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Neck Thickness Build Up

Posted by Brent Kasl on December 27, 2018 at 3:20pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I need to add about 1/16" to the thickness of my planed neck to accommodate tuners correctly.

Right now 1/2" need 9/16".

Neck is maple, thinking about gluing about 2-3 sheets of the micro thin dark cedar wood lining in my Padron box. Great medium color, but not sure how it would take to gluing, sanding and clear coat.

Any thoughts or any similar challenges?

Thanks

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Replies

  • Bruce Young January 12, 2019 at 3:09pm

    Thoughts run to either hardwood veneer available at major lumber yard, or better yet, a scrap of 1/16 veneer from a cabinet shop. There is also 1/16 hardwood hobby ply out there, used in RC airplane building. 

  • Paul Craig January 6, 2019 at 2:19pm

    It depends on a few things as to whether a washer will do the job or a veneer is required.

    How many strings? Bass or Guitar? What type of wood are you using for the neck?

    Maple is strong and a washer would probably be fine for a 3 or 4 string git. 5 or 6 string git or a Bass with more than 2 strings, I would go with the veneer for added strength.

    I made a 4 string git once with a Pine neck and even though the neck had a separate fretboad glued on and a trussrod, the headstock started to ramp under string pressure. So I had to add a Oak veneer to stop the ramping. Maple is generally much harder than Pine, but some Maple is soft and can warp easily.

    So you can try the washers and hope it works out or try adding the veneer and be sure.

  • Ben Ridgeway January 4, 2019 at 9:58pm
    ^What Grandpa says! ^^^^^^^
  • Grandpa January 2, 2019 at 3:34pm
    I've been here myself. I used a washer under the tuner washer and threaded ferrule to make the height. This works for enclosed-style tuners. Worked well for me.
  • Kigar December 29, 2018 at 7:20pm

    I tried the same thing and the cedar wrinkled a bit, I think the glue made the sheet swell or something.  If I did it again I would 100% cover the surface while clamping and go easy on the glue.

    • Taffy Evans > Kigar December 29, 2018 at 8:15pm

      Hi, when I do this I make the lamination off off the peghead, then glue the overlay in one go.

      I always laminate between two thick boards  and also when gluing to the peghead.

      See photos:

      566904776?profile=original

      566916206?profile=original 566922438?profile=originalTaff

      • Brent Kasl > Taffy Evans December 29, 2018 at 8:57pm

        What about drilling tuners out? My guess is this micro thin Spanish cedar will want to crack.

        Whar about drilling from backside forward and have a block of wood secured to the face?

        • Taffy Evans > Brent Kasl December 29, 2018 at 11:59pm

          Hi Brent I take it you haven't got your brad point drills yet, so as you suggest from the back. A brad point drill is made for wood drilling and scores a line through the wood fibres prior to actual drilling. 

          Taff

  • Taffy Evans December 28, 2018 at 11:56pm

    Hi Brent, just be mindefull that the glue does not bleed through micro thin cedar, thats why I suggested a test run, also there might not be much room for much sanding either before breaking through the glue line. 

    Taff

  • BrianQ. December 28, 2018 at 12:04am

    Shouldn’t have any problems at all if both are surfaces are level/flat, just glue & clamp evenly? 

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