Just curious what kind of tools used to shape necks. I've been using router, rasp, sandpaper. I like old hand tools. and have been looking at draw knives and spokeshaves. Not very familiar with them, never used either. Anyone use them. Lots of old ones on eBay, but lack of knowledge keeps me from buying.

Views: 957

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

I've only worked on a couple of necks. In both cases, I used a Microplane as my tool of choice, and I had rasps and a spokeshave available. The Microplane was my prefered tool. It's like a cheese grater on a stick:
http://us.microplane.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=15
Spokeshave, files, belt sander and sandpaper for me. I make my cbg's one at a time and shaping the neck is one of my favourite parts of the build. I have a fairly crappy spokeshave that needs sharpening/adjusting as it will occasionally pull chunks, but usually it makes pretty quick work of shaping the neck. I've done oak and maple necks so far and prefer working with the maple. I have some ash and cherry that i will be working on soon.
How I shape a neck depends on my mood at the time plus the amount of time I have to get that neck done.Lately I've been under the gun to get enough CBG's out to keep up with sales.So some days I'll go out and be in the right mood and be able to shape a neck ,sand it smooth enough and either stain or paint it all in one operation in about an hour.The more I build the less time spent per piece is getting. I decide how much my time is worth ( in this market)and then price accordingly, based on THIS market here.It takes me about 30 minutes to assemble the box to the neck, another 15 minutes to install the tuners and string it up ready to play and I'm done.
I average anywhere from $60 to $80 for a simple fretless 3 string slider.
I either use an old draw knife I found in a junk shop or my favorite draw knife I made out of an old mower blade.I'll clean up the shape with my bench sander using rough grade belts and then change the belt to a smooth grade to smooth it out , do a little hand sanding ( very little) and shes ready for stain or paint.
Rasps. The kind that cave replaceable blades. Stanly I think. Utility and XActo for finer things. Then sandpaper. 220 grit kind that is designed for stripping paint. Works really well. Then a finer grit (300 - 600) for the wood. Finer for finishes or none at all (depends on the finish).
A trick I learned from bow-making... (might be common knowledge...) When you get down to the final finishing with ultra-fine sandpaper, wet the wood with a damp cloth.
This will raise the grain; you'll be amazed at how rough your previously-smooth piece feels.

Go over that with very fine (300-400) sandpaper and you'll have a nice, smooth finish that won't raise any more when you apply finish.
I have 2 spoke shaves. One I made. I find spoke shaves can be a bit agressive for my taste. I will use them in the rough out stage. I'm afraid I will ruin a nice project. Chuck
I must be the laziest man on the planet... How about a 1 inch roundover bit in a table router? neck blank to shaped neck in less than 60 seconds....

the best,

Wichita (gosh, I feel lazy, but not guilty) Sam
I've been using a chisel thingy to whittle mine, then I sand it smooth. lot of work, but the end result is smooth and handmade looking.
Hi there,

I've just started building cbgs and have just completed a lovely neck for a tenor ukulele. The main tool I used for this was a spokeshave. They are so much quicker and less frustrating than files and stuff.

The good thing about a spoke shave is that the blade is adjustable so you can arrange to take off as much wood as you choose from huge lumps to tiny slivers. The one that I use is a really basic one that cost only a few £s, so you should be able to pick one up on t'e-bay for virtually nothing.

Yellowbelly Flatt
Ha. I've been following them on e-bay and they have been going higher than a person can buy a new one. After many tries, I love to bid, but I set a limit, my limit was $15 including shipping, I finally won one. Pretty nice Stanley No.151 for $9.95 +$4.95 shipping so I beat my limit by $.10! Hope it is a nice as the picture and description. I haven't even come close to winning a draw knife yet.I have a $30. limit there.

I have a neck blank waiting for me to give it a try on.
I am with the belt sander. Works well, reasonable control and usually pretty quick.

Randy Rooster (Ben) said:
I use the belt sander to take the edges off, then do the rest by hand, maily as I leave my necks quite square.
For rounder necks though, buy that spoke shave!!
Incidentally, the reasons I leave my necks square...
Firstly, as they are mostly 3 or 4 strings, the necks are a lot thinner than ya average 6 string. I find this encourages me to play more 'properly' and not rest the neck in the crook of my finger and thumb, and therefore the shape doesnt really matter to me. In fact, I prefer it squarer than c-shaped.
The other reason is that I retain as much timber (& strength) as possible. I reckon C-ing the neck could remover 1/4 to 1/3 of the wood... Yikes!!
1.5" round sanding drum in an air die grinder at 30,000rpm. It will really remove wood in a hurry so you better go lightly.

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

BrianQ. commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
3 hours ago
BrianQ. liked Dar Stellabotta's video
3 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Project Punch!

" Thank ya again Keith!"
5 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Punch Project!

" Thank Ya Keith!"
5 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on AGP #'s photo
Thumbnail

AGP #527 - ''Led-Zep 2''

"This build really strung you along Alan! Reminded me of all my fishing line experiments; a lot of…"
7 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Diggin’ the slow blues. I like that last pic Andries! Look at all those cool guitars. Yeah!!!"
7 hours ago
Dar Stellabotta posted a video

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

This video is the unboxing and the demonstration of a beautiful, six stringer built by Louie Lamanna. Join Louie and I June 15 at the second annual Pittsburg...
8 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter to you too Andries! The passion is definitely in full swing. Turns out I’m…"
9 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter Doug ! the Passion is in full swing !"
9 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Ricky D's photo
10 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
10 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked Doug Thorsvik's video
13 hours ago

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->