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note: These are excerpts are from my thread on another forum last week. So please excuse the length of this post about this build. MK

Hi All,
A few years ago I started a build of a 335 clone but a bit smaller. It's the one on the right.

I never liked the body shape so I put it away until today.

So I drew up a new DC style more to my liking and began the milling of it on my CNC.

First must profile the new shape. I had to do this in sections as hold down space for a complete profile cut would be a problem. I also decided to chamber this as well. The Body is a two piece ASH body.
Mike

















I found a few minutes today to make the change in the Body profile. Removed only at the neck join and made the cutouts wider.

Now I need to work on the neck.
Mike







So after some handling of the new body shape, I've decided to trash that one. The horns are just to close in. So I revamped it today and widened the horns. Should be a bit more comfortable with these changes. Also did a quick render of the top. Any Opinions?







Mike



So I dug out a one piece spalted, wormy pecan for the top. Leveled it on the CNC and made a quick oversize 0.050 pocket cut on it to look at. Added about 0.375 in to the neck throat that will be removed when done.

Also in the last few days I built a new buffer. Have to order some more Buffing wheels for other needs. Used a Buffing head from Grizzly and a variable speed conversion motor with controller from Penn State Industries. about $200.00 for both. Man I like it. Polished up some silver really great.

So here's the top wood I plan to use. as well as the buffer. Added some shellac to see the profile.




Used the 8" wheel for buffing some silver. Have some more 10" on order for wood work


MK

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I'm outside looking in, just farther from the window than most.

So yesterday and today I have started the new top. Will be making a new Body in the next few days using Swamp Ash. Most likely will add a 0.125 piece of walnut as well to contrast between the top and bottom.

Hard to see but this is the top inside being chambered.



Here is the top after roughing.



Now just starting the finish pass on the top.



Mike

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I'm outside looking in, just farther from the window than most.

Mike I love that new top. I hope you have a couple thousand board feet of that in 2"...... . What kind of wood is the fretboard? Color kinda looks like Ziricote, but it doesn't seem to have much grain. Macassar?

Did you build your cnc?

Mike

Thanks Mike, I only wish I had that much of this wood. The fretboard is striped ebony, I do have enough of it for 2 maybe 3 more fretboards. Yes I built my own CNC. I'm running the finish pass as I type this, on the top. Moving at a brisk 190ipm with a 0.0625 ball removing 0.050 at 0.003 step over. Makes for virtually zero sanding.

Mike

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I'm outside looking in, just farther from the window than most.

Well....if you have too much of that Pecan, let me know!

Ball screws, rack or belt driven?

BTW good looking machine. I am wanting to build a new one dedicated to my gunstock production. I want a real spindle with atc. I have had to baby sit programs for over 20 yrs and the time has come......the problem is the money hasn't!

Mike

Ball screws, Not much left of the pecan though. I understand the want of a real spindle and ATC. Also the $$$$. I have been looking at the chinese spindles with VFD though. Just waiting on some more feedback from others. Not sure I'm really ready to use a water cooled spindle but I understand the heat issues as well. Would be nice to cut down on the noise levels from the router though.

Mike

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I'm outside looking in, just farther from the window than most.

So I made up a body from a sandwich of Swamp Ash and Walnut.

Here is the top carved. Not cutout yet so it does'nt warp. will do that when ready to glue it to the body.



Here's the body sandwich after chambering.



Here I have created an inlay to allow for the control cover to screw to when I cut it from the back.



Here it is after leveling the inlay.



Now on to the back carve.

Mike

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I'm outside looking in, just farther from the window than most.

So as I progress I keep having senior moments and doing things totally out of whack.
Typos andstupid stuff. Things like transposing numbers which has a detrimental effect on a CNC.

So here is some progress with the screw ups as well.

Cutting out the control cover, Used wrong Mill diameter,



Now having to inlay the cover and recut to get it the correct size.







Ah yes and my favorite screw up. Make the neck pocket to large by typoing 2.223 as 2.23 Yes it rattled around. So the need for an insert and redo.



Drilling the String holes. I should have waited.


All of the pockets cutout, The holes drilled everything looks great. NOT!!


So I pulled the spacing for a 24fret for the pickups NOT a 22fret. Now I have a big a$$ gap. Had I only not drilled for the bridge this would be an easy fix. bridge pickup would off some but that would be much easier to fix.




So does a cnc give you an edge. Nope just different problems to contend with.

Mike

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I'm outside looking in, just farther from the window than most.

Man...do I feel your pain. Been there, done that. Mine was a rifle stock. I gave a negative move when it should not have been. Cut most the fore end off the stock. Decided to bandsaw the mistake out leaving the bottom of the fore end only. Sold 900 of those stocks in 4 yrs! I wish I could have another mistake like that!

Now to your problem. How bad off are the holes? I used to furniture touch up and repair, and I promise you those holes can almost dissappear.

If I can be of service, let me know.

Mike

Thanks Mike, It's really not a problem, just PO's me that I made those stupid mistakes. Easy to fix, but really not worried about them. First time I have tried doing a guitar with my CNC. Have made so many other things. I get in a hurry and make mistakes. Or just have one of those Senior moments when?
So all is good, this will work out, as I am using this one as the baseline for the CNC. I'm not sure I will actually use this neck for it at this time. I hate to waste the nice fretboard.
But it shows me more about myself when doing something for myself. "SLOWDOWN and Think, There is plenty of time to screw it up even more" LMAO!!!!!!

Mike

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I'm outside looking in, just farther from the window than most.

Interesting, Mike.
Hey, could you make the first body you cut out look like the one on the left on your first pic.,
and use the neck on that one?
I like that shape on the left one,
with the pointy horns.
I also like the round-over on the top you've got going on.
Good luck!
Looks like you'll get 2 gits out of this, maybe.