Unknown territory - first build!

[Horse]

Though I would start a new thread for my build guys, first one, Im pretty excited I can tell you

Its going to be a slow burner! but hopefully fun, educational and a blast! I posted this part in my 'wood warping problem thread so apologies to any who have seen this bit before/

So far...been getting tools together and received Tom's plans....

Here the wood, big leaf maple for the top;



and Utile (Sipo) for the body, this is great wood, very close to what i would conisder good mahogany (i sue to work in the furniture restoring trade and seen a far bit of wood):




I went about starting to make a template.......probably using a method found wanting by others.....



Not too bad...


Until.....

I dont know what happened, 4 hours of painstaking tracing and sanding, somehow it got distorted I guess i woulda been put right if id floated using this method beforehand. But i did learn that i could do a fair job of sanding - thats something!

Now i will default to cutting toms plans out and using them directly to mark out pieces, then purchase another fresh set from him.

[jonny]

Looking forward to it!

[Horse]

Thanks mate, im planning to document all mistakes too, so others can maybe not do the same.

[73Custom]

i'm in...

[w666]

Don't do that....download the Cato Rev10 plans, print them up locally, and cut them up for your templates!

Originally Posted by Horse

Though I would start a new thread for my build guys, first one, Im pretty excited I can tell you

Its going to be a slow burner! but hopefully fun, educational and a blast! I posted this part in my 'wood warping problem thread so apologies to any who have seen this bit before/

So far...been getting tools together and received Tom's plans....

Here the wood, big leaf maple for the top;

and Utile (Sipo) for the body, this is great wood, very close to what i would conisder good mahogany (i sue to work in the furniture restoring trade and seen a far bit of wood):

I went about starting to make a template.......probably using a method found wanting by others.....

Until.....

I dont know what happened, 4 hours of painstaking tracing and sanding, somehow it got distorted I guess i woulda been put right if id floated using this method beforehand. But i did learn that i could do a fair job of sanding - thats something!

Now i will default to cutting toms plans out and using them directly to mark out pieces, then purchase another fresh set from him.

[w666]

Oh, and great wood. I'm looking forward to your build!

[dennistruckdriver]

I like to see someone actually starting a 'build', instead of just telling us about how he's going to someday.
Good luck.

[TKOjams]

I love these threads

[Horse]

Thanks for the support guys, it'll really spur me on

W666, where do download those Catt plans from?

Cheers

[w666]

Here's the plans:

http://web.mac.com/wes.folkerth/folk...-ver10full.pdf

And here's a thread about how to print large drawings on small paper, but I haven't tried it it. Just make sure that the 20 mm reference bar on the plan actually measures 20 mm after you print it.

printing blueprints???

Originally Posted by Horse

Thanks for the support guys, it'll really spur me on

W666, where do download those Catt plans from?

Cheers

[arjacobson]

Looking good- Takes alot of time but is very addictive!!

[Horse]

Some progress, I photocopied the plans, glued 4 copies to the MDF and rough cut with the jigsaw:




Then hand sanded the 'hero' template which the others will be trimmed to:


Very happy with the result, as its the first time i have woodworked for 20 odd years
The template is sanded to about half a mm off the line all around. Now i have to work out the best way of trimming the others to it (and locating them accurately to it!)

Then i can route the templates..im really starting to enjoy this

[nicksdad12]

For what it's worth, the drier the wood the better the tone. I'm thinking of baking the wood for my next build, like PRS does.

[Horse]

Router has arrived, so hopefuly progress over the next few days

[Gothika777]

What router did u get?

[GreaseBox]

[Horse]

Originally Posted by Gothika777

What router did u get?

