Prairie Custom Guitars

Time for another swamp ash build

I finally found a good resource for swamp ash here in Canada

Lets get this puppy going.Here is what we have to start with

4 nice pieces of swamp ash.It was actually just two but I had 3/8 sawn off each for the top

This will be the top cap

The back planed to the correct thickness,now off to the jointer

All jointed and clamped up

Now the same treatment for the cap,planed,jointed and glued up

I will let this dry over night and then pull the clamps

Then it's time to make sawdust 

Off with the clamps,then on goes the template to trace the outline so I can 

rough cut the shape on the band saw

After a trip to the bandsaw,I mount the template again and head to the router

Then around the body we go.Tearout is not a real issue here.

My bit is pretty new and there is not an open edge to worry about. 

Now off comes the template.We use just routed edge as a template.

Now here we have to really worry about tearouts.The open top edge will tearout

if your bit is not nice and sharp and you cut into the grain so we take

our time,making sure we route in the correct direction 

No tearouts.We have the back of our body routed out 

The end grain looks pretty good too 

This is to be a Thinline style with a single f-hole we need to do some chambering  

I have an old template that I use for a guide for the chambers

 I draw out the chambers and then remove the template

Off to the drill press and a big honkin bit to remove most of the material

It is just much safer and way less messy doing it this way

Now we take a handheld router with a nice big pattern bit  and

clean up the chambers.This old girl would route cement

Now it is time to move to the top

I pulled it from the clamps and give it a light sanding just to get rid of the glue squeeze out

There will be lots more sanding to be done in the future

Pretty much the same process as the back.Trace out the 

outline and then to the band saw

Once I have it rough cut,I line up my f-hole template

Much easier doing the f-hole now than after the top is glued on

You can see I don't route the top to final shape at this time.

I glue it on to the back and then use the back as a template

This way the fit is perfect

Off to the drill press and remove some of the material with a 1/4 inch bit

Then to the router.Nice and slow see,thats the way to do it

We have a F-hole

Now it's time to glue on the top

Oh I love clamps

 Out of the clamps,clean up some squeeze out and then

it's off to the router to trim up the top.

After some sanding we are ready to start grain filling

I like to grain fill and seal it before I do the binding

It helps keep any glue from the binding from soaking into the pores

Lets see where we are at for weight

Going to be nice and light

Had some sealer left in my gun after doing another body

Figured I might as well use it.It will help fill the grain

Well after some grain filling and a few coats of sealer

It's time to get some binding on this.

Decided to go with a white/black binding

Should look real nice with the natural finish

Top side glued on and taped

After the tape is pulled I do the backside

After the binding is cleaned up it is time to start the finish

Now it's time for the clear

After some grain filling it's time for some more sealer