Woodworking Virgin

[Penfold4140]

Howdy Folks,

As above, I'm a bit of a woodworking noob,but have been itching to build my own guitar for ages, and finally got round to biting the bullet.
I've been in various Engineering roles, alot of it hands on, but any time I've been building/fabricating it's metal work I'm afraid.

I've got a fair selection of tools lying around, but managed to pick up a Makita 3600 router complete with straight edge guide and another little guide, a bunch of routing bits and the 1/2" - 1/4" collet. Missing the spanners though.

This is what brought me here. I've never used a router in my life, but I'm ready to learn. I look forward to any advice you can offer, and hopefully I won't make too much of a mess of my first guitar body!!!

Cheers,
David

[Crunchie]

Hi David and welcome. You will get plenty of advice here when you get started and have specific questions. At least you have picked up a decent router; here's your first bit of advice - don't try to change the cutters while the cord is plugged in!!!! Good luck with the guitar; we look forward to watching progress.

[Christos]

Welcome to the forum.
Good advise straight off the cuff.

[BobL]

Welcome.

First bit of gratuitous advice - get yourself a full face shield and decent ear muffs.

Second, always practice the full maneuver/cut on a piece of scrap several times before applying the router to the piece you want to work on.

Third, make sure all the adjustment mechanisms, work piece, and bit are tightened down, and check all these again before starting the cut.

Fourth, make sure your hands get no closer to the rotating bit than the handles of the router.

have fun

[JJF]

welcome to the Forum

[Penfold4140]

Thanks folks. I made the mistake of forgetting to unplug the jigsaw to change the blade last week. Lucky I was still on the allen key and not the fingers!! Won't do that again
I'm itching to get going with the router, but the only bit I'm short of at the moment is a template bit. I've got one with the bearing at the bottom, but not the top. I'll get one ordered this week.
I will start taking some photos as I'm progressing with the guitar. I've already made the template for the body, and I've cut the rough shape with the jigsaw. Just need to get the router going now.

I got a few extra bits in the box, and I don't know what some of them are for, so I'll post a few pics and hopefully someone can point them out.

Thanks again,
David.

[Christos]

[QUOTE=Penfold4140;1448723.....
I got a few extra bits in the box, and I don't know what some of them are for, so I'll post a few pics and hopefully someone can point them out.
.[/QUOTE]

That's the best way.

[crowie]

G'Day & Welcome "Down Under" "David",
You'll find a heap of knowledgable & very helpful blokes & ladies on the forum all to willing to share.
We all love seeing what each other has done, so ensure you post some photos of your handiwork;
especially WIP photos with some working notes.
Enjoy your woodwork.
Cheers, crowie