| Official Luthiers Forum! http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/ |
|
| Neck carving jigs? need some help please. http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=15865 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | Rod True [ Tue Feb 12, 2008 5:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
I have a couple of ideas for holding the neck while carving but I thought I would see if anyone out there has anything new of sorts. I've looked in the archives and well, there's just to many posts that say "neck holder" or "neck carving" etc.... JJ, you mentioned in you "Workbench finally completed" thread that you made a new neck carving jig. Got any pictures? And apparently John How has something really cool too but the pictues isn't on the forum anymore. Anyone else have some pictures to post, I would appreciate it. |
|
| Author: | LuthierSupplier [ Tue Feb 12, 2008 6:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
Rod, Here is a link from my website that shows how to carve a neck. This video is from Edward Dick's Guitar Building class. It is just a 2x4 screwed to the workbench with a router pad. Very simple. http://www.luthiersuppliers.com/products/videop10/vid10-1.html More videos here: http://www.luthiersuppliers.com/products/p10-2.html Enjoy! |
|
| Author: | Bob Garrish [ Tue Feb 12, 2008 6:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
I used to just stick them vertically in a vise by the tenon end before the Fadal (well, and before I used the belt sander) If I were committed to carving necks by hand, I'd make something analogous to what was shown. A piece of 2x4, cut thinner than your neck width, and just double-stick-tape the blank down onto it and carve away. This doesn't work so well for those that carve the neck after fretting, though. If you're going all the way, then use vacuum instead of the DST to hold the blank down. I don't tend to stick necks on it, but I have such a fixture on my bench I use to hold fretboards while I install and level inlay. |
|
| Author: | Rod True [ Tue Feb 12, 2008 6:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
Ahhhhhh, vacuum clamp. I keep forgetting I've got a vacuum pump now (haven't used it yet). Good idea Bob, just need to go to HD and get some close cell foam and I think I have a great idea. Thanks! Keep the ideas coming though please. |
|
| Author: | JJ Donohue [ Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
Rod...I don't have any pictures but here's what I do: 1) Band saw the two blanks from a 3"x4" block 2) Establish a 15* angle and plane dead flat surfaces on the FB and Headstock 3) Rout the truss rod slot and CF slots while all is still straight and square. 4) I use the Wooson jig to rout the tenon with the matching angle 5) Shape out the back side of the neck on a belt sander jig. I thickness at this stage to approx .750" 6) Thickness back side of the headstock to .500" 7) Bandsaw rough headstock and neck taper to within 1/8" of the line. 8) From this stage onward I clamp the neck to a 2x6x24 board that has 1.5" holes strategically placed to clamp the neck. This board is solidly clamped in a heavy vise on my heavy maple bench...it doesn't move a millimeter. The board also has a cutout to accommodate the heel on one side. On the same side, I have also angled an end to accommodate the angled headstock. My goal is to tightly secure the neck so that I can use a spokeshave, rasp and files. On the opposite side of the board it is just flat to clamp down the neck in order to shape the back surface of the neck. 9) I carve out most of the contour before gluing on the fretted FB with epoxy. 10) Final shape with 80, 120 and 220 grits. I shoot for about .840" at the 1st fret and taper to about .890" at the 8th fret. Neck carving is one of my favorite parts of making the guitar. I hope I described this in an understandable fashion. Fire away with any questions if I confused you. |
|
| Author: | peterm [ Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
I think Rod wants to see fixtures that hold the neck in place while carving..... |
|
| Author: | Rod True [ Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
You're right peter, but I certainly don't mind hearing someone else's neck making procedure. Mine is very similar to JJ's anyway. Peter, you have any pics of your neck shaping jig (if you have one that is)? |
|
| Author: | JBreault [ Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
I modeled my jig off of Mario's. Here's a link to his: Mario Proulx neck construction |
|
| Author: | JJ Donohue [ Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
Mine looks like a lot like Marios...except I have holes drilled in the center of the board for clamps. |
|
| Author: | grumpy [ Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
As simple and crude as that 2x4 appears, it's vintage '90s(it may actually be my very first ever '"jig") and to this day, I can't fault it. At no point have I ever thought "gee, I need to do -this- better". |
|
| Author: | GHatcher [ Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
