Official Luthiers Forum!

Since there's no generic tool section on the forum, I'll ask here. What do you guys prefer to shape necks with? On my first build I used a really cheap rasp and a spokeshave, and of course, lots of sandpaper. I've been looking at the Dragon hand cut rasps on stewmac, and luthiers mercantile carries what's called a saw rasp, which I can get for about $35 at Lee Valley. They both seem like they would work really well, but I'm torn on which one to try out. I'm leaning toward the saw rasp, as I can source it a lot cheaper, and I picture it working really well. does anyone have experience with either of these? Any other tools you would recommend? I can keep using what I have, but the rasp I have digs so deep, it's a LOT of sanding to get all the scratches out.

Lee Valley also carries a lot of other files and rasps, all of which seem to be excellent quality, and better pricing than the stewmac ones, but being relatively new to the wood working world, I'm not quite sure WHAT to look for in a good rasp for neck shaping

I have been using carpenters rasps http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=Rasps%2FFiles&NameProdHeader=Carpenters+Rasps with random cut teeth. I have both the fine and the coarse. Both cut quickly, the fine is so nice that a bit of finish sanding is all that is needed after using it. I have the saw rasp and do not like it at all. It feels like one is taking a hacksaw to the neck. I have also used Microplane rasps. They work well enough but one needs to be very careful as it is easy to flatten the blades while carving.

My wife bought me a LN Boggs Spokeshave for Christmas, but I have not tried it yet.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

You will get almost as many answers as there are people doing the work. A lot of something like this goes back to your basic approach to wood working and your comfort levels. What works well for one may be a disaster for you. I use all manner of things for this task, rasps, chisels, spokeshave, sanding blocks etc. and have seen others use dremels, routers, shapers etc. Sometimes my preferred tool is simply the one within easy reach at the bench. All methods will have their advantages and drawbacks, you need to find the ones that work for you. And bear in mind this will most likely change over time as well.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

I use an assortment of files and rasps, a spoke shave, sanding blocks and the drum end of my belt sander. No special tools just what is here for general use. I really like the worn out 80 grit belts from my thickness sander glued to assorted 3" wide wood blocks, these belts cut real well and are free, the ends of dull belts are like new when the rest of the belt is worn out.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

I get those big paint stcks free at Home Depot and glue sandpaper to both sides.
Kind of a cheap giant file.
To smooth the radius on the back of a neck, I use a strip of emery cloth, making a motion that is like shining a shoe.
Dan

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

I love carving necks with a spokeshave. I only do a little bit of rasping, once to get the thickness at two points in the neck, then to carve anything I can't get with the spokeshave. Then I (carefully) take a random orbital sander to smooth it all out.

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http://www.tinyhouseandland.com

I asked the same question a while back, here's what I got

viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=31111&p=411850&hilit=neck#p411850

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Jumping in late, but two of the most useful shopmade tools for me are the "bandsaw blade rasp" (8 or 10 strips of old fine tooth or hacksaw blade, stacked in alternating directions and fixed at the ends), and a flat MDF sanding platten (2 dowel handles out the back, first-to-tenth fret distance long, 80grit sanding surface) which really helps flatten the bumps after getting 1st & 10th profiles exact.

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Dave
Milton, ON

chisels work well too, to hog out lots of wood quickly for shaping a neck.
regarding spokeshaves, i have wanted one for a long time. anyone know what size/model/brand might be the best? i'd prefer to find one used on eBay...

I use a rasp and sandpaper. Does the job well and I'm used to it. Regarding the "cut" of a rasp, you can vary the depth by how much hand pressure you use, regardless of whether it's a coarse or fine rasp. Always control the tool, never let the tool control you.
As to having to sand a lot, you picked the wrong hobby/profession to dislike sanding, LOL.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Brian and Fred are correct: It's what works for you. Even more than that, it's what works best for the particular neck wood you are using. For example, I love to use a spokeshave followed by a fine rasp and file, followed by sandpaper glued to a platen as Dave suggested (flat sanding block as long as the straightest part of the neck back), and then sandpaper wrapped around a large dowel to fair in the curves at head and heel . But many people who love spokeshaves find them extremely difficult to use in curly figured wood. So, it comes down to the tool that works best for you on the particular neck you are making. I have not tried the shop-made bandsaw blade rasp that Dave describes, but I've read about them for years and always wondered about them. Maybe I'll get around to making one.

For what is worth, I would recommend the dragon rasp. I have the fine and course ones and they are brilliant.
I would add, however that I hardly ever use the course one. Its very aggressive and the fine one seems to work great for all the woods I have tried so far.

thanks for all the replies everyone. I think for now I'll stick with what I have as it did work well on the first neck, rather than drop a bunch of money on tools that aren't a real necessity at this time. I tend to get it in my head that I need the best of the best tools to get the job done, and I'm trying to battle that, lol. I might buy a better quality rasp, as the one I'm using came in a 19-piece set for $8.99. The spoke shave is a joy to use, but I've got a lot to learn about sharpening my tools. I can sharpen drill bits like crazy, ,after working as a mechanic for a few years, but my skills with sharpening blades and chisels leave a lot to be desired.

I don't really mind sanding that much, it just takes an excessive amount to get the rasp marks out with the one I'm using.

Cheers

The dragon rasp are great.

The rasp I use cost $7 or $8. It's a cheapo, but it works well. I would love to have one of the Nicholson #49 or #50 cabinetmakers rasps, but it's not in the budget. I can use the cash elsewhere, so I can sympathize.
But when you can afford them, fine tools are well worth their price, IMHO. Especially hand tools.
I've never been dissappointed in an upgrade to any tool I was using often.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Another vote for spokeshave + rasp followed by scraper and sandpaper. I have a cheap Stanley spokeshave and a Nicholson #49 which works very well for me. I have tried the saw rasps and don't care for them.

I shaped my first neck with a used horseshow rasp (swap meet/cheap!),
then used a Nicholson 4 in 1 (cheap!),
then sandpapers of different grits (cheap!).
Yes, I am cheap!

Just to further illustrate how much diversity there is here, I start by going to my homemade drum sander, and getting it to the thickness I want. Then I use a router with a 1" roundover bit to get a consistent curve. Then I go back to the drum sander and play around with it, doing a little shaping by hand and smoothing things out. From there, I take a piece of sandpaper in my hand, warp it around the neck, and sand back and forth until everything feels just right.

I've also done spokeshaves and rasps, but this is what works best for me.

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David Morris