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I have built a few guitars with a mortice and tenon joint, and handle to hold them for spraying a finish is easy to do because of the bolts. I am now spraying a guitar with a dovetail joint - what kind of handle do you use to hold the body and the neck?

Ed

I put an 1/4 -20 insert into the DT tenon and use an 6" 1/4 -20 bolt with a ring I had welded to the end as a handle. Then I can hang it by the ring to dry. A process Dale Bartholomew showed me. Pretty much the same thing they use in the Martin Factory.

Tim

Thanks. How about the body?

Ed

I hang the body from the same type setup with an eye hook for a handle and the ring attached to a swivel (like you'd find on a dog chain), I place an "s" hook I make from a hanger to remove the body . I put the hook in the end pin hole and turn the body by hand from inside the mortise. To spray the end pin area I remove the body and hold it by the "s" hook then hang it back up to spray the mortise end. I have a little "L" hook to lift the body while hanging. I place the "L" hook into the mortise, lift and spray. Works for me.

I tried making handles for the body but found the body to heavy to hold for very long. What can I say I'm getting old and weak:)

Thanks.

I build mostly parlor size guitars with a mortice and tenon joint and have actual handles that bolt it. I don't find the parts too heavy with a longer handle (9-10"??) to avoid the wrist fatigue you might get with a shorter one.

I will try to rig something through the end pin hole

Ed

ruby@magpage.com wrote:Thanks.

I build mostly parlor size guitars with a mortice and tenon joint and have actual handles that bolt it. I don't find the parts too heavy with a longer handle (9-10"??) to avoid the wrist fatigue you might get with a shorter one.

I will try to rig something through the end pin hole

Ed

Here's a pic of what I'm talking about, you just can't see the ring in the end of the neck handle.

Thanks

Ed