Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David McQueen on March 8, 2014 at 3:53pm

I mark a center line on the back and reference lines 1/8" from the fret board face. Then I use a stanley sureform rasp to rough it out. Watching the three lines lets you know if you are rasping out evenly. Then I scrape it with a scraper. Usually takes about 20 minutes. Typically I am using oak for a neck. Thinking of doing maple this summer. I did ine last summer and really liked the result.

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Permalink Reply by Stuart Joseph on March 2, 2019 at 10:47pm

I have disability problems that prevent me from using hand tools to shape the back of the neck. I thought about using a router but I am unsure
Which router bits to use to get a rounded shape on the neck Or to just take the corners off the neck.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

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Permalink Reply by ILL GREEN on March 3, 2019 at 12:12am

A router may be too heavy for your medical condition, so I'll suggest a routing table as well for the router.

For bits, depends on the design you desire. Rounded, squared or Henry the 4th type thing. Usually, the bits at the local hardware store, have an illustration of how the bits will cut onto the wood. That should give you an image of how your necks will end up. The rounded bits are shaped like a Hersey kisses.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on March 3, 2019 at 1:16am

Here are a couple of photos showing the bit I use and a finished neck 

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Permalink Reply by David Bowes on March 3, 2019 at 1:41am

I have used various methods:-

1. shaping entirely with a spokeshave.

2. Using a palm router and a 45-degree router bit to remove the bulk and then finish with a spokeshave, rasp and sandpaper.

3. I have used a 3/4 inch round over bit, on my next build, I will be trying a 1 inch round over.

See the link below for Chicken Bone Johns video on shaping necks,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NZp6ufvxDo

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Permalink Reply by François on March 3, 2019 at 11:59am

I tend to change depending on what material I'm using.

I often use my router, but I use it attached to a router table. I feel it's easier to handle like that.

If I use a laminated product like plywood, I will use a rasp (surform) as it's the only safe way to go.

For the rest, I usually rout first to remove the bulk of the material. If I'm happy with the shape, I just lightly sand down a bit. If not, I then move to the belt sander with 60 grit paper.

I sometimes use a spokeshave as it does do a great job but since I always use soft woods like spruce for my builds, the grain structure makes it harder to get good results with a plane or a spokeshave.

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Permalink Reply by Joe Arbour on March 4, 2019 at 9:28am

Usually rasps and sandpaper.  Surform to rough it out and a finer rasp then up through the grits.

A couple times I used a large peice of cherry half-round topped with a 1/4 inch fretboard and it worked really well.

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Permalink Reply by Amir Sagi on March 4, 2019 at 8:29pm

Hi
If router bale is an option, i would use a large roundover bit, 3 inch wide. The bearing eould run along the finger board edge.
Using a table saw to rough cut axtra material befor the router table will be a good idea.
If some pictures to demonstare is needed, let me know

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Jordan on March 5, 2019 at 5:27am

The first one I made 20 years ago was a "one off" and i carved the neck with a steak/paring knife.,.,in 2013 when I started building many I moved on to using a round over bit in a router.,.,3/8" bit for a month then I moved on to a 1/2" round over bit.,.,never tried the rasp method, bought a spoke shave but have not tried it either.,.,.,

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Permalink Reply by Del Puckett on March 9, 2019 at 6:54pm

all of the above :-)   However, the 9 inch Shinto Rasp will become your favorite tool...if you let it :-) 

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on March 15, 2019 at 1:07pm

hi, on my CBG 3-4 string necks I just use a round over bit in my router, as shown by others here. The router is jigged upside down in my bench vice. And then sandpaper, no carving or rasping. KISS principal.

However when doing acoustic or electric guitar necks I use tools selected from the photo here that work best with whatever timber the neck is made of.

Like Del said about the Shinto rasp, I don't know if mine is a Shinto but it is a Japanese hand cut rasp, sharp as.

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Permalink Reply by Sweet Crooks on March 15, 2019 at 8:52pm

Pencil

Saw

Chisel

Wood Rasp

I use this technique.

Pablo Requena Carving the neck on a classical guitar 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m7gIHZryes

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