Wooden Guitar Slides!
by jeremymbates in Workshop > Woodworking
5598 Views, 26 Favorites, 0 Comments
Wooden Guitar Slides!
Today we built a wooden slide for guitar! We imitated a glass slide i already owned and went by instinct!
Materials!
For this project you will need:
- Natural straight section of tree branch
- Hand Saw
- Sandpaper
- Dremel tool w/ sanding bits
- Drill w/ bits
- Pencil
- Jigsaw (Optional)
- Natural straight section of tree branch
- Hand Saw
- Sandpaper
- Dremel tool w/ sanding bits
- Drill w/ bits
- Pencil
- Jigsaw (Optional)
Selecting the Branch!
You need to find a branch that is as straight as you can find and it needs to be about an inch or more thick (I am not sure what type of wood i used. It was a soft wood i found around my brackish pond in Virginia). I wouldn't get a branch thicker than an inch and a half. Once you find your section cut it off the main of the branch with the hand saw. This cut can be rough if you use the jigsaw the get a neater cut later.
This is a branch that i cut down the day i made the project and i figured that if you let your section of wood dry before starting it will be a little easier going.
This is a branch that i cut down the day i made the project and i figured that if you let your section of wood dry before starting it will be a little easier going.
Cutting the Length
Now you can get your slide (If you have one) and pick a spot that seems to be the straightest. Measure bigger than the slide just for safety room. The length you want to measure is 2 1/2 inches to 3 inches depending on your finger length (It will go on your first finger or your ring finger depending on preference). Then i put it in my vice grip and used my jig saw to get a nice smooth cut.
Peeling the Bark!
This step is pretty self explanatory. I peeled all the bark off to reveal the smoother wood underneath. The piece of wood i used had some worm (Or ant?) lines in it which is cool but i knew they'd be sanded off eventually.
Making the Hole
For this step i took my drill and a 9/16" bit to drill a hole straight through the wood. Now if you have bigger bits or a drill press, by all means go ahead and make it bigger. This was the biggest bit i had so i made due with what i had.
Then i took my dremel tool with a sanding bit and began to bore out the hole more and slowly made it pinky sized and then ring finger sized (I use it on my ring finger)
*Note* - With the wood i used still being wet my sanding bits were torn up easily and covered in wet chunks.
Then i took my dremel tool with a sanding bit and began to bore out the hole more and slowly made it pinky sized and then ring finger sized (I use it on my ring finger)
*Note* - With the wood i used still being wet my sanding bits were torn up easily and covered in wet chunks.
Sanding and Finishing!
Now you can break out that sand paper and begin to sand! I used a 60 grit and worked up to a 300 to give it a real smooth finish. I also recommend sanding the inside of it to let it feel better.
Here is where you can add decoration in wood burning but to keep it smooth i did not. I haven't put a lacquer on it because i needed mine to dry out a day or so. I assume lacquer will not affect the playability too much but as of now i cannot say.
Playing with it gives a thicker sound as opposed to a glass slide which can be...well more glassy haha.
Here is where you can add decoration in wood burning but to keep it smooth i did not. I haven't put a lacquer on it because i needed mine to dry out a day or so. I assume lacquer will not affect the playability too much but as of now i cannot say.
Playing with it gives a thicker sound as opposed to a glass slide which can be...well more glassy haha.
You're All Done!
Now you can take your hardwood picks (https://www.instructables.com/id/Hardwood-Guitar-Picks/) and your new wooden slide and wow your friends!!