LeftyBassist.com

The online home for southpaw bassists.
It is currently March 28th, 2024, 8:56 am




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: new shop toy - homemade pin jig
PostPosted: October 24th, 2009, 4:57 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: March 10th, 2008, 7:00 pm
Posts: 1184
Location: Seattle, WA USA
I've been jonesing for a pin router for ages so I could more easily cutout the pickup holes when crafting a new pickguard. the $600 pricetag has always been the downfall, and a lack of 220v in my current shop only added to the misery of tool lust

I have a new pickguard design for the VRB-P5 model, and I just couldn't stomach paying another template fee to have this made by a pickguard supplier (they do killer work, but designing a new pickguard can get expensive if you need to tweaks things, since each new tweak incurs another template fee on top of the pickguard cost)

over the past couple of days I worked out a jig design from stuff I already had access to in the shop ... a neck glue-up caul, a piece of 3/16"D brass rod, a 3/16"D router bit, and two pieces of scrap Walnut. the idea here is that the router bit and follower pin of matching diameter are in centerline unison, and the pin rides along the edge of the template while the router bit cuts the pickguard material. a regular pattern bit rides on an attached bearing and can only be obtained down to a 3/8" diameter - too large of a radius for the pickup hole corners. without a pin router, the remedy is to hand file the corners down to the proper radius - time consuming, messy, and prone to looking sloppy even with the cleanest of file work

here's the first design of the jig, and an image of it in action

Image

Image

alignment is a little bit tricky, but can be done with some patience. the next revision will have better visibility for the workpiece. overall though, it came out well enough that I have a viable tool for making this new style of pickguard with pickup cutout corners tight enough that even a Fralin will fit snugly into the hole

here's the first P5 pickguard made with this jig (just prior to the mounting holes being drilled and countersunk)

Image

all the best,

R

_________________
Moderator: Blueprinting and Bondo
Pickups: Honey Badger Pickups - Like Honey Badger Pickups on Facebook!
Basses: Regenerate Guitar Works - Like Regenerate Guitar Works on Facebook!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: new shop toy - homemade pin jig
PostPosted: October 24th, 2009, 6:31 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: March 10th, 2008, 7:00 pm
Posts: 1184
Location: Seattle, WA USA
and the new pickguard resting in place on its new home - a 22-fret 34" scale P5 with 18mm bridge spacing

Image

all the best,

R

_________________
Moderator: Blueprinting and Bondo
Pickups: Honey Badger Pickups - Like Honey Badger Pickups on Facebook!
Basses: Regenerate Guitar Works - Like Regenerate Guitar Works on Facebook!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: new shop toy - homemade pin jig
PostPosted: October 25th, 2009, 3:02 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: November 26th, 2008, 6:14 am
Posts: 3619
Location: Oahu, Hawaii
Great job rodent! The pickguard looks great, and I like how how well your improvised jigs and tools work so well, and save you time and money, especially when outsourcing can take weeks at times to get your parts back. Keep up the great work!

_________________
R&B Stretch Bass, Walter Woods 1000w Green-Light Stereo Amp, AccuGroove El Whappo and TR112, assorted axes, amps, cabs...
http://www.myspace.com/thestrangershawaii


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group  
Design By Poker Bandits