Tom’s Garage (above)
Files for router paths (above)
Tom removes the hand router to grease the bearings (above)
A particle board which stops the router from accidentally going into the table (above)
A digital rendering of the path the router takes while cutting (above)
Here is a Telecaster body being cut out from the block after being in the CNC machine for 40 minutes.
Each guitar starts with a 1 3/4 inch board.
Cut plank in two pieces and glue them together, we clamp them to make sure the wood has as quality of a seam as possible.
(Above) Here it is before it goes into the CNC machine, each piece will be sanded flat on both sides so that the machine will be able to cut most accurately.
(Above) Here is a body immediately after being cut out with burs still on the cut lines. The burs are removed easily with a few passes of sand paper.
The waste product (above) makes a great picture frame.
Does it mean more to you when you create, build or make something for yourself rather than just buying something that was already made? I recently built an electric guitar and now I have a greater understanding of how much work goes into making a quality instrument. It has always felt so rewarding to me to make something from parts into a functional machine this is why it has been a dream of mine to build hot rods. Also to learn as much as I can about what I can create instead of purchasing manufactured goods.
What is the difference between rural life and city life in California? I moved to Richmond from Nevada City CA and what I see in the Bay Area versus what I see up in the mountains is very different. The lifestyle of city life and rural life in California are very interesting but which is better?
Is our culture a car culture? Most people need to drive to go to school, work or even to survive. A lot of people see their automobile as more than just transportation. Your car may be a status symbol, a sports car, a beautiful classic or even a project car but is our culture in California inseparable with the culture of automobiles?
Hands On 