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I've tried some sanding bits in my drill press, and found them to be more problematic than useful. With pressure, the quill seems to loosen and the chuck falls out of the spindle. After a few attempts, I restored to an oscillating spindle sander. I know it's more money, but in the end the desktop spindle sander isn't that expensive, and it's much more effective. And, despite my aversion to the flush trim router, I continue to use it with great results.

Some good tips and ways of doing things. I've only made three so haven't gotten carried away. Jig for the tuner holes are LeeValley drill bushings and some maple. I drill most of the waste away on my drill press and then use a single slot plexi template attached with double sided tape and clean up the slots on my router table with a pattern bit. Rat tail bastard file, rasps and dowels with sandpaper for the ramps. The picture was my first slot head which was made from a pine 2" x 4" so didn't take the greatest care with it. The 12 string holes were done with the drilling block that Stew Mac used to sell and then discontinued. It worked great with the 6 on a plate Golden Age tuners. I made the slots intentionally shorter (ahem) to reduce the headstock length. At least that's what I told my sister. Still works fine. I've used the same jig and template since as they work. I use a Veritas edge trimming block plane to get to final dimensions after bandsawing close to the line on the headstock. Works great.

I use a Porter Cable plunge router. The bits and recommended bushings are available on their website as I recall.

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Same. I use a Bosch plunge router and their recommended bits / bushings for guitar. For uke I use a Dewalt 611 in a plunge base with the smaller bits / bushings.






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One thing to mention is that your bit is rarely perfectly centered in the bushing so you have to be sure that the same side of the bushing is against the same side of your slot on both to be sure they will be perfectly symmetrical.

_________________
It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Well I actually ordered my jig yesterday ha. I drank the koolaid


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I talked to ... Glenda? I think on email and they recommended the trim router version. Is that for ease of handling you think ? I’m getting a dedicated router for this as I hate setting up routers for different jobs.

Several have said the plunge version .. I assume for added power. Just want to get the right tool for the right job


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For deep slotting and morticing I recommend going with the biggest router in the shop. You can get away with
using a trimmer, but imo. only if you have to. For me that would be a 3hp plunge. Save the trimmers for binding
and rosette stuff.

You'll like it, it's very versatile and you can get plates for slot head, standard tuners for both uke and guitar.

I use a Dewalt 611 in a plunge base for ukes and the bigger 3HP Bosch plunge for guitars. The reason I went this route is the uke needs 1/4" bit and I didn't have a collet for the big Bosch.

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