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Neck Blanks
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Author:  Mike OMelia [ Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Neck Blanks
Where do I get mahogany neck blanks to build solid necks, from tenor uke up to regular sized guitars? I don't want to piece together necks from smaller blocks.

Right now, my need is for a tenor uke.

Mike
Author:  Chris Ensor [ Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Neck Blanks
Call Jerry at Hibdon Hardwoods. They have a LOT more than what is on the website.
Author:  Spyder [ Sun Jun 10, 2012 11:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Neck Blanks
Have you tried Hardwoods Inc? They are located in Shelby County, off the Shelby Co. Airport exit. A nice drive for you, but a real candy store if you love wood. They don't specifically carry luthery supplies, wood, or sets, but the guys there have told me more than once that luthiers all over north Alabama shop there for wood. Hard to know what they have in stock at any one time, just have to go look. But they usually have a great selection. There's a good chance they will have some thicker mahogany stock that would work for you. Worth a try, and at the very least, just fun to walk around and see what all they have.

My first trip there, i needed some 1" thick hard maple. The guy took me to the middle of the warehouse, cut the bands on a stack of lumber he'd pulled out with the big forklift, and said "have at it." So there i was, standing next to a stack of hard maple four feet high by four feet wide, all pieces 10 foot long. Yea, had me some fun!
Author:  klooker [ Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Neck Blanks
Call around for 12/4 Mahogany, it's fairly common for larger hardwood suppliers.

Then you have to go pick through the pile to find a suitable piece.

Kevin Looker
Author:  Goodin [ Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Neck Blanks
Check your local supplier like others said, and I also second Hibdon. I got some very nice billets from them. I will also add RC Tonewoods, one of the OLF sponsors. I have gotten some very nice billets from them and they will even glue up a center stripe veneer for a small fee.
Author:  Mike OMelia [ Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Neck Blanks
I do happen to have a local supplier (http://hardwoodcenter.com/) where I can find mahogany. Since I am new to neck building, what size am I looking for? (thickness). 12/4?

I read through the posts and got confused on flat sawn versus quarter sawn. But I will ask the hardwood place.

Mike
Author:  klooker [ Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Neck Blanks
Mike, for steel string, you want 12/4 flat sawn - about 3" thick.

You then flip it on edge which gives you a 3" wide quarter sawn neck blank.

Kevin Looker
Author:  John Arnold [ Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Neck Blanks
Quote:
I read through the posts and got confused on flat sawn versus quarter sawn.

Flat sawn is where the growth rings are parallel with the face of the board somewhere along its width.
Quartersawn is where the growth rings are perpendicular to the face of the board.
I use a 3X4X24 block to make two 14-fret guitar necks with a dovetail joint. For some reason, the industry seems to offer 30" long blocks for one-piece necks, which IMHO is a waste. You could make neck blocks from the remaining wood, but I prefer to cut those from 6/4 or 8/4 mahogany, which is cheaper than 12/4.
Also, if 16/4 mahogany is available, it gives you more options as to grain orientation. Back in the good old days, I would use 24" long mahogany 4X4's for necks. The waste piece in the center, being quartersawn and 4" wide, was ideal for neck blocks. That was when FAS 16/4 mahogany was $3.75 per board foot, which meant that a 4X4 block to make two necks was $10.
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