4 inch fret slotting miter box??

[Nomad98]

Anyone know where you can find a 4 inch fret slotting miter box?

Can the Stew Mac box be converted to handle a larger size than 3 inches and if so how? (Don't want to buy one and hind out that I'm stuck with a 3 inch box...)

Thanks in advance for any insight/recomendations on this.

[wilser]

you know, you don't *need* a miterbox to do accurate slots on a fretboard. A decent square and the fretsaw with the depth stop are enough. I've done many fretboards this way. Although I have recently upgraded to the stewmac templates and tablesaw slotting system. I would think it shouldn't be too difficult to make a new base for their miterbox wider than 3". It looks like the walls are bolted on, so it should be as simple as getting a bigger base and drilling and tapping to the correct bolt thread (or simply do an MDF base and replace the bolts with screws). Make sure the walls are aligned with each other or the saw will bind.

[Hambone]

Originally Posted by Nomad98

Anyone know where you can find a 4 inch fret slotting miter box?

Can the Stew Mac box be converted to handle a larger size than 3 inches and if so how? (Don't want to buy one and hind out that I'm stuck with a 3 inch box...)

Thanks in advance for any insight/recomendations on this.

Yes, you can remove the sides of the box and re-attach them on the sides of something 4" wide. I would use a 2" x 4" aluminum channel.

[Nomad98]

Thanks...

I have been mulling over NOT using a miter box so that's good to hear and it seemed from the picture (StewMac box) that the base could be swapped out!

Wilsner... Do you like the way the StewMac box and templates work and would the template work if the base was wider?

[wilser]

Originally Posted by Nomad98

Thanks...

I have been mulling over NOT using a miter box so that's good to hear and it seemed from the picture (StewMac box) that the base could be swapped out!

Wilsner... Do you like the way the StewMac box and templates work and would the template work if the base was wider?

I don't own the miterbox, but the templates on a tablesaw work great. I could see problems using the template on a wider base, because it would not sit snug against the sides and might have too much play to get an accurate slot unless you clamp or hold the piece real tight in place.