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Necks & Stuff
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Author:  Mike OMelia [ Fri Apr 04, 2014 11:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Necks & Stuff

So, I'm planning out my first necks and was wondering how you get the back of the peghead flat. I'm using 3x4 solid hog, two neck stock

MIKE

Author:  johnparchem [ Fri Apr 04, 2014 11:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Necks & Stuff

It is my one use for the safe-t plane. In the past I have also used a hand plane and a scraper. A belt sander can also be used.

Author:  Doug Balzer [ Fri Apr 04, 2014 11:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Necks & Stuff

I run the back of the headstock into my home made thickness sander and stop short of the nut. This gives a smooth, consistent plane and a gentle transition curve from headstock to neck. The absence of a feed belt on the thickness sander makes this possible. One of the easiest steps of the entire build.

Author:  Tom West [ Sat Apr 05, 2014 3:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Necks & Stuff

Same as Doug.............before starting that I used a router bit in the drill press.
Tom

Author:  Clay S. [ Sat Apr 05, 2014 5:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Necks & Stuff

With a Biesemeyer style fence you can trim most of the back of the peghead to thickness by running it between the fence and blade, shifting the fence to the other side of the blade and doing it again. With a high blade it leaves a small "triangle" of material at the "chin" to be trimmed and shaped with chisels or files.
With the bridal joined pegheads the headpiece is a uniform thickness and separate from the neck shaft, so simply planed to thickness.

Author:  klooker [ Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Necks & Stuff

Bandsaw, rasp, chisel, plane,sanding block and a combination square to make sure everything stays straight and square.

Kevin Looker

Author:  stan thomison [ Sat Apr 05, 2014 9:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Necks & Stuff

Several ways. Belt sander with a table that raises and easy to make. Wagner Safe T plane, or a thing like the luthier friend. Can also use hand tools that are good and sharp. I don't do a diamond volute, so fast and easy for me is the belt sander rig.

Author:  Dkeddy27 [ Sat Apr 05, 2014 9:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Necks & Stuff

Image
Sander with a simple aux table


May your sails be full & your glass never be empty!

Author:  Casey Cochran [ Sat Apr 05, 2014 12:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Necks & Stuff

Image
Plunge router.

Author:  EddieLee [ Sat Apr 05, 2014 4:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Necks & Stuff

I use a belt sander with a table like David. However, Casey's method I love that idea of. The belt sander gives a nice curve for the volute but I can also see some advantages to using a plug router. Maybe a combination. Looks link that would make a dart much easier.

Author:  Mike OMelia [ Sat Apr 05, 2014 7:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Necks & Stuff

I like these ideas. I was hoping to figure out the diamond volute. Is that what Casey's method leads to?

If so, does use a chisel to finish?

Man, for this stuff, I'd like to hang around a pro for a while!

Mike

Author:  Mike OMelia [ Sat Apr 05, 2014 7:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Necks & Stuff

Btw, on my belt sander, I can turn the belt feed off, so there is no reason I could not do the same

Mike

Author:  Casey Cochran [ Sun Apr 06, 2014 4:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Necks & Stuff

Mike, I do use a chisel to carve the peak. I may change this jig a bit by adding a clamp to hold the top of the peg head after using a drum sander to thickness the first inch or so. As it is now I have to be very mindful that the peg head face stays in contact with the bed of the jig.

Author:  ZekeM [ Sun Apr 06, 2014 5:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Necks & Stuff

I put an angle plate on a mill (a drill press table would suffice) and then chuck up a round piece of metal with sandpaper glued to it. Then run the headstock in. Essentially like a thickness sander turned on its side. Works well for me and I have the radius I want for the volute. The thickness sander method just left things too flat and I wanted a little bit of a hump here the volute was. I think I made my sanding "drum", if you will, a 2" diameter.

Author:  Goodin [ Mon Apr 07, 2014 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Necks & Stuff

So many ways to do this as you can see from previous comments. I'll add one more.

I do it on the spindle sander, which is sort of like the belt sander method that David posted above, but turned up on it's side, and less scary I think. I cut it close on the band saw and make sure the reference edge and top of the headstock are square. Then I clamp up a squared 3/4" billet to the back of the spindles sander with a gap between the spindle - just enough to feed the headstock through and take off a few thousandths. I feed it through and check for square, then if it all looks good, I progressively move the billet slightly closer to the spindle and take light passes until I get the desired thickness. Works for me. Just be sure you feed the headstock in the correct side!

Author:  Clay S. [ Mon Apr 07, 2014 1:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Necks & Stuff

Hi Mike,
If you want to make a neck with a diamond volute you should try the modified bridle joint. The back of the headstock then takes care of itself. With modern power tools and a few simple jigs it is a relatively easy joint to make.

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