runout and neck carving - what to do?

[darren]

At least I'm assuming this is runout:

tearout.png

tearout2.png

It doesn't seem to matter what direction i come at it, there is this 'vein' going through the wood that I can't get to do what i want. Only on the one side, the other side (bass side) carves as expected.

Suggestion? I'm getting close to my fretboard width so now is the time to worry about it!

(actually, i understand the time to see these things is in wood selection, but as i buy one neck blank at a time - i use what i have. This was not visible, to me, in the blank, though, and only showed itself when I took to carving.)

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Darren,
I don't know if it's runout, but I would suggest sanding through it.
Use like 60 grit to do most of it, just in that area.
Just a thought.

Kevin

[tippie53]

I use a drum sander but like Rick says , take you time. It is something you will run into from time to time . It all comes with experience

[kencierp]

Is the blank Sapele? That stuff sometime has interlocking grain that makes it a real pain to machine and carve, often strating the cut in the opposite direction will produce a smoother surface with less tear-out. However, chiming again -- for aggressive remove use a rotory file chucked in a drill, then a hand rasp, then sand paper -- that worked well for me when I was hand making necks. To finish up, a bladder sander cannot be beat --- worth their weight in gold!

[darren]

Thanks for all the replies - looks like I'll get the rasp out, work through the paper grits and see how that goes. The blank is Hon. Mahogany, and I'm just using a 3/4" chisel for carving. I like it and it has worked well for the previous two but this one has been a learning experience. I've cut across, down and up the blank and this was the best I could get...

I should have something to report later tonight.

[darren]

well i hit it with a rasp and cleaned up a small area with a scraper and i think that's gonna do it - sure makes me nervous with the rasp so close to the fretboard though, being at the 'finished' width.

i might have a neck ready this weekend!

just want to say thanks for the advice. ;)