Rod: I don't have a picture and I have not built this jig,but I ordered a back issue of American Lutherie with a description of a router jig for carving necks. I came across this in the archive section of MIMF and have seen similar jigs either here or at MIMF. With this jig the neck blank is mounted to a rail that pivots in a circular arc under the router. The taper is created by one end sitting lower under the router. The router travels on rails above the blank. Someone has posted a similar jig that uses a sander rather than router. If you are looking for something to hold the blank while you carve by hand, this is not for you. I decided at this point,this was not for me, but it was interesting to see how it worked. Greg |
|
| Author: | Alain Desforges [ Tue Feb 12, 2008 11:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
Rod, I use a simpler approach. If the fingerboard is glued on already, I just hold the extension with my teeth and the head stock between my feet. If the finger board isn't on there, I just manage to hold it between my knees... Head back to basics, man. You'll never regret it. Just be careful if you intend to use a chain-saw for the rough shaping. |
|
| Author: | Rick Hubka [ Tue Feb 12, 2008 11:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
I purchased this Handrail Shaper Bit on Ebay for seventy bucks. I will be trying it this weekend. A quick check has me thinking it will get me 90% there on the neck straight section. Here's hoping... MMMmm... The board says... "Sorry, the board attachment quota has been reached." Oh... I saw what Todd did. http://www.hubka.com/guitar/fz-8646.jpg http://www.hubka.com/guitar/FZ-8646-1250.jpg http://www.hubka.com/guitar/FZ-8646-2250.jpg Got to love that edit button ![[:Y:]](./images/smilies/smiley20.gif "Thumbs Up")
|
|
| Author: | Terence Kennedy [ Tue Feb 12, 2008 11:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
Here's mine. One of my kids got it from Martin back in 1997 and I inherited it. Works great. Terry 
|
|
| Author: | Dave Fifield [ Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:08 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
Just a quick note to say thanks to all who have posted in this thread - I'm just at the neck carving stage on my first guitar and have found all of your photos and explanations to be most valuable! THANKS!! ![[clap]](./images/smilies/smiley32.gif "adulations")  Cheers, Dave F. |
|
| Author: | Rich Schnee [ Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
Terence Kennedy wrote: Here's mine. One of my kids got it from Martin back in 1997 and I inherited it. Works great. Terry I use a similar jig and it works well. If you are carving the neck prior to gluing the fingerboard, rout a slot down the middle of your jig that is the same size as your truss rod rout and put a spline in it. That will keep the neck in place and you will only need a single clamp on the headstock. |
|
| Author: | npalen [ Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
[img][/img] This fixture has a pivot that is locked with the handle on the end. That pivot combined with tilting in and/or turning the vise lets me work comfortably while carving as well as finish sanding the neck. The body pieces of the fixture are the aluminum 8020 type extrusions which keeps it lightweight. I have several closeups of the various details of the fixture is anyone is interested. Nelson |
|
| Author: | Terry Stowell [ Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:38 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
We're interested! This is the place... |
|
| Author: | John How [ Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
Rod True wrote: And apparently John How has something really cool too but the pictues isn't on the forum anymore. I wouldn't neccesarily say mine is so cool but much like Marios 2x4, it works. It is a leftover 1 1/2" thick piece of laminated beam about 10" wide and as long as a neck. It has a clamping surface like a negative of the fingerboard/headstock. You just lay the neck on it and clamp the headstock and heal down, tighten it up in a vise and start carving. I'll try to post a picture tomorrow. Now that my slow dialup has finally loaded the rest of these pics, I see that mine is much like the one Terrance is using. |
|
| Author: | npalen [ Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
I'll post some closeups later today. |
|
| Author: | npalen [ Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
This fixture is probably overkill. Some of my favorite and most used tools are more in the line of Mario's 2x4. |
|
| Author: | Erik Hauri [ Thu Feb 14, 2008 3:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
grumpy wrote: As simple and crude as that 2x4 appears, it's vintage '90s(it may actually be my very first ever '"jig") and to this day, I can't fault it. At no point have I ever thought "gee, I need to do -this- better". Is that an angle grinder I see in that photo?!?! 
|
|
| Author: | Jimmie D [ Thu Feb 14, 2008 3:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
Double sided tape on a 2 X 4 works just fine and no clamping issues. Jimmie Sorrels Germantown, TN |
|
| Author: | Wes McMillian [ Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck carving jigs? need some help please. |
Erik Hauri wrote: Is that an angle grinder I see in that photo?!?! Yep, Mario likes to live on the edge! Actually, I use one myself, but with one of these. With a 40 grit, it hogs off lots of material, and QUICK, but still leaves a decent finish... |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC - 5 hours |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|
