Thread: Routing pickup pockets

stick the template to the top of the bass with double sided tape....
throw it in the drillpress, do the corners with a smaller drillbit to get the corners right
then work your way out from the corner with bigger drillbits....
rout the edges....

if youve already done the routing the small drill bits may not have a proper spot to cut into. a chisel may be your best bet, just be careful.

if you have a drill press and go slow.... it will work even if its already routed...
let the bit do the cutting not the pressure

Thanks Andrew B and black labb for the replies. Much appreciated.

I haven't actually cut the guitar body yet - I've only tried my template on a practice piece.

The problem I'm having is the rounded bits per the attached picture. I don't want the hole rounded at this point. It gets rounded over cause I'm using an oversize template with a guide on the router. And I can't work out how to avoid that.

CHEERS
Peter

Peter,

either buy yourself a following bit, or make two templates. one square for the picup, and the other with two straight slots for the screw mounts. the corner will be sharp since the bit will be forced to run in two separate passes.

Not sure if I've described it clearly, so I'll draw it.

Cheers,

Peter

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh
i see now....
in that case you can build up the edges on the template with a mixture of glue and sawdust...

or that silver metal tape stuff...

i'd probably avoid building up the sides like that, unless you were building up the sides like that just to make another template to be your final one, but square templates are usually pretty easy to make already.

many people do it

mainly when making/using/fixing mdf type templates...

Originally Posted by peterhum

I made a template and used a router with a guide bush and a 5mm bit. But found that it rounds the rounds the edge near the protusions over - which I don't want.

Does anyone have any hints as to how I should go about this?

The problem is likely not the routing but the template. Can we have a look at your template?

I'd say from the look of the rout that the edges are not that square either on the template. If you use a good template such as the Stewmac Polycarbonate ones you shoudn't have any problems.

When you do routing cut the bass and trebe side of the pickup first. As you get closer to the edge of the 4 screw holes, stop cutting when your bushing is just a litte bit less than half-way past the angle turn into the screw gap. Start your next cut from into the screw gap and follow the circle up towards the flat side. Once the bushing is just under half-way from the corner, stop routing.

This basically mean you're not turning around the edge with the router and rounding it off. Just holler If you don't get what I mean and I'll draw up a pic.

Thanks very much for the replies guys.

Peter - excellent idea with two templates - that would work.

Phil - I cut my template out of mdf - the sides probably weren't parallel. I think the lesson I've learnt is to either buy the templates and ball bearing router bit from Stewmac - or get it done.

I had a word with the guy from the Guitar Factory in Gladesville (Sydney) and he can put me on to someone who could route them for me. So I think rather than spending more money on the tools I'll get it done. I'd really hate to make a bluey on these as they're probably the most noticable thing on the guitar. I'm a wimp - I know.

Thanks very much for the help. I may still need to come back to that.
Regards
Pete