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Winter Build Off 2018 - Walnut Overload
- Thread starter rojo412
- Start date
-
- Tags
- 2018 build winter winter build off
So much goodness today! The treble wing is done, so I got to mock all of it up:
Then I hit up the fingerboard. Measured and slotted:
And I was really planning on just leaving it normal, but when I smoothed the side edge of the board, it was nearly impossible to see where a fret marker would be. And I wanted to add flare anyway, so I decided to bind the fretboard. I've never done that before, so this is 100% new to me. I hope I'm doing it right!
I tapered the neck to be 1/8" narrower than the neck on either side, which is SUPER skinny (and freaking me out).
And if you think I'm using plastic binding, NOPE. This is the Winter WALNUT Wackadoodle. So I'm using sapwood from a walnut board. I trimmed off some sections of this:
Then I cut that into small, thicker-than-1/8"-by-a-little-bit strips, found some winners and glued up one side.
Next time, I'll hit the other. But I'm really excited to do a bound board. I may even try some inlays!
And I thought I might have been unique in making knobs, but I see almost everyone in the build off doing them. It's not gonna stop me, I'm just saying...
The extra chunks from the sandwich make some interesting knobs:
I managed to find an old stash of crappy, RadioShack knobs in the parts bin, so I broke a couple open to have them donate their guts to something much hotter.
And while all of those knobs are just tests and won't be made usable, I will be attempting to perfect the art of it whenever I can.
It's kinda fun to make knobs, even without a lathe. The MacGyver version looks pretty decent when done right, especially for almost free.
Then I hit up the fingerboard. Measured and slotted:
And I was really planning on just leaving it normal, but when I smoothed the side edge of the board, it was nearly impossible to see where a fret marker would be. And I wanted to add flare anyway, so I decided to bind the fretboard. I've never done that before, so this is 100% new to me. I hope I'm doing it right!
I tapered the neck to be 1/8" narrower than the neck on either side, which is SUPER skinny (and freaking me out).
And if you think I'm using plastic binding, NOPE. This is the Winter WALNUT Wackadoodle. So I'm using sapwood from a walnut board. I trimmed off some sections of this:
Then I cut that into small, thicker-than-1/8"-by-a-little-bit strips, found some winners and glued up one side.
Next time, I'll hit the other. But I'm really excited to do a bound board. I may even try some inlays!
And I thought I might have been unique in making knobs, but I see almost everyone in the build off doing them. It's not gonna stop me, I'm just saying...
The extra chunks from the sandwich make some interesting knobs:
I managed to find an old stash of crappy, RadioShack knobs in the parts bin, so I broke a couple open to have them donate their guts to something much hotter.
And while all of those knobs are just tests and won't be made usable, I will be attempting to perfect the art of it whenever I can.
It's kinda fun to make knobs, even without a lathe. The MacGyver version looks pretty decent when done right, especially for almost free.
....
Thanks! Just doing what I can for the Salivation Army 
drool
drool
Sorry about lack of updates, just been busy. Hey, I got a new router table today!
Very excited to use it for real. But to say my old setup was completely terrible is an understatement. In the test fire I did with this, it was heavenly how well it worked.
Back to the progress though.
I did the fingerboard glue-up the other day.
That went pretty well. Not sure why I didn't take more pics when it was dry, but anyway, that was days ago. I prepped the fret slots a bit, shaped the headstock a little, glued up a matching headstock faceplate:
Then I went to work on the binding at the end of the FB. This was after soaking the white walnut overnight, making a clamping caul, then letting that dry overnight, THEN using the caul to hold it in place.
I see more sapwood being used in this build for accents because I like the looks here.
As for frets, I am trying to copy a technique I saw @smithcreek use in this post. So far, it's working.
A router, a stop, a notched piece of metal, and a crappy bit spinning off steel at a cool 30,000 rpms (or something like that).
(Thanks for sharing that, smithcreek! It's a brilliant idea and way cheaper than tang nippers that are terrible.)
This is a new thing for me, never bound a board or cut tangs. But I like it so far. Seeing as my early builds have some wicked fret sprout in them, I feel like using this technique will be a permanent addition. I may spring for a real metal cutting bit some day, as this got grabby on me once... ONCE.
(bonus points for knowing that last reference!)
Very excited to use it for real. But to say my old setup was completely terrible is an understatement. In the test fire I did with this, it was heavenly how well it worked.
Back to the progress though.