This one:
DRAPER EXPERT 1350W 230V COMBINATION ROUTER KIT Wood Working Online Draper Routers Buy Tools CHEAP Online

It comes with plunge base and a fixed base, 1/4 and 1/2 collets, so im covered for most bases with it......under table mount, top mount and plunge base..

spent the afternoon making a simple top mount support for it and also fixing the fixed base under the bench (i apologise for the crappy pics, i only have a camera on my phone )


So now i can make a start and trim all the templates:


Tomorrow route the templates and rough cut the body

[Horse]

Guys i need your help!

As i do not have a spindle sander as yet, i as going to route the body shape from the template, but im not sure the bit i have got is any good for it, what do you suggest the best bit is for routing an outline?

i did a very quick test with the bit i have - see pic above -it started catching so i stopped immediately.

[DanielDeGregoriis]

Originally Posted by Horse

Guys i need your help!

As i do not have a spindle sander as yet, i as going to route the body shape from the template, but im not sure the bit i have got is any good for it, what do you suggest the best bit is for routing an outline?

i did a very quick test with the bit i have - see pic above -it started catching so i stopped immediately.

I recommend 'short' bits to copy your templates. You really don't wanna take too much wood off at a time. Very small steps will do the trick. In order to be able to take of not too much wood, you need a short bit. Something like this:

Router bits-Pattern bits, short series-CMT tools


Also, you should harden the sides of your templates. When you use a pattern bit as mentioned above, the bearing will leave a dent (grooves) in the soft MDF. You won't be able to accurately copy your templates, since every next step you take won't be the same as the one one you took before (hard to explain for me, my vocabulary is inefficient xD).
You can harden the sides by using glue (epoxy or something like that) or varnish (a lot of coats).

I hope this helps!

Also, nice mahogany

- Daniel

[Horse]

Thanks Daniel,

do you suggest a bit with a wider bearing to start too? as well as being shorter?

Cheers

[Horse]

im also wondering the best type of bit, not the most pricey but good quality materials?

[w666]

I use double bearings on mine:



The trick is to remove most of the material before you route, and make multiple slow passes with the router, dropping the depth ~ 1/4' each pass.

Originally Posted by Horse

Thanks Daniel,

do you suggest a bit with a wider bearing to start too? as well as being shorter?

Cheers

[Horse]

W666, thanks bro, i need to trim off a little more with the jigsaw before routing, i see now. i will adopt the double bearing too, makes sense..

[w666]

Do you have any sanding drums?

Buy Sanding Set, 12 Piece at Woodcraft.com

Originally Posted by Horse

W666, thanks bro, i need to trim off a little more with the jigsaw before routing, i see now. i will adopt the double bearing too, makes sense..

[Horse]

Originally Posted by w666

Do you have any sanding drums?

Buy Sanding Set, 12 Piece at Woodcraft.com

No... do you use them for sanding instead of a spindle sander mate?

[w666]

I use these in a drill press because I don't have a spindle sander. If you've got one already, you're golden

I was just looking at your templates and thinking they could use some sanding.

Originally Posted by Horse

No... do you use them for sanding instead of a spindle sander mate?

[Horse]

havent a drill press either yet! actually my next conundrum is spindle sander or drill press next...

Oh, the templates have got to be finished up and routed. I got carried away and rough cut the body, but i intend to take my time and get everything right

[w666]

Just don't route through your fingers!

A drill press has many uses,.... a spindle sander only one. My suggestion is go for the drill press and the sanding drums, and together they may still be less than the spindle sander alone.

Originally Posted by Horse

havent a drill press either yet! actually my next conundrum is spindle sander or drill press next...

Oh, the templates have got to be finished up and routed. I got carried away and rough cut the body, but i intend to take my time and get everything right

[stmfitr636]

IMO, if you are a bit strapped for the green stuff, go for the drill press first. It's much more versatile and you can get some forstner bits to a good bit of material removal, not to mention drilling out for bridge and tailpiece inserts.

Whereas, the sander just sands.

That said, I have both and haven't built squat.

[Horse]

Sounds sensible to me, the drill press is multi-talented.... i used to have one. Think i i will go for that and get the sanding drums