Radius in wide fret boards

whitcomb-basses · #1 01-26-2009, 05:00 PM

This problem never crossed my mind till I did a drawing for a future 6-string. Any suggestions on putting a radius on a wide fretboard with sanding blocks. Blocks are 3 inches wide. Fretboard is 3 1/2 inches. I'm trying for a 10 inch radius.
Thanks

Skelf · #2 01-26-2009, 05:16 PM

A 10" radius on a 6 string board means you will have to start of with a pretty thick board or by the time you get the edge of the board down to the correct radius there will be very little board left especially at the top of the neck.

Alan

mikeyswood · #3 01-26-2009, 05:32 PM

A good table saw has a 10" blade. Clamp a sacrificial fence and run the board sideways several times and - Ta Da! A 10" sanding block in the size and length of your choosing for dirt cheap!

vbasscustom · #4 01-26-2009, 05:39 PM

wow, good idea, i would have though that the blade would make the wood jump and blow the peice apart

mikeyswood · #5 01-26-2009, 05:46 PM

Do a small bit at a time and you will be fine.

I have also put a 12" blade on my Unisaw to make a 12" diameter block.

BigOldHarry · #6 01-26-2009, 05:49 PM

10" radius sounds like a VERY round and deep neck to me... Aren't most 6 strings more along the range of 14" to 16" radius?

vbasscustom · #7 01-26-2009, 06:24 PM

yeah, i was thinkin the same thing, you would almost have to have a 1/2 fretboard to make it so you have any edge on the FB after you radius it

scottyd · #8 01-26-2009, 06:49 PM

I built a set of wide radius blocks, using a jig similar to this.

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/radius.htm

whitcomb-basses · #9 01-27-2009, 02:36 AM

Sorry. Due to my own ignorance and never building a 6 I didn't know 10" was too much. Thanks for the tips. I'll be looking into it.

vbasscustom · #10 01-27-2009, 11:41 AM

yeah, no need to apologise, but like a 16-20" radius should work out alright, id got with like a 19 probably. right in the middle, wel, not really, but close enough

tZer · #11 01-27-2009, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

A good table saw has a 10" blade. Clamp a sacrificial fence and run the board sideways several times and - Ta Da! A 10" sanding block in the size and length of your choosing for dirt cheap!

I am confused here. I was just talking about making radiused sanding blocks with my dad - a table saw virtuoso - and he suggested the very same thing.

But as I understand it, the blades DIAMETER is 10" - not it's radius. Doing it the way you suggest would leave you with a 5" radius, wouldn't it? - You'd need a 20" dia. blade to get a 10" radius, right?

When I pointed that out to dad, he said he was indeed thinking diameter and not radius when he suggested the table saw.

Or am I completely off on this?

erikbojerik · #12 01-27-2009, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

I have also put a 12" blade on my Unisaw to make a 12" diameter block.

...which would be a 6" radius block....