Official Luthiers Forum!

Are there any commercially available roundover/roundunder router bits that will carve a decent neck profile?

I thought i saw a roundunder that looked like it might work. i think it was an eagle america

In my minds eye because the neck is tapered in both width and thickness a round over bit on a router table is not going to work.

I used a custom bit for years doing this. Not just a roundover bit but one custom made to my specs/neck profile...pretty pricey. You simply have to make a jig to hold the neck that follows the taper of the neck, as well as the thickness. Basically the jig just gets thinner as you move up the neck making the neck have less routed off. I'm not making much sense but I can see it perfectly in my minds eye...

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

John I can see that working for a rough in or a as a D profile.

John, how do you make necks now if that is how you used to? thanks

CNC

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I don't see anything wrong with useing one to remove most the waste than finishing up by hand.I've done it that way before.It saves alot of time.

I have one I"ll sell, but it's a shaper cutter...3/4" bore...used it just as John said...got rid of the shaper when I moved into the new shop tho...PM if interested!

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

Just look at the tutorial on making necks in the tutorial section. Geez, don't you guys check out other sections here?
viewtopic.php?f=10117&t=15991

Johns heliocopter bit was great. But darn when started up his shaper felt like needed to find a hole to hide in just in case. It was safe, but looks scary. I am thinking of having one made, but files, scrapers, paper and other tools work well also.

I use a big one inch bit in my router table to shape the neck to the general shape. I think it is actually called a round under bit. I make Greek bouzoukis, so the necks are pretty thin. Even though they taper in width and thickness, the router bit removes most of the waste and gives you a general shape. Then I just use rasps and sanding blocks to finalize the shape. It saved a ton of time and effort.

It was scary!! For some reason everytime I fired up the shaper I'd cover my man parts....just in case. I can live without an ear or something but...well...you know.

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com