Tapering a fretboard

[Tim R]

All,

I have a radiused, pre-slotted fretboard but it is not tapered. How to taper? I could just draw an angled line on each side of the fretboard and use my bandsaw to cut just outside of those lines on both sides, and then rasp/sand the sides of the fretboard to match the neck. But for the fretboard extension this approach would be tricky and probably would not yield a truly straight edge, at least not in my hands.

Or, maybe there is some sort of jig to cut an angle into a board holding the board stationary and running a router over it. What do you all do? I'm definitely giving away to fact that my knowledge of woodworking beyond guitar procedures is almost nil, and indeed is pretty limited about guitars too!

Thanks,
Tim

[hummingbird]

Not sure if this is right but I place the neck flat side down on top of the fretboard center it and trace the sides with a pencil then remove the neck and extend the pencil lines with a straight edge. Then cut it with a bandsaw. Not sure of the best way to straighten the edge though. I used a sanding block, some might prefer a hand plane but I'm not good with those.

[johnnparchem]

I draw the lines I want, cut close with a band saw, and then take it to the line with a plane. I use a small block plane. The plane leaves a nice straight edge. Watch as you are heading toward the line to keep it even as you get close. Keep the plane square so you are not planing an angle. If you do not have a plane or do not want to use one. Get some of the stickum rolls of sandpaper. roll out a length longer than the fretboard on a smooth surface and sand to the line. You could probably use a block to keep the fret board square to the sandpaper.

[darren]

I draw the lines I want, cut close with a band saw, and then take it to the line with a plane. I use a small block plane. The plane leaves a nice straight edge. Watch as you are heading toward the line to keep it even as you get close. Keep the plane square so you are not planing an angle.

+1. clamp vertically and plane away. goes really fast.

[Ben-Had]

Pretty much the same as John and Darren but I built a taper jig and cut it on my table saw then use a shooting board and block plane.

[Tim R]

Excellent feedback guys.

Can you elaborate on a taper jig for the table saw and jig for the router table. Did you make those and how so? Making/setting those jigs seems to encounter the same difficulties as directly cutting the angled edge in the fretboard...

Thanks,

Tim

[Ben-Had]

Mine's modeled after this.

http://www.amazon.com/Rockler-Taper-Str ... pering+jig

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Hand plane and a shooting board works very well once you've cut close to your line with a bandsaw, or a handsaw.

Kevin

[jbutler]

I use a panel cutting sled on my table saw. I line the edge of the fretboard lines mentioned with the edge of the panel sled which was cut by the table saw such that it is exactly where the blade will cut. I clamp the fretboard to the sled aligning to the lines, drill screw holes in the excess area of the fretboard into the sled and secure with screws. I remove the clamps then make the tablesaw cut.. The blade needs to be sharp and you need to go slow as chipout at the fret slots is possible (don't ask me how I know).

John