There I was happily profiling my body and the router bit goes and tears out a bit of wood.
Just wondering what best to do? I have the piece of wood that broke out
My next go with the top bearing router bit would take me a good bit below the damaged area but with the bearing still running above the damage. Then I would be changing to the bottom bearing bit. Then I could trim the missing piece glue it back in and sand it flush.
OR
I could carry on with the routing then subtly alter the shape of the body in that area.
OR
I could shut up the workshop and go have a beer!!🤣🤣
Any ideas or advice greatly appreciated.
All the Best,
Brian Â

@brie
Its happened to us all, and it'll probably happen again. Thats good advice from @swepri not to be too greedy with the cuts. Your first reaction to stop and have a beer was the right thing to do. Gluing the piece back in was the next right thing to do, that usually turns out just fine.

Thanks for the replies guys. Been having trouble getting logged on, hence the delay in replying.
Next passes with the router much shallower, then a pass with the bottom bearing bit - that might have to be a deeper cut.
Modify it, I do it all the time. I'm never aiming for an exact shape, just similar lol

@nsj It may end up being the solution, but I’m going to try other ways (see my reply to Dan).
Everything is a learning experience. The beer definitely helped, so I think I might have another one, some chicken curry and dhall..........Mmmmmm.
Thanks for the reply.
Brian 👍😃
@brie, I feel you you, man!
I had a router booboo at a similar point. Although your area is larger, I'm not certain if the tear out is any deeper than mine?
I filled the hole with mahogany wood dust and super glue and carried on once it was dry. It was a good match but I was certain it would be obvious.
Once I'd completed all the sanding and oiled it was impossible to find. The sanding had rinsed all my troubles away!
If the torn out bit still fits snuggly, if be tempted to glue it back in place and reprofile with the router once dry rather then change your design. Or use the wood dust and superglue trick. Â
Either way, I think be the time you get to final sanding it will be unnoticeable.
Definitely have the beer to help decision making!
Â
Dan

@liebe Thanks Dan, the beer has definitely helped🤣
Your experiences are encouraging, didn’t want to end up with a repair I would see every time I pick up the guitar!!
What I think I’m going to do is continue routing, then glue the piece back in once I’ve trimmed it down a bit. If that goes to Rat SH 1 t, then I’ll have the fill with glue and sawdust to fall back on. If that doesn’t work then a bit of reshaping will do the trick hopefully!!
Thanks mate, nice to know we’re not alone in our troubles!!👍😃🎸

@brie that sounds like a plan!
When I did my bad thing, I didn't want to change the shape of the body, but reshaping is always an option.
@nsj is correct and has much more experience than me, I just wanted to say 'don't panic!' What looks horrific and world ending when it happens quickly becomes something with a solution and actually not a big deal in the end.
If you are continuing with the routing before you glue the piece back in, just be careful the guide bearing isn't going to touch the damage area, it it will just replicate it in the section below.

@liebe Just a couple of passes with the router left to do, top bearing bit will pass above the damage and the bottom bearing bit will pass below, so all should be well.👍
Tomorrow’s another day, onwards and upwards 👍😃🎸