WIP - electric guitar *COMPLETED*

[WillRockwell]

I have to agree with Hector about the "sliding down the knee thing". I have been playing guitar for 30 years and I can tell you that comfort is well, pretty darn important to me. I really enjoy sitting and playing guitar as opposed to having to stand up to play (always been a problem with the Gibson Flying-V). But, I would never underestimate your talent and wit. I've seen your work and know you have formidable resourcefulness. Are you making it a left-handed guitar? That would solve the comfort issue and make it more valuable. Left handed guitars are usually more expensive.

I did not consider the knee rest before cutting the shape, so I may be stuck with the result. I hope it's not a problem.

I bought this battery checker at Radio Shack and am hoping I can take it apart and re-mount the innards in a round dial with a Steamy backplate. There would be two of these in the guitar and they would activate when you switch on the effects units

[WillRockwell]

This is an idea I'm working on for the shapes of the brass plates that cover the cavities containing electronics. The design is not firm, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to cut the tooth shapes cleanly. Of course I can cut into the brass (.025 thickness) but I'm not sure how to make the inside cut. Any ideas?

[Uncle Arthur]

Drill close to your corner as stops for your cuts and then square the corner up with needle files.

[WillRockwell]

Drill close to your corner as stops for your cuts and then square the corner up with needle files.

That's a bit more work than I want to put into each tooth. I wonder if a cold chisel would detach the area between teeth if the sides were cut?

[Uncle Arthur]

Probably would. It would still most likely need at least a touch with the files due to sharp places.

[Hektor Plasm]

Perhaps a hand nibbler? I have one that takes out square 'bites' - I think it came from Radio Shack.

HP

[WillRockwell]

Perhaps a hand nibbler? I have one that takes out square 'bites' - I think it came from Radio Shack.

HP

This is why I love this board. I never heard of a nibbler, but it is exactly what I need. I found the video that shows how it works

Maker to Maker - Nibbler

[Uncle Arthur]

I have run across nibblers in sets of old Heating duct tools. In face I think I have one in the 'That may come in handy someday" tool box.

[von Corax]

Perhaps a hand nibbler? I have one that takes out square 'bites' - I think it came from Radio Shack.

HP

This is why I love this board. I never heard of a nibbler, but it is exactly what I need. I found the video that shows how it works

Maker to Maker - Nibbler

I don't think you'll actually need an air nibbler like the one Mr. Gurstelle is holding — a hand nibbler should do fine.

Mind you, I am quite aware exactly now relevant "need" is in such decisions.

[Uncle Arthur]

They don't handle the greatest tools but many are serviceable. Harbor Freight has a hand nibbler quite inexpensively priced that should do the job.
http://www.harborfreight.com/compact-hand-nibbler-65895.html?utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase&hft_adv=40010?utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase&mkwid=snegiMtbp&mr:trackingCode=BA6D0F9E-782A-E011-B31E-001B2163195C&mr:referralID=NA

Side note. If you watch some of the tools they offer are quite good deals. I have one of their better wood lathes that I just love.

[Hektor Plasm]

They don't handle the greatest tools but many are serviceable. Harbor Freight has a hand nibbler quite inexpensively priced that should do the job.
http://www.harborfreight.com/compact-hand-nibbler-65895.html?utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase&hft_adv=40010?utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase&mkwid=snegiMtbp&mr:trackingCode=BA6D0F9E-782A-E011-B31E-001B2163195C&mr:referralID=NA

Aha! I have one of those too,but they tend to take out a continuous ribbon of metal, The one that is best for 'nibbling' looks like this one:-

http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2849663_rshalt1_dt.jpg

Hope that helps; I would get both, plus the air tool... (heheh...soon...  )

HP

[WillRockwell]

I found a nibbler at my local Radio Shack, though the salesman there didn't know what I was asking for.

[WillRockwell]

Today I bought both a new set of metal shears and a nibbler. They work well together, the shears can cut off most of the inner sections and the nibbler finishes it off. I'll take a Dremel to it later for a fine finish.

[k-9]

I found a nibbler at my local Radio Shack, though the salesman there didn't know what I was asking for.

of course all the know and sell is pretty much phones now you cant hardly get a resistors or capacitors and such 

[Uncle Arthur]

I found a nibbler at my local Radio Shack, though the salesman there didn't know what I was asking for.

of course all the know and sell is pretty much phones now you cant hardly get a resistors or capacitors and such 

Too true. I used to get ferric chloride to etch my knife blades there. Now they look at you like you have two heads if you ask for it.

[Hektor Plasm]

Ahhh for the days when you could buy just about anything without The Elfen Safety Police having a fit...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://gajitz.com/1950s-radioactive-science-kit-most-dangerous-toy-ever/

If nothing else, you could grow two heads with it and really freak out the RS lot 

HP

[WillRockwell]

I did a test today etching a design on one of the cover plates, and it seems to have turned out rather well.

[WillRockwell]

I made a stupid mistake - the etched piece will have to have three pickups cut into it, and the etching design will be seriously compromised. After kicking myself overnight, I decided to etch each brass cover. It's a lot of work, but quite satisfying when finally finished. Since I brought the guitar back to New York I am able to work on it all week. Here's a sketch of the next etched cover. I'll hold off etching till all the covers are sketched and I know where all the cuts must be made for electronics.

[TVC15]

Your project is shaping up quite nicely. Just a reminder: Be sure to ground all your metal bits prior to plugging it in. Don't ask me how I know this...

[WillRockwell]

Your project is shaping up quite nicely. Just a reminder: Be sure to ground all your metal bits prior to plugging it in. Don't ask me how I know this...

I'd like to know more about this....am I making a mistake using brass plates as covers?

[Unsubtle Pete]

Your project is shaping up quite nicely. Just a reminder: Be sure to ground all your metal bits prior to plugging it in. Don't ask me how I know this...

I'd like to know more about this....am I making a mistake using brass plates as covers?

It is fairly normal, IIRC, for guitar scratchplates* to be backed by a grounded foil, it just acts as part of the shielding for the electronics.

As long as your amp is safe, no issues.



*my instruments generally don't have these

[Hektor Plasm]

Any ungrounded metal bits in the vicinity of the pickups will attract the dreaded mains hum, which may get much worse, or oddly much better if touched with the hand,particularly in a stage environment with lights etc.
By grounding them all to the outer of the output jack, which will usually be on the ground side of any internal effects, the hum will be removed....usually; 

HP

[WillRockwell]

I need to make some long diagonal saw cuts to lighten the body, and I'm not sure what to use. For example, I need to make the cutaway on the back where the guitar fits against your body. I can't think what kind of saw would do the job.



Meanwhile, I've been working on etching the brass panels that cover the electronics

[Hektor Plasm]

How about a plunge router- they seem to be adaptable for almost any wood job.

HP

[Dharmagraphics]

I've always used the curved portion of a Benchtop 6" Belt Sander to handle these very organic shapes on the backside of electric guitars . A bit slow but the only way to get the shape correct .