I get many ideas from Youtube but I couldn't find anything for what I wanted to do
so had to try...
 
What I wanted was a master template for a Strat pickguard. It would be nothing more than the outline
so I could use it to make others with as needed for control and pup choices.
 
The first shot didn't work. I tried using a plastic guard taped to the MDF.
Problems; distance between bit bearing and cutting blades on router bit(s).; plastic was easy for bearing to ruin- cost me that guard. You can see in the photo how bearing and bit blades made contact- both bearing and blades hurt the guard.
 
 

 
I solved the problem by making a spacer to fit between pickguard and MDF and using a metal pickguard. ( it isn't tapered as the plastic may be and gave me the space needed for bearing to blades clearance.
 
( 1/2" MDF)
 
What started this? Just wanted to know I could make fitting or custom pickguards with different materials and it starts with templates. Maybe an inlayed one out of exotic wood? :) Uh oh...now I have to make a negative lol.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Gotta love guitar porn. 

Nicely done (as always).
 
Looks like you can have some real fun with PG's now.

Oh an inlay that sounds quite a neat idea

i watched my luthier go thru a similar set of experiments when he was augmenting a blank i bought from warmoth...
 
i had the bill lawrence cut in AFTER the fact, but it was a similar round of experiments before the final approach
 
 
but the one i ordered from warmoth was mostly done, it was easy to edit.
 
cutting from scratch? that's a bit scary...
 
good job on that

Very inventive. 

I can't see these pics (at work), but I'll give it a +1.

Thanks for joining in guys...wasn't sure it would be of interest.
 
Wookiee- I liked the inlay idea too but I'm still thinking...first time with stuff is a risk and sometimes very costly. I'm also not sure if that's a new idea but I don't recall ever seeing an inlayed guard. I'm attracted to seeing how it would look. I have seen pup covers made of wood and I know that sometimes to much of something can hurt the appeal.
I've heard the wood pup covers like to crack in time...
 
Drew- Thanks for the kudos- I hope to have some fun with it and maybe have a project to post so we can see how it works out.
 
Bat- "scary" is a certain. Routers scare the hell out of me and then experimenting combined ? It did cost me getting this far but at least there were no incidents. That was the original guard to that black anniv. Strat I posted not long ago...bummer there. I did tape it on so the taper was towards the wood to help give distance but it wasn't enough and the thin edge wasn't enough for the process...and I did go easy. Just not enough beef like that.
The spacer and the metal guard were keys. I don't know if a spacer and tapered plastic would work- probably- but I don't need to try that now.
I sand everything very close so the router doesn't have much work. That sure helps.
 
Jan - thanks...If I were more into video I'd post on youtube since I couldn't find help with making a template from a plastic pickguard...but unfortunately right now I'm not.
 
Mesh and Craig...

Spacey,

Do you have your router mounted to a table; basically making a table router out of it, so that the bit is stationary? With something like this, I am much more comfortable moving the part instead of the router.

Very cool. :)