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How do you cut peg head slots on a classical guitar.

On my first, I used a scroll saw (non-electric). The blade wandered and I was left with a lot of clean up with a chisel.

Thanks,

Doug

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Guitars...One's too many...Twenty is not enough.

You could make a router template, or have one made at a plastics shop for you and use your laminate trimmer.

Make a template from a finished guitar. Draw and outline of the slots on the new guitars peghead. Rough cut the slots with the scroll saw leaving about 1/16" inside the line. Then use the template with a router and pattern bit to clean up the slots.

CrowDuck

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Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

I laid mine out with a CAD program and cut it out on a template. It can be done without the computer, it just takes longer. I then taped the template to the head blank and cu it out with a homemade router bit formed from a 3/16" piece of drill rod chucked in a drill press. Take shallow passes and it works extremely well. It makes an ideal flush cutting bit.

This is not my idea btw, it is Robbie O'Brien's straight form his DVD. Wish I could take the credit.

Regards, Steve

I just clamp a piece of straight wood to my drill press to use as a fence and drill several holes with a forstner bit, then clean up the excess with chisels and then sandpaper.jfrench38757.878287037

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

I drill out the two ends of each slots with a forstner bit then cut the rest out with a jigsaw. Takes all of ten minutes.

Doug,

If you don't mind spending a few bucks, check out this jig:

Slothead jig

I tried the other methods here and they work, but man, this jig sure makes it easy to drill the holes and slot the headstock at the same time.

Cheers!

John

I have a jig from Chris at Luthiers tools that is awesome but pricey
Andy

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

I Route mine with a plung router and just use the side fence to reference off the side of the peg head, using a 16mm bit. It is a bit awkeward as you have to ensure you change the weight distribution on the fence so the router doesn't go off line, I think the template and guide bush idea is probably a more controlable option.

I use a perspex template and a laminate trimmer with a pattern follower bit, the ramps are then cut in with a file.

Colin

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

I've made 3 guitars so far using the Luither Tool jig. It certainly is pricey but it is also accurate and repeatable and almost impossible to screw up the headstock. In addition, it makes drilling the holes a breeze as well. I wouldn't dare be without it now.

After doing the first slothead by hand and remembering the time and frustration I had, this jig makes me smile each time I use it. If you plan to do a lot of slotheads, seriously consider this jig.

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

I have an INCA table saw with a horizontal mortiser on it - cuts great with an end mill bit, and no template is needed

           Paul Harrell

[QUOTE=RCoates] I drill out the two ends of each slots with a forstner bit then cut the rest out with a jigsaw. Takes all of ten minutes.[/QUOTE]

Yeah me too. A Dremel helps to clean up and final shape the cuts.

Larry

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Thank You and Best To All