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In my never ending efforts to be a slacker and find easier, faster, and more reliable ways to accomplish the plethora of tasks that we are confronted with while crafting a guitar I picked up an "Easy Jointer" from Tracy at http://www.luthiersuppliers.com/.

This jig was created to assist builders with jointing tops, backs, and a few other things that I can think of. It is also far less expensive than a jointer or even a decent, tuned plane.

My Easy Jointer came several days after I ordered it and it was so simple to assemble that even a Luthier could do it...... AND without reading the directions either......

The unit takes seconds to assemble and no tools are required.

The Easy Jointer uses a very flat piece of glass (included I am very happy to say) and sand paper (mine came with 3M 120 grit "gold" fre-cut paper - the good stuff) to create a super straight edge on both plates of a top/back prior to gluing.

In the past for me joining a top, although I got better at it in time, was not always a quick operation. I would use a plane, candle in the window (wasn't that an Elton John song....) and touch-up as needed, and I always needed, with a level and "clean" self stick sand paper. You want to use clean paper if you have jointed a back recently since the darker back dust will stain a line in a light colored spruce top.

This jig promised to simplify the process for me and as a bonus the glass is wide enough so that I can turn it around and joint a back with the same piece of paper making it more economical too.

Here is the assembled unit - it is also small enough to store nicely out of the way when not in use and has a built in carry handle so you can walk around with it at OLF gatherings and be the envy of all your friends......



Here is a side view where you can see that one side can be dedicated to backs and the other side dedicated to tops.



I checked the upright against the base with a square and it was dead-nuts at 90 degrees.

Next I grabbed a stinkin Adi top that needed to be put away and without even hitting it with a plane first I moved it back and forth on the Easy Jointer for 25 strokes.





Although I needed both hands to hold the top in the window when candling the joint came out perfect the very first time!!!!! And, as for me - I am thrilled - this jig will save me tons of time and frustration in the future.

Before I wrote this I sat down with the excellent directions, yep I read the directions after diving in like many of you probably do too....., and see that one can shim the jig if required for even better performance. Since I had no gaps this was moot to me.

When I ordered this jig I also decided to finally pick up some proper radius templates to replace the aging old braces that I currently trace to get my radiuses. As always I am thrilled with Tracy's products and it is very clear to me that he is one very bright, creative, and value conscience guy.

I highly recommend the Easy Jointer to all builders at any level of this pursuit. And while you are at it be sure to pick up Tracy's neck center-line finder too - I use mine all the time and it also works flawlessly!!!

Many thanks Tracy!!!!

Hesh-
Thanks for the info.

Perhaps some of the pros will offer their opinions on planing vs sanding for prep before gluing?
Especially with glues like hide glue which have poor gap-filling properties and where the strength of the joint depends on chemical bonding, I'd have some concerns about using 120# paper for prep.

That said, folks have been getting away with joining tops and backs using sandpaper for jointing for years, so it's probably not an issue.
In 1990, Jean Larrivee said that he was using 100 grit to give 'teeth' to rosewood back joints that he was gluing with CA.

Another thing to consider: You can see light coming through a very small gap when the surfaces are planed smooth. Perhaps the sanding just 'fuzzes up' the gap so it 'looks' tighter?

I do admit that planing can be exasperating when it's not going well. And, for back woods that don't plane well, sanding is a good alternative 'trick' to have in the toolkit.

Cheers
John

Good points John my friend and I agree completely that it has been proven that a well planed joint, glued within 15 minutes of the planing, provides a superior bond/joint over a sanded joint - so no disagreement here. But perhaps this is good enough.

Although I have been planing all my joints, well not all of them mind you........... , prior I do touch up the high spots with 120 grit and so far no failures here.

Anyway the goal is a tight, gapless joint that will not fail and how ever one gets there, and the price one pays to do so, is all part of the considerations as well.

Man Hesh, I know your a tuff critic and all, but you should cut Tracy a little slack don't you think.

Everything I have recieved from Tracy has been wonderful. I am sure this tool is no exception

Rich

Wow Hesh!
What an awesome review! I'm gonna have to start paying you for these reviews

I'm so glad your jig is working as designed, and you have no issues. Thanks for sharing your success and tutorials with the rest of the community. It is greatly appreciated! Thanks everyone else for supporting my small humble company. Glad to help the community with these jigs.

_________________
Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Thank you Tracy your offerings have really helped me to reach my building goals!

Tracy, thanks goes to your "small humble company" for being so mindful of we who don't do this every day and giving us such great service.

Hesh, very nice review, I really like using my plane but I must admit this looks like it could save some frustration. I once worked on a top so long with my plane that I almost ran out of width.

Buying from Tracy is a no-risk deal. I bought a Robert Ruck neck template and despite the excellent packing it arrived broken. I called, he said no problem, no questions asked, didn't even ask me to return the broken one. A brand new one arrived in just a couple of days. Great doing business with you Tracy.

Hesh - Although I have only just been trying out jointing and candling this spring, and I have to be honest, Ive gotten fed up with holding the joint together and up to light already,,,
so I built a candling box....
I had a glass door from one of those old crappy stereo cabinets that I been saving for God knows what
(you know the stereos in cabinets that were so popular in the 80's? currently very popular in the local landfills)
anyhow its about 19"" x 29" - so I built a frame for it, and installed a 2' flourescent ballast inside the frame, it illuminates the joint very well and I am able to apply pressure from the sides of the top or back being candled fairly well....
now I can just have it beside my joining jig and pop it over to check it out periodically until its tip top tight...
Hey Thanks for the review BTW!
Cheers
Charlie

James and Marc, thanks for the very nice comments, very much appreciated!

_________________
Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com