Is CNC Faster Than Traditional Woodworking?

In this video, I will try to answer the question of whether CNC is faster than traditional woodworking techniques when building a guitar. If you would like to help support my channel and get something cool in return, please consider the following:
www.eguitarplan...
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[@kennyayala6189]

Really insightful! I definitely think blending modern technology with traditional knowledge is the way to go, and you laid out in a really concise way what a difference it can make. I'd personally like to see a video on what you do with the leftover/scrap wood after CNC-ing guitars -- any unique jigs or DIY tools you've made from repurposing wood leftover from a project? (First one that comes to mind is finish testing, but I have to imagine there's been some other cool uses too!)

[@ApexWoodworks]

This has to be one of the best explanations I've see on CNC vrs traditional guitar making. Outstanding!

[@HighlineGuitars]

Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.

[@gaiustacitus4242]

The way to avoid the learning curve is to hire a CNC professional to develop the programs, select the tooling, design and build any fixtures required, documentation, etc., and then teach you how to run the various jobs. I used to do this for shops in my area. This allowed operators to be highly productive when they only knew how to follow the documentation to set up the fixtures, place the clamps, set the tools, and run the CNC machine. These skills can be taught in only a few hours.

[@MilkenCookies84]

Another big benefit of CNC that I'm not sure if you mentioned is consistency. If you're making multiple guitars from a single file, barring machine and material setup issues, you'll always get the same result. It takes the human factor out of the equation, and we all make mistakes or have bad days. Thank you Chris for all of your amazing videos!

[@HighlineGuitars]

I didn't mention consistency because the subject of this video was speed only.

[@drniksguitargarage]

I am just getting started with the CNC and it’s been great so far. I think CNC has so much to offer that it would be negligent to look away. Thank you so much for your videos, they are really really helpful.

[@ltgray2780]

Look forward to the 3D build.

[@miltonfriedman9673]

Having done both, CNC by a mile. i can cut a body, fretboard and neck in half a day compared to templates and hand shaping which takes 2 days grinding awayat least. Also after cutting necks on the CNC I would rather get a root canal than going back to hand shaping. The learning curve was tough but I also had a career in Autocad and design prior so that helped.

[@thomasbreene893]

Oh my goodness. Are you serious? I think I recently saw a Tim Sway video where he was working on a 3D printed guitar. You're going to make us wait a couple of months??? Because, seriously, I just don't see it. What plastics, etc., will have the rigidity needed for a neck? And yet you just held up a 3D printed neck. Super excited to see that series, because you know that the material has to produce certain results, have certain properties, to work on a stringed instrument. Totally jazzed to see how this turns out!!! (Bearing in mind, I bought a carbon-fiber-based instrument in 1994 or so: a Modulus Quantum Q6 bass with a graphite neck. Still have it.)

[@dalgguitars]

One thing to consider is the noise level CNC machines make. If you live in a high density situation, running a router for several hours a day may not be good for neighbor relations. Especially now that many neighbors work from home. (I know Chris is going to fight me on this. But I WON my last fight with him so I look forward to his snarky comments!)(Kisses to Chris.)

[@HighlineGuitars]

Why would I fight you on this?

[@mikaerik]

Dedicated spindle is much quieter than a router and water cooled spindle is even quieter than air cooled spindle.

[@ScheltemaBoutiqueGuitars]

Great video, we have a inc but still in the testing and learning curve, in the meantime its templates, router table and my famous neck shaping jig, a poor mans inc. lol The CNC to me is meant to do the majority of the grunt work while the final finesse is in the hands. Of course intricate inlay work will be handed off to the CNC, I mean lets be real.

[@zeusapollo8688]

That was an excellent video. Thanks

[@scottakam]

CNC is faster for sure. Especially when making the same parts multiple times. One factor you didn't mention related to task of learning CNC is, do you use it often enough to remember how to do it? If you use CNC a couple times a year, you may find yourself climbing the hill over and over. 3D printing and laser engraving/cutting is a great way to get into the CAD/CAM world without as big an investment as a CNC router.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Set my reminder.

[@johnnycab8986]

Another giant benefit is that it's much safer. Much less time exposing your hands in close proximity to high powered, spinning sharp metal.

[@dantahoua]

Good exemple : I use my bench saw with a special blade for fret slotting. Way faster to do it this way. I use the cnc for fret slotting only for special scale length.

[@HighlineGuitars]

You can't cut blind fret slots with a bench saw.

[@dantahoua]

@@HighlineGuitars yes you're right, when I want blind fret slots, I also use the cnc 😊

[@JagStar]

I'm in! 😎

[@runedahl1477]

CNC will definitely be something to do the raw cutting if you are running a guitar building business but for people like me that only build guitars for personal pleasure it will not be worth the investment or effort. It will make the build quality constant. Still if you are a professional there are many things that is better be done by a human (fretwork, binding,inlays,etc.) Even at Harley Davidson where robots due most of the welding when they build the frame of the V-rod they still have human welders to weld certain areas where the machines can not do it properly. As for 3D printed guitars I am not so keen about. As a project it will be fun to do but I would not buy one. Yes, there have been guitars built with acrylic bodies but they were not a commercial success. Since the fifties the guitars have not evolved much. Leo and Les found the right material and shapes then and most modern guitars are more or less copies of the Stratocaster, the telecaster,the SG , the 335 and the Les Paul. Ok electronics have evolved but the basic is still the same. As for printed guitars to traditional built guitars if would be like comparing a MacDonald restaurant to one that have Michelin stars.😊😊😊

[@HighlineGuitars]

McDonald's revenue for 2023 was $25.4 billion dollars. All of the Michelin restauants combined would only amount to a tiny fraction of that.

[@runedahl1477]

@@HighlineGuitars Yes, the profit for McDonals was high but when it comes to the quality of the products that they sell the Michelin restaurants are in a different league. Imagine mass produced plastic guitars being spewed out of china and sold for 10 dollars a piece. Already there are guitar kits available that have a fairly good quality and are being sold so cheap that it cost less than the components of other guitars. It would be really bad if they flooded the market with cheap plastic guitars.🤠🤠🤠

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@runedahl1477 It would be really good to flood the market with cheap high quality plastic guitars.

[@runedahl1477]

@@HighlineGuitars high quality plastic guitars is only a dream. To get a really good instrument you need a skilled craftsman. Why is that after several hundred years nobody has been able to copy a Stradivarius violin properly yet. In spite of all the scientific progress they have not been able to solve the mystery and the secrets behind these instruments. Scientists have analyzed the wood,the structure and the varnish used but still they don’t know the answer. Maybe the climate in Italy at the time they were made? What kind of soil did the trees used grow on? All just speculation. For a period Ovation was very popular among folk music players and it has a plastic body. However it does not have the same resonance as a 100% wood guitar so a lot of the musicians returned back to their Martins or maybe they bought a Taylor. Still it can be fun to see and most of all hear the result of your 3D printing.🤠🤠🤠

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@runedahl1477 With modern audio software, you can make a cheap, plastic violin sound like a Stradivarius.

[@joewg3]

I bet cleaning up alone after using a traditional router takes longer than the entire CNC carve!!

[@spikeafrican8797]

I can envision a time when C&C machines with AI software are so competent, simple and cheap that anybody could participate. Now throw in the same attributes for a home plek machine and you've got a wack of depression on the horizon for local luthiers 😢