Official Luthiers Forum!

What's the quick, easy, clean way to rout or otherwise excavate square-ended slots in a slotted peghead?
Such as this...
http://www.kevinkastning.com/photos/DKK_headstock1.jpg

If there's not a quick, easy, clean way, what's the other way?

Cheers,
Matt   :)

I haven't seen too many motorized cutters that will cut square corners except the powered mortise cutters
Do you think something like that would work used with a fence maybe.John How38705.6362962963

_________________
Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

That would be my recomendation but beware: you have to get the mortise bit perfectly parallel to the fence or your get a facetted cut.

I'd recomend using it only for squaring up the ends and then route the slots as usual.
You can also but attachments for your drill press that do this for about half the price.

What I would love to see is a jig that let you cut perfect ramps in these things every time.....

Matt... I just cut them with a large diameter bit first, then a small one to get back into the corners as close as possible then use a chisel to square up the corners. Not a very elegant process to be sure, but it works.

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I wouldn't used a power morticing bit. For threw holes they can make a mess out of the exit side. I cut square edges all the time when timber framing and furniture making I use a router to cut the slot (up-cut solid carbide spirals) and then use corner chisels to clean them out. My large corner chisel (which wouldn't work all that well for guitars) came from a specialty supplier who does not have a web-site but my smaller corner chisel is this one (the 3/8 inch unit) that I did by from Lee Valley (the large Sorby is too clunky, even for timber work!).

ShaneShane Neifer38705.6939351852

_________________
Canada

MATT
I use a jig from Chris at luthier tools.
http://luthiertool.com/combo_slothead_fixture.html
It comes out pretty close to square. It is an awesome jig for both slotting
and placing the tuner holes.
Andy
See attached pict of my current guitar peghead. It is on a web page because
I could not get it to upload.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com/headstock.htm

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Thanks azimmer, that's just what I was looking for!

Cheers,
Matt   :)

That tool is on my must have list, I like the fact that you can use the same tool for both steel and classical slots..

Buying one right after Xmas...

Speaking of that (sorry matt don't mean to take over your topic)... has anyone tried their binding tool??

Looks interesting...

-Paul-Sprockett38705.783287037

_________________
-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

[QUOTE=Sprockett]

Speaking of that (sorry matt don't mean to take over your topic)... has anyone tried their binding tool??

Looks interesting...

-Paul-[/QUOTE]

I really like the look of the binding tool. Because of the dual side bearings it references off the side and not the top/back. That is a good thing! The bad thing is that I'd need to buy about 5 of them. as I like to set up one and leave it be. So that would cost me $1000 plus the cost of the routers/bits.

Me thnks I'll stick to what I have now...

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Ditto on Chris' slothead jig. It's extremely well made and precise. I've used it on 2 heads so far and is simple to get high quality results.

_________________
JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

to use it for both steel and classical you need to order the combination
version which has both templates for slotting and both sets of bushings for
tuner holes.
Andy

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

I also have the binding tool and it is OK. I am having a problem with it in
that unless you hold it tight against the sides, it can tip over the edge of the
top a bit and cut too deep of a slot. I think I just need to practice with it on
scrap and get comfortable with it.
Andy

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Andy...

If you took his design there with the bearings riding on the side and hooked it up to something like LMI sells (that rides up and down) you would have an idiot proof binding machine, now to make it better put in the new Bosch laminate router with the microadjust height action and you could get really precise.

To John's point if someone would make one with either a digital dial or put a fine scale on it then you could just write down your settings and use one tool adjusting it for each operation would then be a snap...

Something to think about.... Man I wish I had access to a machine shop sometimes

-Paul-

_________________
-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

Not to derail this discussion completely, but one more thing regarding the binding jig: I have posted pictures of my home made jig that looks a lot like this. I get better results when I clamp the jig in a vise (so the bit is oriented horizontally) and turn the guitar body around. Many people like to do it this way, I know Martin does and I saw Julius Borges had a similar set up as well.

_________________
Rian Gitar og Mandolin