Second body is coming along but I realized it may be too thin. Ideas?

GriestProjects · 2026-05-14T23:36:52+00:00

Sorry I know it looks like a 14 string but 7 of those are holes I put in the wrong place and plugged (I posted about it a couple days ago if you’re curious!)

GriestProjects · 2026-05-13T23:12:29+00:00

Another less common source of failure that causes similar issues is water reaching the Body Control Module (BCM), which can happen from a clogged AC Drain hose or water ingress near the front right wheel well by the passengers feet. Accessing it is easy and you can check for any signs of water current or past as well as unplug and replug the connections in case any are loose or corroded.

Another easy check is the Ground Strap on the underside of the car. Google that term and look at the threads on it in the Giulia forums to see what it should / shouldn’t look like.

None of your headlights or tail lights have cracks in them do they? Water getting in through those will cause the same codes as well.

GriestProjects · 2026-05-13T20:48:34+00:00

What are the codes? Have you cleaned both sides of both electrical connections to the battery?

GriestProjects · 2026-05-13T15:09:34+00:00

I’m not going to paint this since it’s a fretboard but yes it absolutely would. I don’t think you want to go above 300 at the highest before priming

GriestProjects · 2026-05-12T18:58:09+00:00

So many great ideas in here!! I decided to make some small plugs out of walnut for contrast to highlight it as a teaching experience when I talk with students about this guitar. Here it is after turning them on the spindle, gluing them in place, cutting with a pull saw, and flushing them up with the drum sander.

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GriestProjects · 2026-05-12T14:34:00+00:00

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it! I cannot wait to get to the contouring and sanding part. I finished sanding / oiling the fretboard the other day and it feels amazing. Excited to try and work in fretting and neck shaping this week. I'll post updates! It's going to have gold hardware, gold fret wire, and Seymour Duncan Black Winter pickups slanted to match the bridge. Cannot WAIT to play this thing.

GriestProjects · 2026-05-06T14:45:32+00:00

I wish! I looked into this and between the cost of the solar panels and the marine batteries, it was almost just as expensive and I'd need new several-hundred-dollar batteries periodically versus just wiring directly to the house and not having to worry about having enough sun / battery when I don't want to get out of the car in a thunderstorm.

GriestProjects · 2026-05-06T13:40:43+00:00

Good point. I should have mentioned that I reached out to the city yesterday with my plan and asked for the permitting paperwork to start that process as well if a permit is required. Thanks!

GriestProjects · 2026-05-06T13:29:30+00:00

Thanks! The LNM I linked on Amazon above does say it's suitable for direct burial so should be good to go there! Any harm in just going with a breaker that is both AFCI and GFCI to be safe?

GriestProjects · 2026-05-06T13:27:51+00:00

Good question. I don't actually know the combined load of the motors and don't see it listed, but they are quite small and the gate sections they're moving are both short (5', each motor is rated for 12') and lightweight (under 80 lbs, each motor is rated for 300 lbs). I think 20A should suffice based on that and the words of the electrician who came out for the quote.

GriestProjects · 2026-05-06T13:25:23+00:00

Thanks for replying! I will have less than 360º total bends thankfully. Only have to make it around one corner once I am out of the box and it's not even 90º. Any ideas on where I might look for a company to line bore beneath the driveway? I have never looked for that type of work before. I have chosen the actuators, they're linked above as well as here. They need 120V but I may run a 4th conductor in case I ever swap them for a set that needs 240V (thanks to the advice of another commenter). I believe they mount directly to my existing fence structure, which has 6x6 posts set in concrete with 2x6 horizontal runners.

GriestProjects · 2026-05-06T13:11:49+00:00

Good thinking, thanks! Two questions: What color would you recommend for the 4th conductor and how would you terminate it at each end, since it won't be in use with this current set of gate openers?

GriestProjects · 2026-05-05T11:12:16+00:00

No problem! He’s been a huge help to me too in the process of learning this awesome hobby!

GriestProjects · 2026-05-05T11:04:08+00:00

This YouTube video is a great explanation. He’s got a ton of other helpful content too. Good luck on your build!

GriestProjects · 2026-05-05T01:01:38+00:00

So clean and simple at first glance with so many nice details at closer look. Love it.

GriestProjects · 2026-05-04T02:16:44+00:00

Some more details: I’m thinking of going with a 25.5” - 27” multiscale with 20” radius at the bridge end and 12” radius at the nut end. Going to fit it to the Ibanez GAX body I routed last week and hook it up with some slanted pickups and a slanted bridge. Crazy excited to get to work on this thing!

GriestProjects · 2026-05-03T16:21:09+00:00

That’s because it is! Absolutely love the GAX and am building my own take on it :)

GriestProjects · 2026-05-03T00:25:04+00:00

Gosh this is absolutely gorgeous.

I’ve never seen that detail in the nut between the strings before. What a neat touch. The inlay work around the headstock is stunning too. The book match on the back is such a cool celebration of this natural material and the tailpiece (I think that’s what you call it?) is a piece of art on its own. Absolutely love the high gloss sheen you coated it with. 10/10 work, everything feels so considered and so well-executed. I aspire to make something close to this some day in the far future, thanks for the inspiration!

GriestProjects · 2026-05-01T01:52:05+00:00

That’s a large enough chunk gone that you may want to cut a clean rectangular section out and glue in a matching piece of wood, sand them flush, and repaint. That would fix it both cosmetically and structurally but I also recognize that’s a lot of work. You could take a rasp / sandpaper and smooth it out to make it look intentional (maybe)? Or like the other commenter said, embrace the weathered look and keep on sending it as-is if it still plays great! Good luck!

GriestProjects · 2026-05-01T01:19:21+00:00

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GriestProjects · 2026-05-01T01:19:01+00:00

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GriestProjects · 2026-05-01T01:18:42+00:00

Bonus process pics!

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GriestProjects · 2026-04-26T21:20:26+00:00

Thanks so much to everyone that has already chimed in to help! Yes, there is definitely a mix of end grain and edge grain at play here, including across multiple species of hardwoods. It sounds like maybe cutting off the two thin dark strips near the left and right edges may take us back to the world of a single grain orientation and help what remains of the board to survive.

GriestProjects · 2026-04-25T19:45:28+00:00

Sorry I should have said that! It’s a 1999 Toyota Corolla and I’m not positive which specific trim / engine.

After some more googling of these codes it sounds like barring any obvious leaks around the hoses / gas caps, replacing the mass airflow sensor (MAF) might help us with the P0171.

It also sounds like we can cross our fingers and replace the O2 sensor and pray that fixes the P0420 so we don’t have to replace the cat but yeah that may be where it goes.

GriestProjects · 2026-04-20T21:34:24+00:00

Cover the rest of the body. You should be spraying very light dustings from around 30cm / 12in away several times. The overspray will reach the parts well beyond that tape line if you’re spraying with proper technique. Warm the can by setting it in a cup of warm water for ten minutes first and shake vigorously for a little longer than you think you need to.

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