Megaton_900
The Science
I decided to give making my own guitar a go.
Thought it would be handy to share my first attempt with others, to see were the difficulties are and potential problems to avoid.
Before i start, i would like to point out that i have had no previous wood working experience, so this was more for the learning experience than getting a top guitar at the end (i can hope
).
My selection of tools, and workspace are also highly limited.
I started with buying some wood.
Not as easy as i i thought, in Australia.
Around were i live, there is Bunnings, Bunnings and, wait for it... Bunnings. (Im sure there would be some kind of lumber yard, but as a complete novice, i was lost)
So, i picked up this
It is what they advertise as 'hardwood' but a few google's suggested it might be Victorian ash? (hopefully someone else can confirm? Also, as far as a quick google went, vic ash = tas oak = actually some kind of eucalyptus?)
Either way, i wasn't too fussed.
It wasn't soft pine, and it looked ok. Perfect for a 1st build.
After cutting into 1/4's i smoothed the sharp edges on the ends, and got carried away and smoothed the length side too slightly.
Not the best idea, as i had to join there shortly...
I dont have a jointer, but i do have a hand plane.
So to cut down the sides i rounded and make them flat i tried using a 'shooting board' pictured.
It made a nice shiny cut (after i sharpened the blade a bit) but i must have been rocking it around a little, as the edge appeared slightly rounded at the end.
So i decided just to go for it, by hand/eye with a straight edge.
This turned out better.
Had to buy 2 cheap sash clamps to glue them together ( i later bought a 3rd, witch probably would have helped at this stage)
Thought it would be handy to share my first attempt with others, to see were the difficulties are and potential problems to avoid.
Before i start, i would like to point out that i have had no previous wood working experience, so this was more for the learning experience than getting a top guitar at the end (i can hope
![Yes Way :yesway: :yesway:](http://www.sevenstring.org/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/yesway.gif)
My selection of tools, and workspace are also highly limited.
I started with buying some wood.
Not as easy as i i thought, in Australia.
Around were i live, there is Bunnings, Bunnings and, wait for it... Bunnings. (Im sure there would be some kind of lumber yard, but as a complete novice, i was lost)
So, i picked up this
![20130922_152835_zpsfec52ec5.jpg](http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy35/Megaton_900/SS%20build/20130922_152835_zpsfec52ec5.jpg)
It is what they advertise as 'hardwood' but a few google's suggested it might be Victorian ash? (hopefully someone else can confirm? Also, as far as a quick google went, vic ash = tas oak = actually some kind of eucalyptus?)
Either way, i wasn't too fussed.
It wasn't soft pine, and it looked ok. Perfect for a 1st build.
![20130922_162406_zps80c3db56.jpg](http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy35/Megaton_900/SS%20build/20130922_162406_zps80c3db56.jpg)
After cutting into 1/4's i smoothed the sharp edges on the ends, and got carried away and smoothed the length side too slightly.
Not the best idea, as i had to join there shortly...
![20130924_161619_zpsad2d4b09.jpg](http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy35/Megaton_900/SS%20build/20130924_161619_zpsad2d4b09.jpg)
So to cut down the sides i rounded and make them flat i tried using a 'shooting board' pictured.
It made a nice shiny cut (after i sharpened the blade a bit) but i must have been rocking it around a little, as the edge appeared slightly rounded at the end.
So i decided just to go for it, by hand/eye with a straight edge.
This turned out better.
![20130924_175436_zps91e5f05d.jpg](http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy35/Megaton_900/SS%20build/20130924_175436_zps91e5f05d.jpg)