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A question about neck laminates

Bassgeer

Bassgeer

Supporting Member
Nov 6, 2011
1,257
2,369
Canada
www.houseofpines.com
#1
Hey Guys,

I'm relatively new here, and have recently started my first build thread (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/im-finished-university-build-978602/) and am already in need of some advice. I posted this question under my build thread and thought I'd repost as a separate thread instead of bumping my build thread.

Basically, I have a perfect flame maple neck blank that I want to cut into thirds, and laminate bloodwood strips into. However, the plank which I will cut the bloodwood laminations from is warped slightly, so I was wondering if it is okay to go ahead and use it: will gluing the neck together correct the slight warp? or will this make the neck unstable?

I posted a more detailed (ie more verbose) explanation under my build thread as well.

Thanks in advance for the guidance.
 
#2
You correct for the warpage by now trimming the board to flat, whether you make the neck one-piece or five-piece.

My recommendation is to cut the board into three strips, leaving them a little oversize. Let the three strips sit for a month and see if they twist any further. Then, set them up in a router fixture and trim them to flat. Don't bend them flat, cut away the wood to make the surfaces flat. When you are ready to do the glue up, all of the strips should fit flat against each other, with no need to force them with clamps.

The idea is:
Wood will often bend and twist as it dries out.
Cut it fairly close to the final size.
Let it dry out and be done with its bending.
Then, trim it flat and straight.
It should stay that way.
 
#3
Bassgeer,

What Bruce said is absolutely correct. You need to flatten the warped wood first before gluing it as a laminate.

If you have got no dimensional issue (you cant really thin it down because the thickness of it is very close to what you need), then you can do heat up the wood (about 45-50 degrees Celsius) and clamp it opposite way. When the wood cools down completely (about 2-3 hours), remove the clamp and it will stay flat.


Harry
 
#5
I think so. I even used more traditional approach. I used iron, the one for the clothes:D

In my case, it was a bowed and slightly twisted neck (realised it just before gluing up the fb).

What I did was I placed 2 small blocks of off cuts, with the same thickness, 1 under the headstock and 1 under the heel, and clamped both points lightly. Make sure, you are doing this in a clat surface.

The position of the neck was the center of the bow facing up. I placed my clamp just right on the center of the bow and clamp it to straight (I used my straightedge to test). Once I was happy with it, I tightened the other 2 clamps. I placed my iron on top of the wood starting with the left side of yhe center clamp for a minute or two, and then to the right side of it and so on until I reached the temperature. Once I reached the temperature, I stopped and let it clamped for 2-3 hours before releasing the clamp.

I actually took some pictures for the clamping process.

8749246852_52079ef106.jpg
8748124999_51325a4356.jpg


In the images I used more than 3 clamps, but after the process I realised that I only needed 3.

I don't have any records for he twisted fix, but the logic is, find a way to counteract the wood condition, clamp it straight, heat it up, and let it sit for few hours.

I know how you feel when you found out about it, I almost throwed the neck away to the bin. I was so dissapointed.

I hope it helps, please ask if anything that I said doesn't make any sense.

Harry
 
#7
Bassgeer said:
Thanks again for the assist, and for really going into detail for me! I will have to try this when the time comes around. I'm still making templates, but am doing research like crazy on anything that I don't understand in the build steps to come.

Cheers!
Click to expand...

I really do hope it works out for you.

The very neck that was in the picture is actually being used in my current build here

Drop by when you have got spare time... The neck turns out fantastic. It might be the thinnest 5 string neck that I have ever made/played (17.5mm @ nut, 18mm @ fret 12)

Fingers crossed, it would be stable. I have got to try it to know whether it works, just like what you are about to do :):):)

Let me know how you go with it.


Harry
 

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