Page 1 of 2

Pickguard Plastic

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2018 6:51 pm
by Molly
Got a new pickguard cut at work today using the laser cutter. It's OK. Bit tight around the neck so needs a touch of sanding. Thing is, it's 3mm acrylic and the regular one or the usual triplate is only between 2 and 2.2mm. It was mirror shiny so I took some wet and dry to it. Anyway, I wonder if anybody knows of a ready supply of material more suited to the job? Ta.

Image

Image

Re: Pickguard Plastic

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2018 7:05 pm
by Lostininverness
Thats a real nice job! Heaps of supplies on e-bay. Been tempted to try some of the Aliexpress suppliers to see what they are like. For the price, I recon its worth a shot.

Re: Pickguard Plastic

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2018 7:49 pm
by Jay
The stuff I use is 2.8mm thick, shiny as hell and yes, mostly thicker than standard pick guards. I bevel the edges so it is not as obvious.
Is there any reason why you want to stick with the 2.2mm thickness? No one will notice...

Nice job btw!

Re: Pickguard Plastic

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2018 8:44 pm
by rickenbackerkid
the plate on my Ric is really thick 2, easily 3mm. Pretty normal me thinks.

Re: Pickguard Plastic

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2018 9:37 pm
by Molly
jvpp wrote:The stuff I use is 2.8mm thick, shiny as hell and yes, mostly thicker than standard pick guards. I bevel the edges so it is not as obvious.
Is there any reason why you want to stick with the 2.2mm thickness? No one will notice...

Nice job btw!
Will give that a go. Thanks.

The edges aren't great. Will take some work to get them smooth.

Re: Pickguard Plastic

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2018 9:46 pm
by Dharmajester
Molly wrote:
jvpp wrote:The stuff I use is 2.8mm thick, shiny as hell and yes, mostly thicker than standard pick guards. I bevel the edges so it is not as obvious.
Is there any reason why you want to stick with the 2.2mm thickness? No one will notice...

Nice job btw!
Will give that a go. Thanks.

The edges aren't great. Will take some work to get them smooth.
Yeah just bevel it and it will look like one of those expensive Callaham Bakelite guards .

Re: Pickguard Plastic

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2018 9:57 pm
by Molly
Dharmajester wrote:
Molly wrote:
jvpp wrote:The stuff I use is 2.8mm thick, shiny as hell and yes, mostly thicker than standard pick guards. I bevel the edges so it is not as obvious.
Is there any reason why you want to stick with the 2.2mm thickness? No one will notice...

Nice job btw!
Will give that a go. Thanks.

The edges aren't great. Will take some work to get them smooth.
Yeah just bevel it and it will look like one of those expensive Callaham Bakelite guards .
This kind of thing. Does look OK.

Image

Re: Pickguard Plastic

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 7:20 pm
by Molly
Finished. Quick recap. Never really liked the pickups the Radian came with so sold them and bought a Nocaster set. It necessitated a new pickguard. Basic shape was cut out on the laser cutter at work. Finished it by hand. Before and after below:

Image

Image

Image

Haven't played it other than to check it works. Will warm up an amp tomorrow. :-)

Re: Pickguard Plastic

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:05 pm
by StrummersOfThunder
That looks really good!

Re: Pickguard Plastic

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:30 pm
by bender
Fuck yeah!

Re: Pickguard Plastic

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:58 pm
by Jay
Luvly. No cracks while drilling ?

Re: Pickguard Plastic

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 10:47 pm
by Molly
jvpp wrote:Luvly. No cracks while drilling ?
Close call with one of the screw holes. Chipped a bit but didn't break. With the control holes I went up in .5mm increments just to be on the safe side.

Not an ideal material. If I can find something a tad thinner (this is 3mm - 2mm would be ideal I think) I can always get another cut at work.

Re: Pickguard Plastic

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 8:30 am
by bender
Molly wrote:
jvpp wrote:Luvly. No cracks while drilling ?
Close call with one of the screw holes. Chipped a bit but didn't break. With the control holes I went up in .5mm increments just to be on the safe side.

Not an ideal material. If I can find something a tad thinner (this is 3mm - 2mm would be ideal I think) I can always get another cut at work.
https://www.guitarparts.co.nz/pickguard ... heets.html

What about that?

BTW, Dibs on that tele.

Re: Pickguard Plastic

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 9:13 am
by Molly
bender wrote:
Molly wrote:
jvpp wrote:Luvly. No cracks while drilling ?
Close call with one of the screw holes. Chipped a bit but didn't break. With the control holes I went up in .5mm increments just to be on the safe side.

Not an ideal material. If I can find something a tad thinner (this is 3mm - 2mm would be ideal I think) I can always get another cut at work.
https://www.guitarparts.co.nz/pickguard ... heets.html

What about that?

BTW, Dibs on that tele.
Thanks for the link. The local sign maker bloke put me on to a supplier in Christchurch but did say I might have to buy a huge sheet of the stuff.

Dibs noted but dozens have come and gone since I got this Tele and nothing has tempted me to part with it. Took the neck off yesterday. In pen it says 'Bender'. :-)

Re: Pickguard Plastic

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 9:27 am
by bender
I had noticed that it had stuck around for an unusually long time. That neck is awesome.