In my never ending efforts to be a slacker and find easier, faster, and more reliable ways to accomplish the plethora of tasks that we are confronted with while crafting a guitar I picked up an "Easy Jointer" from Tracy at http://www.luthiersuppliers.com/.
This jig was created to assist builders with jointing tops, backs, and a few other things that I can think of. It is also far less expensive than a jointer or even a decent, tuned plane.
My Easy Jointer came several days after I ordered it and it was so simple to assemble that even a Luthier could do it...... AND without reading the directions either......
The unit takes seconds to assemble and no tools are required.
The Easy Jointer uses a very flat piece of glass (included I am very happy to say) and sand paper (mine came with 3M 120 grit "gold" fre-cut paper - the good stuff) to create a super straight edge on both plates of a top/back prior to gluing.
In the past for me joining a top, although I got better at it in time, was not always a quick operation. I would use a plane, candle in the window (wasn't that an Elton John song....) and touch-up as needed, and I always needed, with a level and "clean" self stick sand paper. You want to use clean paper if you have jointed a back recently since the darker back dust will stain a line in a light colored spruce top.
This jig promised to simplify the process for me and as a bonus the glass is wide enough so that I can turn it around and joint a back with the same piece of paper making it more economical too.
Here is the assembled unit - it is also small enough to store nicely out of the way when not in use and has a built in carry handle so you can walk around with it at OLF gatherings and be the envy of all your friends......
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Here is a side view where you can see that one side can be dedicated to backs and the other side dedicated to tops.
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I checked the upright against the base with a square and it was dead-nuts at 90 degrees.
Next I grabbed a stinkin Adi top that needed to be put away and without even hitting it with a plane first I moved it back and forth on the Easy Jointer for 25 strokes.
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Although I needed both hands to hold the top in the window when candling the joint came out perfect the very first time!!!!! And, as for me - I am thrilled - this jig will save me tons of time and frustration in the future.
Before I wrote this I sat down with the excellent directions, yep I read the directions after diving in like many of you probably do too....., and see that one can shim the jig if required for even better performance. Since I had no gaps this was moot to me.
When I ordered this jig I also decided to finally pick up some proper radius templates to replace the aging old braces that I currently trace to get my radiuses. As always I am thrilled with Tracy's products and it is very clear to me that he is one very bright, creative, and value conscience guy.
I highly recommend the Easy Jointer to all builders at any level of this pursuit. And while you are at it be sure to pick up Tracy's neck center-line finder too - I use mine all the time and it also works flawlessly!!!
Many thanks Tracy!!!!
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, prior I do touch up the high spots with 120 grit and so far no failures here.
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