Ah, I also have exacto knives!
Not an issue: I have loads of time…
A little side effect of this discussion: I finally get it that my girlfriend tells me that I have too many tools 
If you have enough material to cut scrap pieces it’s probably worth just testing the different tools you’re thinking of using. Then you’ll know how it works and how hard it is to control instead of the peanut gallery thousands of miles away guessing.
1 Like
Hahaha!
Yes, I always test all options that make sense first.
But I (ab)use the “peanut gallery” (added that to my vocabulary) just for a sanity check and to get new/better ideas.
So, razors used to be one hobby of mine, including sharpening and honing. And the solution to burrs and other edge issues is not always simply bilateral sharpening - you can (and should) also strop.
Works great for a razor edge anyway. You can hone an edge down to 10k-20k grit and it still won’t be truly sharp until you strop.
3 Likes
Except when you desperately need a burr
Nooooooo … Elvis has left the building!
Did a short test and it went nowhere. Cutting with the Dremel cutting tool absolutely s#cks!
Next step: jigsaw!
Ok, didn’t give up and tried a 2nd time, as I have enough raw pickguard material to fail and learn.
So now the cuts were much cleaner and I used sandpaper on the edges to smoothen things out.
Still it’s not good, cause of: me!
I use the dremel just like I use a pen: sloppy! Nobody can read my writing, as I have no clear line. I absolutely forgot that I am completely sensomotorically challenged, and should not do stuff that involves tiny things and elegant motion.
I think a jigsaw will not solve that - cause the human factor remains - so it’s back to the drawing board and think of new ideas…
F#ck!
2 Likes
You may need this kind of bit and maybe a rounder ones too.
https://a.co/d/aN9VG7L
1 Like
I used this Dremel extension. With the right speed and some self control this works ok.
But again, the issue is not the method. The issue is that I am not able to follow lines properly.
It might be easier with a scroll saw?!
1 Like
Yes. I have in fact a dremel scroll saw. Never get to try one lol.
1 Like
You could cut a little oversized and sand down to the line.
2 Likes
Yeah - I did this when I noticed that cutting on the line is not a good idea.
But: because of the “irregular” cutting line (due to my “motor disability”), even sanding down leads to sh#tty results.
That’s why I’m thinking about getting a 2nd hand scroll saw, cause with that tool it will be easier to cut a good line.
Just need to find a way to hide it somewhere, cause … girlfriend.
I was quite happy she is with her family today, as the kitchen was VERY dusty after my first experiment
If this is a rarely used tool maybe the manual version of a scroll saw makes more sense (unless the point is buying more tools, I’ve done those projects too lol).
1 Like
Yeah - a jigsaw! That was my initial thought after my first fail. But after my 2nd fail I was reminded of my lack of motor skills for this kind of work
There is a socialist community project around the corner - they have scroll saws, routers and all kinds of 3d printing stuff.
That should do the job!
I need to sing the “Internationale” to get access, but maybe my girlfriend can do that. She is one of those iron curtain bred chicks ^^
Ok, I tried once more with the Dremel method. I s#ck so much at it that I cannot even post pics of it.
Man, I’m really bad at making pickguards!
Gonna look for a good & cheap way to have it done…
regarding the card scraper: ideally you would use a flat bastard file to ‘dress’ the edge first and get a square corner by locking the scraper in a vise with just a little bit of the edge sticking out and then swiping the file across it to get a perfect edge that is square to the flat faces. if you do not have a file you can likely skip this.
then you need to essentially flatten the edge until a burr forms and then roll that burr over - the burr is what cuts the material. they do make tools for this that are at the proper angle, etc, but you can just use the steel shaft of a screwdriver - just very firmly run it up and down the edge (still in a vise) to start to mushroom out the edge and form a burr.
lastly, when you use a card scraper you can either pull it or push it, really whatever feels right but it helps a lot to slightly flex the scraper in your hands so that there is a slight curve and then pushing or pulling into the curve (so the apex of the curve is at the front of whatever direction you are using it). also pay close attention to grain of the wood, you always want to be sure to scrape with the lay of the grain not into the grain (think about petting a cat: one way is smooth and goes with the fur, and the other way lifts the fur up) - you always have to scrape with the fur (so to speak).
1 Like
Thank you - so I have solved the card scraper issue almost exactly like you described it.
But there is nothing to scrape. My custom made pickguard really looks like sh#t! I mean: total rubbish!
It reminds of informal art - there is no structure, no shapes: only texture.
Maybe I can sell it as an abstract sculpture???!
I need to accept that I was not made to create pickguards.
Song of the day:
1 Like
After having given up on Pickguards and Control Plates, I focus on Pickup replacement now.
Removed the EMG GZR PJ to sell it - and replaced it with an EMG active P and and active JX.
Findings:
- The active P sounds wonderful, as expected. Better than the GZR, not as good as the 35TWX.
- The combination of active P and active JX sounds very cool. Much better than EMG GZR before.
- The active JX played solo is very thin and has a very very low volume, compared to the P. It is not as balanced as either EMG GZR or active PJ. Don’t know why - the difference is significant!
Knowing your limitations is important.
Quiting something after doing it once and saying it’s too difficult is a different animal.
3 Likes