Neck shaping question.....

[Dusty G]

Can anyone recommend a good size "cutting length and radius etc." of a roundover bit to be used as a shaper to carve the back of a neck? I know some of you guys must do this....
Gotta go to work!

thanks!

 

[Dusty G]

Boring question perhaps??

 

[tjclem]

I don't use a router for the back of my necks. I use everything from a 4" grinder to rasps, hand planes and files.......t

 

[Linas]

I think i read in Melvyn Hiscocks book that Wal uses a spindle moulder to rough shape their necks, but that many have gotten injured using it.

 

[FBB Custom]

Yeah I don't know how many folks on here you will find using a shaper/router to do their neck shaping.

 

[tribal3140]

it was on the mimf charity bass page.
but he built a fairly complex jig to do that on a router table!

I think the grinder/rasp , or for me the " belt sander artist"
will work just fine and just as efficientlyT
T

 

[wilser]

take a 45 deg cut on the bandsaw to rough out the bulk and then use microplanes. I can carve a neck in 30 mins.

 

[Suburban]

Spokeshaves, files and scrapers do a 34" neck with head and heel in less than an hour.
Routing with a superbit would require 2x(setup+aligning+ routing)+filing+scraping. Unless you go semi-industrial, you will gain very little - and loose the satisfaction...

 

[Phil Mailloux]

David Myka does this with a jig. He once put a picture of the jig in question on the project guitar forum for anyone who's interested in searching for it.

 

[wilser]

David Myka does this with a jig. He once put a picture of the jig in question on the project guitar forum for anyone who's interested in searching for it.

http://www.mykaguitars.com/tools/neckcarvejig/default.htm

 

[Musiclogic]

2 router bits you can ponder. 7/8" roundover and a 2 1/2" Table edge bits. You can use either of these to rough out your shape. You will still need a spokeshave or microplanes to finish the shape, and of course, a good deal of sanding, but I hope this answers your question.

Personally, I use surforms, microplanes, and spokeshaves. I avoid the router/shaper method, as my necks are asymetrical.

 

[MNbassist]

Dont use a router, nor should you use any other power tool, the risk of screwing something up is pretty high, also go out and get urself a rasp, hand plane and some files and go by feel....nothing is better than hand shaped wood

 

[Musiclogic]

Dont use a router, nor should you use any other power tool, the risk of screwing something up is pretty high, also go out and get urself a rasp, hand plane and some files and go by feel....nothing is better than hand shaped wood

I would agree with this for newbies to power tools. For those quite comfortable with routers and shapers, there shouldn't be much chance of mistakes as long as you know your ability.

 

[lowtide]

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3206992#post3206992

This is an interesting read on neck construction

 

[Dusty G]

I hear everybody!
I love to carve an all maple neck by hand, it's like being a kid playing w/ play dough!

I'de like to machine my necks, cuz I'm looking to get more work done in the veeeeeery little time I have to build guitars.

I find it gratifying to carve a neck by hand too, but I love to use a lot of ironwoods, and it's tough on my tools and my time. I don't even use maple anymore, really.

I have people interested in buying guitars from me, but I'm intimidated at the prospect of having too much work to do in too little time, or feeling rushed. I only have 6 - 8 hours a week. Anyway, that's why. The need for speed.

Btw:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...92#post3206992

I second that link, Wilser's the man

 

[wilser]

Btw:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...92#post3206992

I second that link, Wilser's the man

3 things, Dusty:

1. link doesn't work.
2. I'm flattered.
3. I think it's been well established that BUDMAN IS DA MAN

 

[Dusty G]

Hmmm it worked yesterday...

All you guys are "the man!"

 

[lowtide]

I hear everybody! I'de like to machine my necks, cuz I'm looking to get more work done in the veeeeeery little time I have to build guitars.

With this reasoning I'd be thinking of buying the neck(s) instead.

 

[Dusty G]

With this reasoning I'd be thinking of buying the neck(s) instead.

That doesn't make sense...I love building my own unique guitar necks.
I think I found the right size and shape roundover bit that could do this.
The neck would be face-down. At the nut end of the neck, the roundover would overlap itself the most on both sides, and gradually overlap less going down towards the body as the neck gets wider. This would also automatically make the neck thinner at the nut, getting thicker down the neck.
It's a BIG BIT. I'de do it very carefully, with multiple passes.
Again, this is on wood that's hard to work, not maple

 

[Dusty G]

2 router bits you can ponder. 7/8" roundover and a 2 1/2" Table edge bits. You can use either of these to rough out your shape. You will still need a spokeshave or microplanes to finish the shape, and of course, a good deal of sanding, but I hope this answers your question.

Personally, I use surforms, microplanes, and spokeshaves. I avoid the router/shaper method, as my necks are asymetrical.

That's the one, the 7/8" bit. Thanks!