router base and it was okay. I think I might need to get their binding bits for my "real" router. Great thread - as always. Question - would it be easier to route the binding channels using a router table? __________________ It was born at the junction of form and function...

October 4th, 2007, 10:39 AM	#50 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Branch Mi. Posts: 5,605	Hot Diggity ! Q 1: why not checkerboard binding front and back ? jes' curious is all... Q 2: any problems with adhesive residue from the strapping tape ? Thanx once again for your time & efforts documenting your builds....i'm enthralled, seriously ! __________________ www.godonthe.net Sing the Song Bro' Play on Drummer

October 4th, 2007, 12:14 PM	#51 (permalink)
Marco_NL TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Netherlands Age: 32 Posts: 11	Just love your projects! Can't wait to start building my own tele when I see your pictures! Are you shure this is going to be a Emeraldcaster? Looks to me you are building a Grinchcaster! LOL Keep up the good work!!

October 4th, 2007, 03:03 PM	#52 (permalink)
Hockey Rocker Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Jersey Age: 46 Posts: 587	Hey Bucko. Great tutorial as always. Thank you, it's a big help for us less experienced, and perhaps less ambitious, partscaster assemblers. One question: I see both of your hands in some of the pictures. How do you do that? Does Mrs. Buckocaster help out in documenting these projects? I may be able to build my latest effort, a classic 60's Tele partscaster, but I don't think I could persuade Mrs. HockeyRocker or the little Rockers to take photos for me. You must be doing something right over there besides building guitars.

October 4th, 2007, 05:17 PM	#58 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 56 Posts: 3,841 1 Photos	Thanks for all of the kind comments. Sammy the Squirrel connected two ends of a transformer fuse on a utility pole not far from school this morning. While Sammy winged his way to Heaven, the power in town went down. Here at school, it was off long enough that my UPS ran out of electricity, and my servers in the server farm shut off. One of them...never really came back to life...the entire district uses it for mail, data, and web services...so the old Buckocaster is probably going to be playing computer weenie tonight instead of Telebuilder. Amazingly...it is the same server that serves the pictures in this thread...and they are appearing! So I guess it isn't really hard-broken! But the stuff the bosses need to use isn't working...so that is making my day interesting! <---- that it happened <---- that I am getting it fixed __________________ "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams Last edited by Buckocaster51 : October 4th, 2007 at 06:58 PM.

October 4th, 2007, 05:19 PM	#59 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 56 Posts: 3,841 1 Photos	Here's another "by the way." Today is my 1000th day as a TDPRI member! A pat on the back to anybody who can tell me how I know that! __________________ "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

October 4th, 2007, 05:31 PM	#60 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Age: 48 Posts: 7,754 35 Photos	2260 posts at 2.26 per day = Anne of a thousand days... sorry to hear about your server... but I know you'll get it fixed. __________________ Be big... like Jupiter.

October 4th, 2007, 06:03 PM	#61 (permalink)
Ronkirn Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Age: 61 Posts: 1,740	Did Sammy Say Bzzzzzzzaaaaaaappppppp! as he waived B-bye.... Ron Kirn __________________ Lord, give me a sense of humor. Give me the grace to see a joke, To get some humor out of life, and pass it on to other folks. The only thing necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing......