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I was trying to figure out a way to get a clean area around the joints of my 000 external form. I wanted the neck block and tail block external areas of the form to be free of clamps, bolts or straps to facilitate clamping of the blocks for glue up, with less weight and clutter. I also wanted to be able to lightly clamp the sides to the form most places around the perimeter. So here's what I came up with, a bolted mortise and tenon.








The joints seem rock solid, though not as convenient to disassemble as some other designs. What do you think? Have you used forms like this? Any other down sides besides the convenience factor?

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

That's pretty cool Pat!

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Pat-
That looks like a good idea.
You use socket wrenches and extensions to tighten up the bolts?

John

Pat,
That's nice. I like it.
What if you used a threaded insert an a Phillips head screw? I have a long driver for my powered screwdriver that would make assembly/disassembly a snap.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Cool Pat, great idea, Mortise and Tenon. Why not use barrel bolts and flat head hex-drive furniture screws, like a bolt on guitar neck?

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

John, Hesh,

I do use a socket and extension. The hole for the bolt is snug to aid in location — though it does go against machine design guidelines that say to avoid using fasteners as locating devices — so I have only needed a tool for the nut end. Also had to grind flats on the washer to get it in there.

Steve, Bruce,

Phillips, barrel bolts, seems like all should work fine. Doesn't need to be all that strong, or shouldn't need to be unless we really crank out the spreaders. I just went with what I had onhand. Inserts would eliminate having to maneuver the nut in that tiny space, though it's easier to put the nut in the socket with the extension and thread it on that way.

Cheers

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com