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I got the OLF plans for the Woolson neck jig and have a question. I was wondering about the bolt that goes through the aluminum arm that protrudes through the top of the jig. I am assuming that it is to allow simulating the bridge height or desired height of a straightedge off the top at the bridge location. It looks to me like (even with the bolt run all the way in) it would be too much of a gap at the bridge, since the neck has no fingerboard attached while using the jig.

Am I missing something, or overthinking this?

I have the rest of the jig completed and was just wondering whether to install the bolt or not. When I was at Charles Fox' class a while back I looked at the jig he uses and it did not include this feature.

Paul, you out there buddy?Dave Rector38879.840474537

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Dave, the bolt is my little addition to Charles' design. You've got it pretty much right as the bolt simulates the bridge height. BUT you have to account for the missing fingerboard/frets. So, if you bridge is to be .375, and your fingerboard is .25 and frets are .04, you'll have to subtract .29 from the .375 leaving you with .085. The .085 is the amount you want your bolt to stick out from the front of the aluminum bar. After you've flattened the top above the soundhole, it should sit flush with the bar with the bolt just touching at the bridge area.
Hope that helps.

Thanks Paul! That totally clears it up for me. Guess I was having a mental block or something. When you only have a few brain cells left you have to be pretty careful how much strain you put on them.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars