My first mistake was cutting the scarf joint for the pegboard in the wrong direction.  In other words, I measured the correct distance for the head then angled my 15 degree cut toward the heel block end and not the other way.  I guess I can build a ukelele one day. 

Anyway, I received my new neck blank and cut it perfectly.  But, when I glued the scarf joint it was a little crooked.  I heated it and separated the joint then reglued it.  It looks great to me.

Without thinking, I glued the heel block before I planed the head stock to the 18 mm thickness recommended.  Then, I decided to plane the head stock on my jointer but the table was a little off so one corner was planed to about 17.5 mm while the rest is a little over 18 mm. 

In planing the head stock, I also moved the intersection of the headstock/neck joint relative to the heel block.  So then, I removed the heel block, shaped up the neck and now I've reglued the heel block despite the headstock being a little off as described above.

My next task will be to trim the heel block to be the width of the neck and the neck board to end at the heel block.  I'll do that tomorrow. 

Questions:  Is it really a problem that the head stock is slightly thinner in one corner?  I actually think the thin corner will  eventually be cut off cause the head is about 8 inches long from the intersection of the head and neck. 

Second question: In planing the heel to the same width as the neck, I was going to run it over the jointer.  The neck is currently 3 and 3/16 inches wide.  Will it hurt to trim that width ever so slightly so the neck and heel block are perfectly aligned? 

Final question:  Am I being overly concerned about these tiny differences in measurements?  I'm a beginner and most of my equipment is beginner equipment (Sears jointer $200 for example).  I can tune it pretty well but not perfectly.

Thanks

Rodney

Questions:  Is it really a problem that the head stock is slightly thinner in one corner?  I actually think the thin corner will  eventually be cut off cause the head is about 8 inches long from the intersection of the head and neck. 

Second question: In planing the heel to the same width as the neck, I was going to run it over the jointer. The neck is currently 3 and 3/16 inches wide. Will it hurt to trim that width ever so slightly so the neck and heel block are perfectly aligned?

Final question: Am I being overly concerned about these tiny differences in measurements? I'm a beginner and most of my equipment is beginner equipment (Sears jointer $200 for example). I can tune it pretty well but not perfectly.

Bruce, I've followed everything you've said........ tomorrow morning not so much LOL

Welcome Rodney.

Peter

Okay, I'm an attorney, actually a bankruptcy trustee to be specific.  That just means that I administer bankruptcy cases for those who file.  Anyway, I've always watched my Dad build--he currently builds guns--beautiful rifles from scratch.  He gets the stock and barrel blanks and carves them into stocks and barrels.  I get my desire to build things from his genetic pool.

Anyway, I've wanted to build a guitar for several years.  I started the research, then about 2 or 3 Christmases ago I ordered a kit from LMI.  It sat until this year when I started working on it.  It's been fun and challenging, especially since I don't have a lot of woodworking experience.

I'm building a classical, flamenco guitar.  I chose it because I like to play classical guitars (not necessarily classical music).  I have a couple of dark colored classicals and the flamenco kit was blond.  I don't have a blond guitar. 

I guess my favorite hobby is scuba diving but I live in The Woodlands, Texas and to dive I have to drive 1 and 1/2 hours to the coast then take a boat 2-4 hours offshore.  We can't go if the seas are rough and they've been really bad this year.

I'm an outdoor enthusiast so sailing, kayaking, and anything else outdoors is fun to me.

Building guitars is my equivalent to my Dad's building guns.  I want to do it and i want to do it well.  I hope to be able to retire one day, if I can ever get my kids out of college.  In that instance, it would be nice to be able to have the skills to make a really high quality guitar.  I expect that all the guitars I build will be acoustic and mostly classical. 

I had to "tune"  my jointer because the infeed table was crooked.  It was an easy adjustment. 

Regarding pictures, I've been keeping a photo journal of my guitar building efforts.  I'll try to get some pictures posted of me and my guitar neck!  I don't have much experience uploading photos.  I have to learn to reduce them from the camera size to a reasonable size to post, which I will do. 

I'm a self taught guitarist and have always played at home, watching tv with my wife.  It shows in my lack of skill.  When I started this guitar I was determined to get input from others all along the way and I learned about this forum and it fit my needs perfectly.

Finally a question.  Do I need to get the jig for drilling peg holes on a classical guitar?  I have a drill press and thought it might work fine if I can get the head set up correctly for a straight drill.  That would make the jig unnecessary.  I think I would be better off spending that money on the really nice bending iron that LMI sells.

Now, was that too long?

Sailor

Rodney,

google stanley Doweling jig, you can make one out of a hardwood, the stanley has metal bushing to guide the drill bit ( it will last longer)

Peter

Rodney,

google stanley Doweling jig, you can make one out of a hardwood, the stanley has metal bushing to guide the drill bit ( it will last longer)

Peter

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I cannot believe it.  I have tools handed down to me from my uncle who died a couple of years ago.  I went out to the shop, searched around and found the Stanley jig.  In addition there is a general revolving turret Doweling Jig.  Cool.  I don't have to buy anything.

Rodney