Router mishap - suggestions?

mlp-mx6 · February 26th, 2008, 10:57 AM

Hey folks,

In routing my mahogany body using Mr. Kirn's templates, I had the router rip out a nasty chunk right where the jack will go. It goes almost the entire "height" of the body, almost all 1 3/4 inches.

One thought I had was to use a Les Paul-type jack plate to cover more of the area, so that any patch job is less visible. Do you know if the curve of a Les Paul jack plate is anywhere close to the curve of the Tele body down there? (Using Mr. Kirn's templates, there is not a flat spot - at least not the "vintage" of templates that I have.)

Another option would be to just rout out more and patch it. I'd rather not go to this point, as it will be stressing my limited woodworking skills.

I'm (regretfully) hoping that some of you have encountered this before. How did you solve it?

Thanks.

rhomco · February 26th, 2008, 11:06 AM

I would go with a flat for the jack. Remember Ron's template is an exact copy of "one" old tele. The next one Fender shaped could just as easily had a flat.
It looks great to me!
Rob

Buckocaster51 · February 26th, 2008, 11:10 AM

If you were able to find the torn out chunk, you could probably glue it in and go on with your life.

But since you are asking what to do, I'll bet you weren't able to put your hands on the chunk.

I'll second the thought of making a flatspot.

All righteous TELECASTERS have a flat spot anyway.

Cheers

Steve Dikkers
aka Buckocaster51

Blewbyou · February 26th, 2008, 11:12 AM

If it is where the jack goes you could make a flattish area for the input jack to sit on kind of like in the pic but it doesn't have to be so pronounced.

Tedecaster · February 26th, 2008, 11:14 AM

Looks like it's time for a flat spot!

Ron Kirn says he intentionally leaves off the flat spot from the templates because it's easy enough to add if you want it. It's your option.

I usually put them on mine. I like them fairly subtle but I've seen some very angular one. I don't think they look good that way.

It's hard to see from the pics (a head on shot would be best) but it looks like you've got enough wood there to add a flat & then reshape slightly if you had to. No one would ever know.

mlp-mx6 · February 26th, 2008, 11:43 AM

OK guys, I put the flat spot there and I'm sure it will work just fine. I still had to add some wood filler, but both edges are intact. I am planning to take off enough mahogany to add a nice top to this body, so it should be even less noticeable after that is done.

I was concerned that the divot in the wood was too deep for an effective flat spot. I'm glad I was wrong. And, yes, the "chunk" was actually shredded, so I had no chance of putting it back.

Also - I want everyone to be sure I was not complaining about the templates from Ron Kirn. They're great, and I am very thankful to have them.

Thanks for all your replies.

Regards,
Michael

p.s. If you haven't tried them, the microplane rasps are THE BOMB!

magicguitar · February 26th, 2008, 11:50 AM

I used a Les Paul jack cover on my Tele and it worked fine... but I opted not to use the flat spot.

boris bubbanov · February 26th, 2008, 11:52 AM

Maybe this is a question best answered by Ron, but do Ron's templates have a bit of a bulge in the general area of the jack, or do they tend to be a mirror image of the opposite lower bout?

The reason I ask is because I am totally captured by the way Tommy has a little extra wood around the area of the flat spot as compared to other available bodies, and you can then reduce the flat spot area as much or as little as you please. Or you can leave it intact like Buckocaster51 does. If you try and create a flat spot on a Warmoth, for example, the area looks and is depressed, does not look right to me.

Ronkirn · February 26th, 2008, 05:40 PM

Yep, I'd say the router decided where the jack will be.....

The new templates has the flatspot... I got tired of answering the ???'s and 'splaining there was no universal standard at the .005 -+ level.

Ron Kirn

jwells393 · February 26th, 2008, 05:53 PM

It sounds like this may be your first body. If so you should try to determine why it happened and how to avoid it in the future if possible. Possible causes are ............

1. Wrong direction of router movement with respect to the wood.
2. Taking too big a bite at once.
3. Defect in the wood itself.

SEK_Hakuna · February 26th, 2008, 07:20 PM

The tear out is very common while routing the softer woods. I've had Ash do the same thing too. I usually retrieve the chunk from the shop floor or ceiling joist storage area or yard, where ever it happens to land, and glue then clamp it back into place. It is very difficult to find the joint once it dries and it stays in place quite well.

mlp-mx6 · February 26th, 2008, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

It sounds like this may be your first body. If so you should try to determine why it happened and how to avoid it in the future if possible. Possible causes are ............

