Routing with a Dremel?

stonevibe

So...

I bought myself an SSS layout Strat style body with a Floyd bridge rout.

The idea is to make it HSS and also trim the heel down a bit to accommodate playing down the 'dusty end'

I have a hand held Dremel and some routing bits for it.

Any tips?

Or should I leave it 'as is' and get someone to do it properly.

WezV

Dremels are not great for this. Too much play and not enough power.

stonevibe

WezV said:

Dremels are not great for this. Too much play and not enough power.

My thoughts were along these lines. 

Figured it could be a 'hack job' if I use the Dremel.

Chalky

I bought a cheap router and bits (from Screwfix?) and I use a largish piece of black pickguard plastic to cushion between the router base and guitar. The sheer size and weight of the router gives a lot more stability. I rout in small amounts, 1/4 inch depth at a time, and just take time to be careful and methodical. Slow but it means in less than 30 mins I've got a result I'm happy with. If I was quick it might take less than 10 mins. But I figure the extra 20mins is worth it - not like I rout a guitar every day or even every week.

stonevibe

I might have to use a bread knife...

Think I will invest in a router soon, as in no rush with this body and I could do with owning a router anyway.

DrBob

I'm still kicking myself for not having the cash to pick up that router/router table/bits combo that they were
recently knocking out at Aldi. I doubt it would stand up to regular sustained use but for hobbyists such as ourselves I suspect it would be ideal for the odd bit of pickup routing etc

impmann

Look on eBay - my router cost £10 s/h plus £4 postage.

It's not a posh one but it did the job making the Tablecaster. Tbh, invest in good quality router bits and that makes a MASSIVE difference.

ICBM

If you don't want to go to the trouble of a router and proper jigs (and quality bits as impmann said), you might actually be better off with a decent sharp wood chisel and a mallet, and do it the old way. Free-hand routing is harder than it looks to do a nice job.

WezV

i would agree with that.    and easy to tidy up after with a dremel  sanding wheel if it does look a bit bodged

my only concern here is it being floyd routed, if its recessed then you may have minimal wood to play with here.  don't want to be hitting too hard with a mallet in the wrong spot

stonevibe

The other option is stacked single coil pickup in the bridge I suppose.

Corvus

I did the same job with forstner & drill to chop some out, chisels, and sanding drums in a dremel to smooth & tidy everything up.

A5D5E5

Routers are the cats of the tool world.  You think you are getting on fine and then for no obvious reason and totally without warning they will have your eye out.   It is worth spending the money on a decent router and good quality bits - far cheaper than a bionic eye.