Cheap Innovations! New finishing jig!

[Lonnybass]

Fellow builders-

Here is a design for a finishing jig I created this weekend ahead of varnishing my next build. I've tried various devices on past instruments with varying degrees of success, and figured it was time to come up with an effective design without dropping $90 on Stew-Mac's freehand holder.

Here's what I came up with:

I began by constructing an L-shaped reinforced arm out of 2x4s that could be clamped into my portable work table (or similar surface). For me, I chose to go with the portable work table so I could set up the jig in an isolated part of the shop, far away from all the tooling, and still be able to generate dust on other builds without interfence.

Then, I went to Lowe's and picked up a few lengths of galvanized steel pipe, a T-joint, a few end couplers and two steel mounting rings. Using these, I made a mounting arm that can bolt into the neck pocket, a handle, and an attachment pin that couples to the mounting rings.



Mounting rings on upper arm:

The handle:

Bass body test-mounted and ready for finishing:

This design allows for full 360 degree hands-free rotation of the bass.
Total cost = about $19.

Enjoy! Feel free to sticky.

Lonnybass

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Well that is an inspired, well documented, and totally useful device.

I can't thank you enough for sharing this with us, I know I'm inspired now.

Thanks Lonnybass!
Dirk

 

[stevetx19]

sweet. So now you need to make me one for set neck/NT basses. I imagine it will need to go through the tuner peg hole. It might also be neat to somehow screw it into the pickup cavity.

 

[Lonnybass]

sweet. So now you need to make me one for set neck/NT basses. I imagine it will need to go through the tuner peg hole. It might also be neat to somehow screw it into the pickup cavity.

Working on it ahead of my upcoming NT!

 

[oldrookie]

Bringing back an old thread with a question.

Interested in building one of these, but wondering if you have a way to lock it in position.

If you don't, could the mounting ring collars be drilled and tapped to allow a screw/bolt to be tightened against the pipe to lock the body in whatever position was needed to work on fine detail work?

Still using the jig, or have you come up with a better, cheaper solution?

Thanks

 

[Lizooki]

Just by looking at it I would say that locking isn't needed. The rotation is in the threads of the pipe so the friction should hold it in place.

BUT, if you wanted, it could be drilled and tapped and a thumbscrew added.


Matt

 

[Lonnybass]

It's totally worth the trip to the hardware store and the half hour of assembly time - finishing is a BREEZE compared to when I tried to simply suspend the bodies via wire or manipulate them by hand.

In answer to the question about a locking mechanism, I really haven't felt it was necessary because the weight of the pipe arm and instrument body are substantial enough to prevent free rotation in the collar - there's enough friction to hold it essentially where you want it.
I've noticed some degree of pull to the left as this is the side of the guitar that has much more mass than the right, but I still prefer to have free-rotating access since I tend to keep one hand (right) on the handle to move the guitar while my left hand applies finish.

However, it would be entirely possible to put a second elbow joint on the other side of the arm with the handle, allowing for a counterweight arm or similar weight to balance things out a bit more if rotation is something you are concerned about. But, I haven't really run into the need for this myself and I've used the jig on 4 bodies now.

It's Friday...this sounds like a weekend project for you, doesn't it!

Lonnybass

 

[oldrookie]

Thanks Lonny,

Absolutely a this weekend project.

Good to know it works well as is.

Thanks,

Joel