1. Wrong direction of router movement with respect to the wood.
2. Taking too big a bite at once.
3. Defect in the wood itself.

Jack,
It was a defect in the wood. There was no "chunk" to find, it was kinda shredded inside the wood.

This is not my first router or body experience, but it was my second body with mahogany. Thanks.

February 26th, 2008, 11:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
rhomco Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Crowley, Texas Posts: 678	No question I would go with a flat for the jack. Remember Ron's template is an exact copy of "one" old tele. The next one Fender shaped could just as easily had a flat. It looks great to me! Rob __________________ If I won the Lotto.... I'd just build guitars and sell them till the money ran out

February 26th, 2008, 11:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 56 Posts: 4,580 1 Photos	If you were able to find the torn out chunk, you could probably glue it in and go on with your life. But since you are asking what to do, I'll bet you weren't able to put your hands on the chunk. I'll second the thought of making a flatspot. All righteous TELECASTERS have a flat spot anyway. Cheers Steve Dikkers aka Buckocaster51 __________________ "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

February 26th, 2008, 11:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 6,397	Maybe this is a question best answered by Ron, but do Ron's templates have a bit of a bulge in the general area of the jack, or do they tend to be a mirror image of the opposite lower bout? The reason I ask is because I am totally captured by the way Tommy has a little extra wood around the area of the flat spot as compared to other available bodies, and you can then reduce the flat spot area as much or as little as you please. Or you can leave it intact like Buckocaster51 does. If you try and create a flat spot on a Warmoth, for example, the area looks and is depressed, does not look right to me. __________________ Bubban0v

February 26th, 2008, 05:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ronkirn Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Age: 61 Posts: 2,130	Yep, I'd say the router decided where the jack will be..... The new templates has the flatspot... I got tired of answering the ???'s and 'splaining there was no universal standard at the .005 -+ level. 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......

February 26th, 2008, 05:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,121 101 Photos	It sounds like this may be your first body. If so you should try to determine why it happened and how to avoid it in the future if possible. Possible causes are ............ 1. Wrong direction of router movement with respect to the wood. 2. Taking too big a bite at once. 3. Defect in the wood itself. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

February 26th, 2008, 11:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
Blewbyou TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 41 Posts: 41	If it is where the jack goes you could make a flattish area for the input jack to sit on kind of like in the pic but it doesn't have to be so pronounced.

February 26th, 2008, 11:14 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tedecaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greensboro, Vermont Posts: 1,018 26 Photos	Looks like it's time for a flat spot! Ron Kirn says he intentionally leaves off the flat spot from the templates because it's easy enough to add if you want it. It's your option. I usually put them on mine. I like them fairly subtle but I've seen some very angular one. I don't think they look good that way. It's hard to see from the pics (a head on shot would be best) but it looks like you've got enough wood there to add a flat & then reshape slightly if you had to. No one would ever know.

February 26th, 2008, 11:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
mlp-mx6 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Atlanta Posts: 60	OK guys, I put the flat spot there and I'm sure it will work just fine. I still had to add some wood filler, but both edges are intact. I am planning to take off enough mahogany to add a nice top to this body, so it should be even less noticeable after that is done. I was concerned that the divot in the wood was too deep for an effective flat spot. I'm glad I was wrong. And, yes, the "chunk" was actually shredded, so I had no chance of putting it back. Also - I want everyone to be sure I was not complaining about the templates from Ron Kirn. They're great, and I am very thankful to have them. Thanks for all your replies. Regards, Michael p.s. If you haven't tried them, the microplane rasps are THE BOMB!

February 26th, 2008, 11:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
magicguitar Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fallon, Nevada Age: 60 Posts: 497	I used a Les Paul jack cover on my Tele and it worked fine... but I opted not to use the flat spot.

February 26th, 2008, 07:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
SEK_Hakuna Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Kansas Age: 51 Posts: 175 15 Photos	The tear out is very common while routing the softer woods. I've had Ash do the same thing too. I usually retrieve the chunk from the shop floor or ceiling joist storage area or yard, where ever it happens to land, and glue then clamp it back into place. It is very difficult to find the joint once it dries and it stays in place quite well.