I'm almost 60 hours into this build and the body is complete! This is the first time I cut the mortise after closing the box up.
The tenon is up next...
Easing back into building again
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ckuo
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2011 4:21 pm
Re: Easing back into building again
Hi all,
I'm almost 60 hours into this build and the body is complete! This is the first time I cut the mortise after closing the box up.
The tenon is up next...
I'm almost 60 hours into this build and the body is complete! This is the first time I cut the mortise after closing the box up.
The tenon is up next...
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Kevin Sjostrand
- Posts: 3945
- Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:06 pm
- Location: Visalia, CA
Re: Easing back into building again
Charles,
Did you cut that with a router? I am assuming so. I'll be doing it on one of my current builds for the first time too. I have the jig but haven't used it yet. It always went pretty well putting the mortise in ahead of gluing the block in, I hope the results are better this way.
Kevin
Did you cut that with a router? I am assuming so. I'll be doing it on one of my current builds for the first time too. I have the jig but haven't used it yet. It always went pretty well putting the mortise in ahead of gluing the block in, I hope the results are better this way.
Kevin
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ckuo
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2011 4:21 pm
Re: Easing back into building again
Hey Kevin,
This is with a router bit and template from stew mac (not an endorsement, just a fact) and a Bosch Colt router. I have to admit a dislike for routers, but they save me a lot of time.
In addition to saving time, when you route after the body is put together, you can be sure to route perfectly on the center line of the body. In case that glue up of the sides to the block was off by a 16th of an inch...hypothetically speaking of course. The downside is putting your body under the knife (router) after completing it. The binding is on at this point for Pete's sake :-)
I have also cut the tenon by hand (saws and chisels), great for one time, but I have come back to the router for consistency's sake. In the future, I may route the mortise in the neck block first (like i did for my 3rd and 4th guitar) and then glue up the sides.
For number 3, I cut the tenon with a table saw and custom jig with Rick Davis (also routing the mortise in the neck block ahead of time).
They all work, but I can't decide which one I like the most. I have to try out routing the tenon with the template/jig next and see whether I can stand making so much dust out of that expensive mahogany.
Would love to hear people's thoughts - especially, if someone has a routerless way to do it all quickly and consistently.
-Charles
This is with a router bit and template from stew mac (not an endorsement, just a fact) and a Bosch Colt router. I have to admit a dislike for routers, but they save me a lot of time.
In addition to saving time, when you route after the body is put together, you can be sure to route perfectly on the center line of the body. In case that glue up of the sides to the block was off by a 16th of an inch...hypothetically speaking of course. The downside is putting your body under the knife (router) after completing it. The binding is on at this point for Pete's sake :-)
I have also cut the tenon by hand (saws and chisels), great for one time, but I have come back to the router for consistency's sake. In the future, I may route the mortise in the neck block first (like i did for my 3rd and 4th guitar) and then glue up the sides.
For number 3, I cut the tenon with a table saw and custom jig with Rick Davis (also routing the mortise in the neck block ahead of time).
They all work, but I can't decide which one I like the most. I have to try out routing the tenon with the template/jig next and see whether I can stand making so much dust out of that expensive mahogany.
Would love to hear people's thoughts - especially, if someone has a routerless way to do it all quickly and consistently.
-Charles
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Kevin Sjostrand
- Posts: 3945
- Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:06 pm
- Location: Visalia, CA
Re: Easing back into building again
Well one thing I have liked about cutting the tenon on the table saw is I can cut a compound angle, getting the neck angle set and relief for a good fit of the cheek to body join - at the same time. Can't do that with the router and template, at least as I see it. I haven't done it yet either. I will miss that and having to do some chisel work to get the relief. It is also pretty easy to do the mortise the way I have been doing it, on the band saw. I glue two blocks together to make the neck block, so I can cut the moritse on the bandsaw, then glue the blocks together and I have a mortise. No routing, chiseling, etc.
And now I have templates on a jig to use the router.....almost sounds like a regression :>)
Kevin
And now I have templates on a jig to use the router.....almost sounds like a regression :>)
Kevin
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ckuo
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2011 4:21 pm
Re: Easing back into building again
Thanks, Kevin. I like the idea of cutting the tenon before gluing the pieces of the neck together. I'll have to try your way out if I don't like the way this template routing works.
Supposedly, you can route to the proper neck angle using the template by putting a shim between the top of the neck and the side of the jig.
I've seen a much fancier jig that a fellow builder is using that is metal with a gauge to measure the neck angle. BUT, I've also seen the dovetail cut with the jig not fit properly in the mortise.
When all else fails, I sharpen the chisels. (or grab the sandpaper)
Supposedly, you can route to the proper neck angle using the template by putting a shim between the top of the neck and the side of the jig.
I've seen a much fancier jig that a fellow builder is using that is metal with a gauge to measure the neck angle. BUT, I've also seen the dovetail cut with the jig not fit properly in the mortise.
When all else fails, I sharpen the chisels. (or grab the sandpaper)