I built and hydrodipped a DIY guitar body, which is modeled after a 1980s Ibanez JEM from Steve Vai’s Passion and Warfare cover. The process of hydro-dipping a guitar is also known as a swirl dip, swirl paint, or swirling. I used basic woodworking skills to build the guitar body, and the swirl paint finish is inspired by Steve Vai’s Ibanez JEM guitar. I’ve seen a lot of videos about how to swirl dip or hydrodip a guitar, but I’ve never seen anyone use woodworking skills to build the guitar body from scratch before swirl-dipping it, so I decided to try it. I also couldn’t find any videos showing how to make the Steve Vai Ibanez JEM body shape by hand, so I hope people find that interesting too. :)
For the woodworking aspect, I used my X-Carve CNC to make the templates for the guitar body. I then used a router to cut the neck pocket, pickup cutouts, and cutout for the Floyd Rose tremelo. I then used hand tools to carve the two signature features of Steve Vai's JEM guitar - the monkey grip handle and lion's claw tremolo cutaway. For the hydro-dip, I went with Magic Marble paints -- they make swirl dipping easier than any other type of paint I tried (including Humbrol, 1Shot, and Rustoleum). I then used Spraymax 2k clear coat to give the guitar a glossy finish.
// INVENTABLES CNC \\
o Sign up for FREE EASEL account: http://bit.ly/2X1SDtn
o Inventables X-Carve CNC: http://bit.ly/2J9u1df
// FOLLOW ME \\
o Instagram: @modustrialmaker - https://goo.gl/F4UdEs
o Blog: https://www.modustrialmaker.com
// PARTS & PRODUCTS FOR GUITAR BUILD \\
o Magic Marble paints: http://bit.ly/2PgShiv
o Spraymax 2k Gloss Clear Coat: https://amzn.to/2W8OaX9
o Rustoleum Spray Paint + Primer: https://amzn.to/2PfVDC9
// GUITAR BUILD RESOURCES \\
o How to Clear Coat a Guitar: https://youtu.be/2YVDPZ7ZPIg
o Swirl Dipping Master (Eye Candy!): http://bit.ly/2MJcGe7
// TOOLS \\
o Router #1 (Metabo HPT / Hikoki 2.25hp): https://amzn.to/36czcUG
o Router #2 (Metabo HPT / Hikoki 3.25hp): https://amzn.to/32LZ0Vp
o Drill & Impact Driver Kit: https://amzn.to/2NcYXv5
o SawStop Table Saw: https://amzn.to/2YBfNrH
o Rockler Router Table Links:
- Cast Iron Top: http://bit.ly/31OkcsN
- Pro Fence: https://amzn.to/2JmOP22
- Router Table Base: https://amzn.to/31Kudaj
- Pro Lift Router Table Insert: https://amzn.to/363vrRi
o Router Bit – the ULTIMATE Template / Flush Trim combo for Guitar Building: https://amzn.to/2Wb5LgS
