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I usually buy mine pre slotted from LMI, but they have been out of stock and will not have them ready until the middle of Feb. I have thought about buying one of the miter box slotting setups from stew mac. Does anyone have one of these? I think they cost about $65.00. The one from LMI is really nice, buy really expensive, about $250.00 I think. Any thoughts or comments are appreciated.

Colby,

I am in the same situation! So, I hope we get some great suggestions on this thread.

Jeff

Here is some good advise, providing you have a table saw.
Buy the blade from Stew mac or LMI and slot your own. I just bit the bullet and did this my self, the blade was 80 bucks, and it came with the pin, the template was around 30.00 I think, at any rate, I feel Liberated to be able to do my own boards FINLAY!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

If you going to make more than 1 or 2 guitars buy the one Lance is talking about, of course you do need a table saw.

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

I've got the Stew-Mac mitre box, and I need to replace my (cracked and superglued back together) slotting template at some point, I think. Works fine hand slotting as long as you get a good saw; I'm using a big ol Japanese crosscut saw, unbacked, with the mitre box and that works quite painlessly.

By contrast, StewMac's Fretting Saw is the singular product I've found in their catalog that isn't worth half the money you pay for it.

Mattia, are you talking about there table saw blade? or a had saw?

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I'm set up with the table saw system. Have several blades (.023 & .027), Scales include 24.9, 25.4, 25.7 and 27.5...soon to have a couple scales in mm for classical and/or alternate steel strings.
So, if you're in dire straights, I'll take on some slotting duties on a limited basis. Contact me offline.

Lance, their original hand saw. They've since flipped the blade so it cuts on the pull, it seems, but cutting ebony with that thing was hellish. Had to wax the blade every stroke, or at least every other stroke, right from the beginning. I finally snapped after finishing a fretboard using it, spending 3 hours sawing, sweating, pain in my arms, stiff neck, and one fingerboard on.

So I hit up Axminster, got a haussanume crosscut saw (big, huge thing, almost 2 foot long including the 1 foot handle, has a .5mm kerf which is a little narrow, but a few scrapes with Stewmac's fret slot chisel widens it up to the right size). Man, what a difference. It requires a mitre box and a light touch or it will wander, but it cuts a fret slot in about 5-7 easy, no-stress pull-strokes. All it takes is the stewmac mitre box/template setup (which I do like, and which is quality stuff), and about 15 relaxed minutes per board, simply paying a little attention to what I'm doing, no major exertion.

If I had a table saw, I'd get set up for that, but frankly I don't build enough instruments right now for it to be worth it. I occaionally set up my router radiussing set (which thicknesses the boards automatically, pretty much), radius 3-4 boards, slot them, and I'm set for a year. Takes all of 2-3 hours.

I was also buying my boards pre slotted from LMI. Since they have been out of stock and I really needed some boards I decided to invest in their manual slotting system (I don’t have a good table saw). Haven’t tried it yet, but it sure looks nice. And yes it is very expensive.

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
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House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
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If you are not ready or up to the task of slotting fingerboards, and LMI and others are out of stock, I would recommend Walter Lipton of Euphonon in New Hampshire. I dont have the contact info handy but if you search (via google or any other search site) for Euphonon, someone made a pdf of Walter's pricelist that lists everything you need to know. He doesnt have a website but will talk to anyone and will ship COD if needed.

In the past when I didnt have the confidence to slot my own boards, I found Walter. He has been a Luthier for many years (I have bought from him as long as 22 years ago) and always has the best quality and prices. He is a straight shooter gives advise freely. He can handle slotting and radiusing fingerboards in any scale or radius you might need. One cool he that he provides that I dont know of any other supplier soes is for Classical fingerboards if asked he can taper the fingerboard in thickness (thicker at the nut tapering toward the saddle) which is one of the ways that some Classical Luthiers adjust for action.

I find my system works perfectly for me. I wander into David Dykes pick the fingerboard blank I want - I like rosewood - one of the boys takes it while I go into the office for a coffee and a chat. By the time I've finished my mug, my fingerboard is delivered radiused and slotted. Works perfectly every time no aching arms no big bucks to Stew Mac! Mind you I think the air fare might be a disincentive to most of you.

This is the sort of mechanical operation, like cutting kerfing, that I see no point in doing myself. As I say, life's too short to stuff a mushroom!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Yeah, I’ve got a table saw. I’m thinking about getting one of those blades from stew mac. Do you use there fretting templates just for marking or do you attach it to the fretboard somehow when slotting? I’m confused.

The blank fretboard is attached to the template with double sided tape. The template notches locate on a pin that is set in the cutting sled (if using a table saw). After each cut, you relocate the template to the next notch and repeat the cutting process. Voila! A slotted fretboard in about 3 minutes.

Euphanon does have a Google catalog. Just follow this link.

Euphonon catalogDon A38381.82375

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

Thanks dudes everything is clear now!

The Euphonon catalog looks good, he has great prices.

Euphonon

This is just the strings part of his business. You have to ccall for lutherie supplies.
Mike Mahar38383.3591435185