I did the fingerboard glue-up the other day.
That went pretty well. Not sure why I didn't take more pics when it was dry, but anyway, that was days ago. I prepped the fret slots a bit, shaped the headstock a little, glued up a matching headstock faceplate:
Then I went to work on the binding at the end of the FB. This was after soaking the white walnut overnight, making a clamping caul, then letting that dry overnight, THEN using the caul to hold it in place.
I see more sapwood being used in this build for accents because I like the looks here.
As for frets, I am trying to copy a technique I saw @smithcreek use in this post. So far, it's working.
A router, a stop, a notched piece of metal, and a crappy bit spinning off steel at a cool 30,000 rpms (or something like that).
(Thanks for sharing that, smithcreek! It's a brilliant idea and way cheaper than tang nippers that are terrible.)
This is a new thing for me, never bound a board or cut tangs. But I like it so far. Seeing as my early builds have some wicked fret sprout in them, I feel like using this technique will be a permanent addition. I may spring for a real metal cutting bit some day, as this got grabby on me once... ONCE.
(bonus points for knowing that last reference!)
Don't question me on knowing that reference Johnny... my grandmother questioned me on knowing a reference once... Once!
I've made all my kids watch Johnny Dangerously... 
Okay, so it got grabby more than once. Every time I tried after that, the fret got pulverized. I think the stainless steel dulled that bit fast. So I have to try a different bit... or just get one for metal.
I need the ".88 magnum" of router bits now.
I need the ".88 magnum" of router bits now.
- Apr 18, 2008
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- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
I cut the tangs on the 4620, but I did it with snips. That was normal nickel-whatsit fret wire though, not stainless.
So.....sigh......What's the best bit for metal?....Okay, so it got grabby more than once. Every time I tried after that, the fret got pulverized. I think the stainless steel dulled that bit fast. So I have to try a different bit... or just get one for metal.
I need the ".88 magnum" of router bits now.
I almost went there! Knew someone would pick it up though.So.....sigh......What's the best bit for metal?....
Okay, so it got grabby more than once. Every time I tried after that, the fret got pulverized. I think the stainless steel dulled that bit fast. So I have to try a different bit... or just get one for metal.
I need the ".88 magnum" of router bits now.
New TB thread topic:"Which bit is best for metal?"
In my experience working with stainless,(cutting, drilling/tapping) you need to reduce the bit speed.
maybe use the drill press instead of the router?
maybe use the drill press instead of the router?
What I ended up doing was changing to a higher quality (but kinda beat) straight cut, 1/2" bit. And it was pretty promising for most of the frets... about 10 left and it started to burn the metal a little, which heated up the fret and burned me a couple times.
Moral of the story: Get a metal cutting bit if you intend to do this fixture. That's my plan at least.
But hey, I got the board fretted:
And really, that's all that matters at the moment.
The frets only got me bleeding twice, which is a new record low for me. Damn flying, sharp, jagged stainless steel.
For neck through, I never realized how eager I'd be to glue the wings on, but basically forgetting that I should do all kinds of other things first to make life easier. Sculpting the body to some degree is WAY easier without everything attached. And the fret work will be much more predictable without having to fight the area where the frets are over the body. Patience is something I really need to work on.
As for the dowels I'd originally put in, despite my efforts to keep things square to where they should be, it wasn't even close. Though I'd made a drill guide, that didn't help. I did nails eventually, but still... not quite there.
When it comes to actual glue-up, I'll probably stick with the nails and do my best to clamp everything down flat when I plot things.
But hey, live and learn!
Moral of the story: Get a metal cutting bit if you intend to do this fixture. That's my plan at least.
But hey, I got the board fretted:
And really, that's all that matters at the moment.
The frets only got me bleeding twice, which is a new record low for me. Damn flying, sharp, jagged stainless steel.
For neck through, I never realized how eager I'd be to glue the wings on, but basically forgetting that I should do all kinds of other things first to make life easier. Sculpting the body to some degree is WAY easier without everything attached. And the fret work will be much more predictable without having to fight the area where the frets are over the body. Patience is something I really need to work on.
As for the dowels I'd originally put in, despite my efforts to keep things square to where they should be, it wasn't even close. Though I'd made a drill guide, that didn't help. I did nails eventually, but still... not quite there.
When it comes to actual glue-up, I'll probably stick with the nails and do my best to clamp everything down flat when I plot things.
But hey, live and learn!
