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Post by hotblooze on May 27, 2021 8:53:39 GMT -5
Guy came in with a pristine finished body with no control holes. He wants a Fender 5-way switch slot cut. I'm thinking of using a Dremel with a router bit set up on a router base like the one they use for cutting fret inlays. Will it work ? If so, what speed not to melt the paint work and do I need to go thru several passes to reach the depth ?
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on May 27, 2021 9:04:34 GMT -5
Never tried it, but that's probably the best solution. I would imagine a frustratingly high number of passes. I would also imagine the finish plugging your bit many times, and a high probability of finish lifting as you work. Not sure on speed - faster usually is less likely to snag/chip, but could also cause some melting, so you'll probably have to experiment.
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sirWheat
Wholenote
For a better future, play Stevie Wonder for your children.
Posts: 319
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Post by sirWheat on May 27, 2021 17:44:43 GMT -5
I'd be surprised if the finish melted (not sayin' it won't happen) so long as you aren't leaving the router in one place for long. Tape off the area and do a few passes if only to lessen the chance of any surface chipping. Well, and the fact that a dremel is really not that great of a tool; no torque, if you push it at all you can expect bad results. Give it a test on something else if you can. I don't know the diameter bit required but if one is available a spiral, down-cut bit would be nice.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on May 27, 2021 19:07:52 GMT -5
On the melting, I guess I'm thinking about how fine dremel bits act with cured super glue, which is often to heat it up and it gums up and sits on the bit. I guess poly is a bit too hard and brittle for that, but you never know. You're probably going to be using a larger bit than I'm thinking of (fret slots) and with nice fresh cutting edges, so that'll help.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on May 28, 2021 0:37:52 GMT -5
The wood is going to be about 1/8" thick anyway. Any thicker and the switch won't reach the end of travel in positions 1 and 5.
I've done it with a 3/32" downcutting spiral bit using a Foredom handpiece on a router base. One trick is to slide the router base plate along a straight edge clamped to the guitar's top.
The other trick is to start by drilling a 3/32" hole where one end of the slot starts. Drop the cutter into the hole and then adjust the straight edge against the base; this way you have the cutter already all the way through the wood. Downcutting spiral bits will cut full depth nice and cleanly because they are razor sharp. Go slowly and it will work great.
A downcutting spiral bit in a router will cut the outline of a full-depth guitar body in a single pass. If you've never used one (usually because of the initial expense) you should spring for one; you will be amazed. They are light years ahead of a typical carbide router bit.
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Post by hotblooze on May 28, 2021 18:39:10 GMT -5
Thanks Geno.
The trick is really choosing the correct type of bit. I might just have one in my Dremel toolbox.
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