Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello good people;
I'm hoping that (at least) one of you resident geniuses can help out with a little problem.
When making the shoulder cuts for the neck tennon, I find it easiest if I can get the setback angle & the relief angle (to get the curved sides to exit smoothly) cut accurately at one time. I have tried several methods with varying degrees of success. However I do it, it takes a long time & the results could always be a little better. Anyone got a "dead on" method for making this critical cut?
Many thanks in advance... Dan'lDaniel M38656.7178935185

You didn't say but it sounds like the spanish heel of a classical?

If your building steel, why not check out some of the cool and adjustable neck jigs here at the OLF. I believe Brock has one and Mr. Woolson as well. The jig and a router and your ready to kick some serious tenon.John How38656.7209837963

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

Paul Woolson has a jig that does this. It mirrors the angle of the neck block mortise with that of the neck tenon. There was a post a few weeks back that said he might collaborate with someone to do a CAD drawing of the jig. I'm holding off on my next build in hopes that the plans will be available soon.

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

Thanks for the replies Guys!
John; I have only recently started using a bolt-on M/T neck joint. My previous guitars, built years ago, were Spanish heel... A` La Charles Fox of the Vermont School era... Perhaps I'm overcomplicating the process, since I learned the Spanish heel method first. I was assuming that it would be preferable to get the compound angle cut in one slice. It might be easier (& quicker) to cut the mortice with the correct setback angle & flat shoulders... & then cut the relief back with a chisel.
JJ. I'll watch for Paul's cad drawing & see if it's helpful... Thanks,   Dan'l

CAD Plans...YES! I'm still waiting too....

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

I have drawn them up and sent them to Michael P to put in a format that can be read my normal humans. We're currently doing a back-and-forth of questions/answers but, depending on his work schedule, I don't think it should be much longer.

Daniel, there are many ways to skin this ca......t (sorry for the fowl language Don) and I have tried many of them and may not have found the best yet. Typically I will try to get the neck angle right or as close as possible when I cut the tenon. Then I'll undercut inside the cheeks at the base of the tenon with a saw. Once the shape of the heel has been established I will comtinue to undercut (usually with a dremel) until there is just a 1/4" contact area along the edge of the cheek and I can just use the sandpaper floss method to fit that in just a few minutes time.

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

Hay guys I working on the cad drawings of Pauls neck tenon station. It may be a week or two more due to over time at work. Really got slamed this past week. two trips to big D and a boat load of new pumping units to design. I am getting this weekend off one way or another and plan to stay on it if I can. But it will be comming soon.