Ugh! Big Bad Router Screw-Up. Suggestions Please.

Please put your pickup/wiring discussions in the Electronics section; and put discussions about repair issues, including fixing errors in new instruments, in the Repairs section.
Post Reply
Blake Porter
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Nov 04, 2020 2:46 pm

Ugh! Big Bad Router Screw-Up. Suggestions Please.

Post by Blake Porter »

I just used the router to clean up the binding edges of the plastic end trim. Things went bad!
My first guitar; and I could use any suggestions on how to proceed!

PS seems the router bearing melted the plastic and burrowed into everything.
..Tape added to bearing to get size I wanted.
IMG_6893.JPG
IMG_6894.jpg
IMG_6895.JPG
IMG_6896.JPG
User avatar
Bob Gramann
Posts: 1101
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 11:08 am
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Contact:

Re: Ugh! Big Bad Router Screw-Up. Suggestions Please.

Post by Bob Gramann »

Replacing the plastic end trim seems like a good option.
Marshall Dixon
Posts: 169
Joined: Tue May 21, 2019 8:58 pm
Location: SW Oregon

Re: Ugh! Big Bad Router Screw-Up. Suggestions Please.

Post by Marshall Dixon »

It looks like the purfling line has minimal damage and that is what will be visible. Agreed; new end trim. If the back bindings aren't in yet then it's easier. When I mess up a purfling line I'll simply make another cut and add another line or two. As long as there is enough support from the linings inside it's just a matter of esthetics.
User avatar
Bryan Bear
Posts: 1375
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:05 pm
Location: St. Louis, MO

Re: Ugh! Big Bad Router Screw-Up. Suggestions Please.

Post by Bryan Bear »

Those were my thoughts exactly. I can't tell for sure but it looks like all the rebates are cut and the back binding is not in yet. I would get the ledges as clean as possible then remove the tail graft. Make a new one and wedge it in. Then just clean it up by hand to match the rest of the edges.
PMoMC

Take care of your feet and your feet will take care of you.
User avatar
Barry Daniels
Posts: 3186
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:58 am
Location: The Woodlands, Texas

Re: Ugh! Big Bad Router Screw-Up. Suggestions Please.

Post by Barry Daniels »

It's apparent that your bearing is not moving free enough to keep up with the router bit speed.
MIMF Staff
Blake Porter
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Nov 04, 2020 2:46 pm

Re: Ugh! Big Bad Router Screw-Up. Suggestions Please.

Post by Blake Porter »

The bearing spinning with the shank, as I was using router VERY lightly.... Not pressing bearing against side walls. Then the spinning bearing, wrapped with tape suddenly turned white (with melted plastic). I had a piece of tape wrapped around the bearing to get the right depth.. I assume the tape probably added to the friction.
Live to Learn!
Hope I can fix this!
Alan Carruth
Posts: 1265
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2012 1:11 pm

Re: Ugh! Big Bad Router Screw-Up. Suggestions Please.

Post by Alan Carruth »

Replace the end graft, and build out the binding rabbet, and you should be good to go. It's lucky that the purfling ledge wasn't trashed.
User avatar
Bob Gramann
Posts: 1101
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 11:08 am
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Contact:

Re: Ugh! Big Bad Router Screw-Up. Suggestions Please.

Post by Bob Gramann »

You probably ought to get a new bearing unless you can prove to yourself that it really does spin freely.
Marshall Dixon
Posts: 169
Joined: Tue May 21, 2019 8:58 pm
Location: SW Oregon

Re: Ugh! Big Bad Router Screw-Up. Suggestions Please.

Post by Marshall Dixon »

I use the same method as you do, including the tape to adjust the cut.

I cut the tape askew on the bearing to make sure there isn't a lump in one spot that will transfer the irregularity to the cut.

The bearing is a guide and is pressed up against the sides and doesn't spin. It will "read" any dip or bump so a true surface is essential.
Clay Schaeffer
Posts: 1674
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:04 pm

Re: Ugh! Big Bad Router Screw-Up. Suggestions Please.

Post by Clay Schaeffer »

Not pressing the bearing against the side hard enough to keep it from spinning with the bit can be a problem. Assuming your bearing is greased properly and the bit spins freely then you should put enough pressure against the side so the bearing "rolls" while the cutter "spins".
Randy Roberts
Posts: 465
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 9:11 pm
Location: Omaha, NE (a suburb of Iowa)

Re: Ugh! Big Bad Router Screw-Up. Suggestions Please.

Post by Randy Roberts »

I would also recommend instead of the tape on the bearing, put the tape on the guitar where the bearing will ride when you recut the replacement tail graft. That will "shim" your bearing out the same distance that tape on the bearing would, without all the hazards that tape on the bearing risks. That would also protect your plastic insert from friction from any bearing spin (which as mentioned above by Clay you don't want in the first place)

I will frequently do this for a first cut with a router even when the bearing is the size I want, in order to hog off most of the cut, and then take the tape off and redo the cut so that this final cut is only cutting the thickness left from the taped cut.
Post Reply

Return to “Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars”