Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on December 21, 2011 at 5:56am

Are you making a neck from scratch for a 3 or 4 string, or using a stock 6 string neck?

In either case, your best bet is to put a neckstick or block thru' the can to give it some rigidity, unless you are going for a thru' neck build.

You can make cutouts in the can and thread a neckstick through, or simply use a can opener and take off one end.  

Permalink Reply by PhattyPatty on October 4, 2015 at 12:10pm

If you take off one end... stupid question... how do you reattach it later?

Permalink Reply by The Professor on December 21, 2011 at 6:21am

John. Thanks. After investigating a few pics I can see the need for this. I have a spare Ovation neck so I feel it is gonna need some good reinforcementt through the body. Never thought of a can opener.

Permalink Reply by Chris Thomas on January 28, 2012 at 12:05pm

Hi there,

I am thinking about making an oil can guitar and there are various videos on YouTube under the title "How to make a gas can banjo." One method I have seen was using an old guitar neck, drill into the end and cement a threaded rod in with two part epoxy, drill a hole in the top and bottom of the can thread through and secure with a nut on the bottom trapping a tailpiece for the strings, add a bridge the same distance from the nut to the twelfth fret and from the twelfth fret to the can and that seems to be about it. Old oil cans are hard to obtain as most are now plastic but there are food oil cans and empty cellulose cans that are good substitutes. I am also interested in biscuit tin guitars etc. Looking forward to seeing some builds of both, all the best mate, Chris. :)

Permalink Reply by Sumner McLain on September 25, 2012 at 5:21am

so when you use the can opener, how do you re attach the end?

Permalink Reply by colin mcgrath on September 25, 2012 at 8:14am

I had thought through this, but never attempted. Misinformation can be pointed out please. I have the idea that one can use thin pieces of wood, such as a square rod type cut, and lay them out in the perimeter on the inside of the body. kinda like a framing brace for the inside and attach removed metal to the framing, that might work.

Permalink Reply by Chris Thomas on September 25, 2012 at 8:42am

Hi Colin, never made one yet, I am honest, the best I have seen on my travels has no cut outs at all, threaded bar available all over the world for pence (cents) two part apoxy glued into the neck end and nuts applied with washers on the bottom of the oil can, seems to work well. Got some English cans that are modern and thinking about a respray to make them interesting, still looking for that elusive Shell, BP, Redex, even a GTX etc, which is relatively modern in the last two decades but sadly all are now plastic. Some modern with interest in the UK are water repelant cans, drive way sealant cans etc. Even those cans will dwindle and die as the plastic takes over so look now and hoard for the future mate, all the best Chris. Best advice I can (not a pun!) give is try and discover, experiment and learn, ask and be rewarded. Never fails!!!!!

Permalink Reply by colin mcgrath on September 25, 2012 at 9:01am

good deal, the best I have here serve a dual use for my $$; 3L olive oil cans. I have about 5 different ones. I thought of just making holes for the neck to go allway through and attaching with screws set from the top, seems easy enough. Maybe even fold the tabs from cut up and have extra thickness for screw attachment. I hew my own necks though so that is a factor.

listening to the youtube videos now, good info there.