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 Post subject: Scarf Jointed Set necks
PostPosted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 1:59 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:27 pm
Posts: 277
First name: James
Last Name: Greene
State: Maine
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
For those of you doing scarf jointed set necks - What size rough cut stock are you using? 4/4, 5/4 or 6/4?

I have been using 4/4 for years but I always have to add an extra piece of wood to the heel so that it is thick enough. Sometimes it looks good but other times it looks slightly less professional. I'd love to not have this extra added heel piece. I think if I used 5/4 or 6/4 stock I would have a thick enough blank to start with. There would be a little more waste wood to burn in my woodstove and it would also slightly change the location where I have to cut the scarf joint because the more material you remove from the back of a neck the further the visible joint moves towards the heel.

How are you approaching scarf joints and what size stock are you using? Do you use 4/4 and add an extra piece for the heel or do you use 5/4 or 6/4 to avoid that?


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 9:29 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 1:46 pm
Posts: 2124
First name: Freeman
Last Name: Keller
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I've used a lot of 3 x 7/8 mahogany in various lengths from LMII (cause I'm lazy and its easy to order from them) This is the build up for an slot head acoustic, two pieces for the heel and a little volute that will be carved into a dart

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For a thin body electric neck the heel is one extra piece - whatever is required

Three inches is wide enough for most headstocks but you can add wings if needed. How I approach the scarf joint is to make the cut at 15 or 16 degrees or whatever, thin the headstock part with a Safe-t-plane, flip it over and glue it up (it will want to skate around). Add the heel pieces and start shaping

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I am pretty careful about making all the saw and router cuts with square sides if possible, which means I lay out most of the heel and tenon before I start shaping

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I've never found the joint lines at either end to be objectionable and it sure uses a lot less wood


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 5:55 pm 
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Contributing Member
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Joined: Fri May 18, 2012 8:35 pm
Posts: 2658
Location: Austin, Texas
First name: Dan
Last Name: Smith
City: Round Rock
State: TX
Zip/Postal Code: 78681
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I use 4/4 due to availability.
It's neat to extend the body to create the heel.
Makes the neck joint easier, and it looks beefy.
Dan


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 6:50 pm 
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Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:32 pm
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First name: Alex
Last Name: Kleon
City: Whitby
State: Ontario
Zip/Postal Code: L1N8X2
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Might not be the solution you're looking for, but maybe use 4/4 stock for the neck and scarfed headstock, and 12/4 for the heel. One stick of thick stock will do a bunch of one piece heels.

Alex

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PostPosted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 11:34 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:27 pm
Posts: 277
First name: James
Last Name: Greene
State: Maine
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
dzsmith wrote:
I use 4/4 due to availability.
It's neat to extend the body to create the heel.
Makes the neck joint easier, and it looks beefy.
Dan



For that particular style that is a great look indeed.



These users thanked the author Irving for the post: dzsmith (Wed Jul 19, 2017 5:49 pm)
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