Strata

How about we put some of these templates to work?

I used some double sided tape and one clamp to attach the first template to the body blank.

Keep in mind this is the deepest cut.  Each successive cut will be shallower and each successive template will be smaller (see pictures below).  Because this cut was so deep (about 1/2 an inch) - I made it using three passes.  Same as when I was routing out the body shape - I used a template tracing bit.

My process for each of these templates/layers was the same - trace the template until I bumped into the clamp with the router base - then turn off the router - move the clamp and then finish the cut around the body with the router.  Because I made three passes on this first one at different depths - I completed all three passes and then moved the clamp.  It just seemed easier.  All of the other templates got one pass because the cuts were so shallow.

Let's be clear.  This process was not without issues and errors.  I ended up going over my work (ostensibly to clean up my cuts) and ended up making bigger messes.  See below for what happens when you tilt the router a little bit.  Those should be fine seeing as I started out with a body blank that is so thick.  But it's adding more clean-up work that I didn't need to do.

Just a little slip of the wrist

Just a little...
...oh bugger...

The below picture is after using five of the templates (only two more to go!).
It was at this point that I realized my math was a little faulty.  Each stratum is supposed to be about 1/16 of an inch.  The first (lowest) one should be a little bigger (maybe 1/8th of an inch).  Mine were all over the place.  I did use a Profile Copy Gauge to measure the heights of each layer - but I didn't start using it until the third stratum - and that made all the difference.  Long story short - I only used six templates for this build instead of seven.  At the end of the day - it shouldn't make too big of a difference - these were just to help me save time.  There was always going to be some serious sanding and scraping in my future - with or without using all seven templates.

Raggedy Man

It looks like I sneezed.
...a lot...

You may have noticed I drilled the holes for the volume pots, tone pots, and pick-up switch.  I did those on a whim.  They are in the right place - but on the next Les Paul I build - I'll wait until after I have finished the top carve before I drill them.  They didn't get in the way - but there was a chance I could have created a tear-out when routing around them.

Just remember - none of this will be here soon.

I'll be honest.  This was a bunch of work - and it didn't look all that stellar.  I walked away from this day feeling a bit down.  I was having a hard time 'seeing the whole board' and was focusing on how poorly this particular move had gone.  It's good to remember - we're working with wood.  Most mistakes are fixable.

That's some quality work right there.