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Well a black cloud may have finally moved out and given me a ray of sunshine. Just as I was getting going good my rip fence slid off the shelf that I put it on without clearing some of the junk undrneath it. So its been broken and I finally got the piece in tonight. The axel on the lower wheel on the bandsaw snapped. Old crapsman has finally given me enough to retire it and clear out room for the Rikon 10-325. So without a decent way to cut anything i have had to rearrange a few stps on my master plan.

I was going to cut the motise in the neck block and drill the bolt holes and fit it to the neck before I glued it in. Due to the saws being down I have not been able to cut and glue the laminate strips in between the now cut in half neck. I have now started glue the neck back to one piece.

SO should I go ahead and glue the neck block in and try to router in the mortise later or would it best to cut and pre fit the two pieces before I glue it in. This is my first build and have not been able to see which way I want to approach this. Band saw is a week out but the table saw is working now. So my options are glue it and cut it later or fit it and glue it.

I was thinking of ordering a neck router jig. I was thinking I could get teh dovetail jig and just make a V block type of set untill I am ready to try a dovetail joint. Any opinions on that too.

I think I would wait . If things are different it is harder to adjust the neck block.

Thanks John. I ordered a cradle last night. Cant wait to get to use it.

If you are buying/building jigs to cut the mortise later.......I think it's always the best option. That way you can locate the bolt holes exactly where you need them. sometimes it's a challenge to get them in the correct vertical position when they are pre-drilled. If you sand a taper into the upper bout above the soundhole after gluing in the neck block, it changes where the bolt holes should be located.

John, Just for clarity did you mean to fit the neck block before its glued in?? Or wait til later when its installed and closed up to cut it.I don't know which thing you wanted me to wait on. wait to install or wait to fit.

Darryl, I had actually thought of building a half a top to use for a locating jig of sorts. Well it would be a section of wood the thickness of the top with a piece of wood the thickness of the side where the neck would join. a brace or two radiused to add the proper angle to the jig. then fit the neck to the block. After cutting the neck joint and locating the holes I would glue it in. I can see the benifit of doing it either way. but when you don't know good from bad, ( first build) what I see is not always right. Ok what I see is usually not right. Ok Ok what I see at this point has never been right.-
Jim

If you don't sand an angle (roughly 1 1/2 deg) into the sides/rim to match the angle of the fretboard extension then it's easier to get the neck block located at the right height (ie, bolt holes at the right height). The problem is that the neck block is usually glued in place before this angle is sanded into the rim.......or at least it seems that has been where I get a bit off.

I would rough it in then depending on your jig for the mortise , that would be the deciding factor.

Got it. Thanks guys.