Thank you for purchasing a Flaxwood DIY kit

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Augustus Wright
6 years ago
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1 Thank you for purchasing a Flaxwood DIY kit We appreciate your decision to build the most suitable Flaxwood guitar for you. This builder guide will give you detailed information about the kit itself and it will guide you through how to work with the Flaxwood NFC material components in this kit. NFC - MATERIAL The famous Flaxwood Guitars have been produced out of components manufactured by injection molding NFC (Natural Fiber Composite) material. The NFC Material is already internationally well known among Musical Instrument manufacturers. The technology is patented by Flaxwood Oy, Finland NFC is a sustainable, ecological new material that is a mixture of wood fibers (bleached cellulose fiber) and acoustically sensitive polymers. The NFC properties are in many categories superior to those of traditional tone woods. NFC is virtually impervious to moisture, which makes Flaxwood components and especially the NFC guitar necks a great choice for instrument building. As a result of the very high stability and uniform density throughout the neck, there are virtually no dead spots. NFC Material also feels very comfortable and makes playing enjoyable in any conditions. The NFC material is workable and can be finished like any tone woods, with few exceptions. Please see details in the attached MSDS and follow this guide carefully.

2 MOF KIT - PART LIST 1. BODY AND PARTS 1 pc. Guitar Body (acc. your selection of color, pickup cavities, bridge type) 5 pcs M 4 screw insert, already assembled 2. NECK 1 pce Neck (according to ypur selection of neck angle low/high 1 pce Truss Rod Assy (already assembled) 1 pce Truss Rod cover pate (including a M4 screw insert) 1 pce M4 Screw for cover plate 1 pce Tune-X Nut (pre-shaped string slots) 3. BACK PLATE 1 pce. Back Plate (NFC Material) 5 pcs Connection Screws M4 BODY The Kit can be ordered with several body options, with two different color options. Body is always delivered pre-finished as follows: 1. Pick up cavities, neck pocket, holes for potentiometers and switch hole are ready made. 2. Screw inserts needed for the back plate connection are already assembled. (5 pcs)) 3. Neck pocket area is already cleaned and finished for glue joint. 4. Bridge post places are pre-made in molding but not drilled through the body as it allows you to use several bridge types.

Picture up: F-BODY yellow/brown after molding Picture down:

3 BODY TYPES F-BODY ( Flaxwood Liekki / CC-Custom) Body has f-hole and 2 pick up cavities for P90 type of pickups. Picture up: F-BODY yellow/brown after molding Picture down: F-BODY black/grey color backside view and a custom painted F-BODY

4 R-BODY (Flaxwood Rautia, Vasara & Äijä) Body has no f-hole and pickup cavities are designed for 2 humbuckers or active pickups. Picture: R-BODY yellow/brown, custom blueburst and gloss black color.

NECK You can select the neck with either High or Low angle. Neck color is always black. Technical specs: Scale: 25.5" ja Radius: 12" - 1st fret: 43.5 / 20.5 mm - 12th fret: 52.

5 L-BODY (Flaxwood Laine) Body without F-hole and pickup cavities designed for 3 single coil pick ups like in Strat. Photo: Flaxwood L-Body, yellow/brown vcolor Photo: Flaxwood Laine L-BODY with tremolo bridge, lipstick-pickups and with orangeburst finish. NECK You can select the neck with either High or Low angle. Neck color is always black. Technical specs: Scale: 25.5" ja Radius: 12" - 1st fret: 43.5 / 20.5 mm - 12th fret: 52.5 / 23 mm 22 frets The necks are always delivered with truss rod Ass'y and it is always preassembled at the factory. The neck has inlay cavities already molded Both truss rod cover plate and connecting screw are always included. The Flaxwood Tune-X-nut, is not preassembled.

6 Pictures: Neck with inlay cavities, nut and other parts. The neck can be delivered with fret slots already prepared, for an additional charge. Picture: Neck joint 3D design with very accurate finish fits perfectly to body s neck pocket.

7 BACK PLATE Back plate is a molded NFC part which comes with 5 pcs of connection screws M4. Note that the back plate comes only in black color. Pictures: Back plate installed into a body and alone.

8 Pictures: Body with neck assembled. Two different body colors.

Straight edge ruler, radius measuring tool and compressed air. Sanding belt used at Flaxwood is Mirka P80 Avomax Plus (www.mirka.

9 Picture: Screws, nut and truss rod cover plate. Straightening the neck (fingerboard) with belt sander Required tools and equipment: Belt sander (see photo). Straight edge ruler, radius measuring tool and compressed air. Sanding belt used at Flaxwood is Mirka P80 Avomax Plus ( NOTE: When sanding the NFC material avoid heating up the neck material too much. Therefore use low revs in the belt sander and clean & cool down the neck with compressed air several times during sanding process. Too much heat causes neck to be unstable and may cause unwanted bends.

Flaxwood necks have some dimensional variations after products are molded and they

Start sanding and use measuring tools (straight edge ruler & radius tool) continuously

Continue sanding until the neck is straight and has the correct radius.

10 Flaxwood necks have some dimensional variations after products are molded and they need to be straightened by using a belt sander. Start sanding and use measuring tools (straight edge ruler & radius tool) continuously while cleaning and cooling down the neck by using compressed air. Continue sanding until the neck is straight and has the correct radius. After sanding, let the neck cool down completely (approx. 2 hours) before beginning next process. Fine sanding and finishing of the fingerboard (Sand papers P240 ja P400) using manual vibrating sander. Required tools and equipment: Manual vibrating sanding tool with flat shape, Jig for neck, straight edge ruler and radius measuring tool.

Insert sand papers (P240) and remove marks from the

cool down the neck again with compressed air.

11 Insert sand papers (P240) and remove marks from the belt sanding. Clean and cool down the neck with compressed air. Finish the surface with P400 sand paper then clean and cool down the neck again with compressed air. Check out the straightness and radius once again. Note that bass side of the FGB can be left slightly lower.

If needed you can scrape off excess material with manual tools to get optimal fitting. 3.

12 GLUING THE NECK You need: Superglue Loctite 431 medium liquid / Loctite 454 gel (or equivalent) and press. 1.Clean carefully the glue area (IMPORTANT! Do not use aggressive solvents) 2. Test that parts fit together well. If needed you can scrape off excess material with manual tools to get optimal fitting. 3.Spread Loctite 434 gel superglue in the areas marked red in pictures. Note: Do not use too much glue as it spreads around in pressing.

. GLUING THE NUT You need: Loctite 431 or 401 superglue as above, scraper and P400 sandpaper

13 4.Additionally spread Loctite 431 superglue evenly and carefully to all inner surfaces of the neck pocket. 5.Press neck and body together and let dry at least 1 hour.. GLUING THE NUT You need: Loctite 431 or 401 superglue as above, scraper and P400 sandpaper 1.Clean the nut area well from any possible extra material left from molding process by using a manual scraper.

14 2.Sand nut (bottom side) straight and leave it rough. 3.Scrape a little angle into the nut 4.Test that nut fits well. 5.Glue with Loctite 431 or 401 superglue.

Better tone. Better world.

Better tone. Better world. Is it possible to use spruce to produce a tonewood that rivals the best exotic tonewoods? Is it possible that Flaxwood guitars, produced using this new patented material, have a strong vintage tone and