Official Luthiers Forum!

Ok. So another thread was about cutting the slots. Got that solved.
Now what about the ramps? I’ve been told use a dowel w sandpaper. Any better suggestions?
I’m looking for the round pointed ramps... not really flat and square.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a large round tapered file, maybe 1/2" in diameter. It not hard to control and works well for round slots.

_________________
Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

For round bottomed ramps you can rough them out with a gouge (I prefer incannel but outcannel will work) and finish them off with the sandpaper wrapped dowel. If you are good enough (I'm not) you can do the finished surface with the gouge alone.

I've used a large tapered round file as Jim mentions, and it works well. But the incannel gouge route seems like a good way to go too.

Your slots look really nice though!

Dave

I agree with Dave - your slots look really nice - kind of a mix of the usual square ended and round ended. If you made the ramps similar (flat bottomed with small radiuses on the sides) that might look cool!

Via the luthier tools jig ha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This Grobet file has been very useful for ramps as well as a ton of other stuff. I use it a lot. Circular files and sandpaper on a dowel are used as well

https://www.amazon.com/Grobet-Swiss-Pat ... ag=mh0b-20

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

Suggestion.
If using a rasp/file, a wrap of electrical insulating tape on the legs and middle of the slots can help prevent a bad day - only takes one wayward swipe.
P.S. love the slots, looks like a small guide bush and a small router bit. Neat!

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Good idea!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I watched a guy on YouTube do it w a dremmel tool last night... anyone try that?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I use a Dremmel also.
sanding drum -slow speed.

Mike

_________________
Mike Collins

Nice looking slot head. I use a round rasp followed by sandpaper dowels.

Has anyone tried the smallest round microplane? Those things eat material fast and are pretty easy to control.

_________________
Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars

I use a rat-tail rasp, followed by a dowel with sandpaper. The rasp seems (to me anyhow) to take material at a good rate that I can control, but don't feel like it takes forever. Mine's an Auriou with medium cut that I bought in my furniture making days. very nice tool that will last... and they are hand stitched, which makes them cut smoother without "washboarding" the surface. I don't know if this is the same cut as mine, but this is the first link I found:

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/to ... em=62W3001

+1 left handed Auriou 15 stitch followed by sanding.

Nice job on the slots. Are you sure strings 1 and 6 have a clear path?

No,
What are you seeing that may need attention?
I did use the luthier tool jig though


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think once the ramps are in, everything will be golden.

Dave

For the few slot heads I have done so far, I have not had a problem with the strings touching anything once the ramps are cut. They might touch the wood a little, but it doesn't cause a problem. I use a 15 degree angle; having that angle be a bit shallower might help avoid any touching. But, again, I have not had a problem with it.

A recommendation for when you string it up: Wind the E strings to the outside, and wind all the rest to the inside. And don't try to loop the excess string under the first winding, the way you would with a paddle head. That just increases the frustration and finger poking. Orient the hole to be perpendicular to the fingerboard.
Feed the string through the hole, leave a little slack, and pull it tight in both directions. It takes on a Z shape. Cut off the excess just a smidge beyond the Z, then wind it up. It holds on just fine, and it is much easier to take off when you change strings.

Snowman nice work with the slots. Do you have the link where you cut the slots?

My mistake, I was thinking the headstock was finished as is, and the ramp question was for the next one. If you make ramps to this one, then you will be OK

Ahhh cool. I’m always open for criticism so if you see something that sucks it’s ok ha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Always interesting how you can see things in pictures you don’t see in real life ha.
Still plenty of work to do here but getting there


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Would be interesting to try? May be hard to hang on to once the angle gets steeper and it disappears into the slot:)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I didn’t record it for fear of recording a disaster ha. It is my first go at it though... so I’m fairly happy w the result


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk