Routing tear out

[Fisherman]

Hi guys

Just wondering what tool you use to prepare the build for routing? I didn't score the top or sides before routing and got some tear out on both... Keen to avoid that in future!

Cheers
Peter

[56nortondomy]

I don't score the top either but I coat with shellac, I haven't had any problems ( so far ). I assume you mean for bindings.
Wayne

[kiwigeo]

1. coats of shellac on top.
2. scour around cut with a Schneider gramil. On tops Ill sometimes rout the innner purfing channel to just short of the target and finish the cut with the gramil.
3. Use a new or near new down cut spiral cutter in the laminate trimmer.
4. Pay attention to direction cutter is spinning relative to grain. Also select appropriate cutter speed and speed router/work is moved.
5. Plan everything before hand......eg do a dummy run around the guitar to check you wont have any unplanned stops because a cord or something else gets in the way and you have to take your mind off the job to clear same.
6. If using a hand held trimmer jig like I do.....take care at end of cut. I let cutter spin down before moving the jig off the guitar.

[Fisherman]

Thanks Martin and Wayne. All steps I didn't take ...

Christmas is coming up soon so I know what I'm getting.

Might also look into a laminate trimmer or a router - in hindsight a router bit in a drill press was not such a good idea either. But the quarter inch shank was too big for the Dremel...

[kiwigeo]

Ive found Dremels underpowered for binding channel work and there's usually a bit too much bearing play in the things. I reserve my Dremel for rosette work and Ive got a Porter Cable trimmer for binding work.

[Bruce McC]

Hi Pete

Have sent you a PM.

[blackalex1952]

Pete I recommend this trimmer, I have one and also the plunge base. Solid as, variable speed, soft start metal body and even the height adjustment pinion is metal. RTO700C $179AU and with the plunge base $269AU
I use it for just about everything, neck pockets, truss rods, soundholes, cf neck reo, saddles and bridges, templates, edge trimming, brace jigs, bindings. Hope you have been a good boy and Santa hears your prayers!

[Fisherman]

Thanks for the recommendation - sounds like a pretty versatile tool.

The wife did say one tool for Christmas, but if one fits into the other and it really is a package set ...

[blackalex1952]

Thanks for the recommendation - sounds like a pretty versatile tool.

The wife did say one tool for Christmas, but if one fits into the other and it really is a package set ...

Maybe your wife was referring to something else, my friend......
Seriously though, the set comes as a set from Sydney Tools, online store also. If you are in Australia. The one I got I bought when they were first available here and the accessories were only available overseas so I had to get the router base from UK. The plunge base is really well made. It came in a nice aluminium case without the bearing guide. but with the dust extractor fitting and the straight edge guide. Plenty of fancy attachments available now if you do other things than luthiery. http://justtools.com.au/makita-635mm1a4 ... 0-rt0700cx

[kiwigeo]

Ive bought a few tools from Sydney Tools and have found the prices very good and the service also good.

The soft start on that Makita trimmer is a definite plus...nothing worse than reactive start up torque from a trimmer flexing the whole jig and ending up chopping a big gouge in your top.

[Fisherman]

Thanks for the recommendation - sounds like a pretty versatile tool.

The wife did say one tool for Christmas, but if one fits into the other and it really is a package set ...

Maybe your wife was referring to something else

Quite likely ... Wouldn't be the first time I misunderstood the words and the meaning.

But in this case I think the logic is sound... No need for clarification - almost certainly she meant "yes, do get a Makita trimmer and attachment"

I'm in Canberra ... But Google tells me there's a Sydney Tools shop in Canberra... the signs are all there