I'm going to try and make a couple of necks. (PG-13 - May contain mild profanity) - Page 2

mcgeorgerl · November 1st, 2009, 10:48 PM

Good progress.

What radius did you use?

Are you going to have to sweeten up the fret slots after radiusing?

Did you have to fiddle with that Stanley Spokeshave to get it to work? Mine took a while....maybe I got a lemon.

And I love the repurposed cast iron sewing machine cabinet legs as a work table frame!

Ironwolf · November 2nd, 2009, 12:31 AM

The radius is 7 1/4 inches.

The fret slots will have to be "sweetened up when I start the freting process but for now they'll do while I start the finishing.

The spoke shave didn't give me any problems; it was just a matter of finding the proper cutting depth and angle on the blade.

I've spent the last couple of hours fine sanding up through 320 grit. Tomorrow I'll mix up some amber dye and give it a little color.

Mojotron · November 2nd, 2009, 11:13 PM

Looks great - really inspiring!

Ironwolf · November 2nd, 2009, 11:46 PM

Thanks for the complements. I've put off dyeing the neck until tomorrow night, it seems I'm out of alcohol, and will have to buy a can tomorrow.

Just for general accounting purposes, for people put off by making necks, I figure that the actual time I've spent on this, not counting the time to make templates, jigs and fixtures or waiting for glue to dry (skunk stripe, marker dots), is no more than 6 to 8 hrs from cutting the wood out of the big blank to the ready to finish state it's in now. So grab some tools and go to it gents!

Ironwolf · November 6th, 2009, 10:37 PM

I have the decals on and a couple of coats of wipe on Oil and Urethane. A couple of more coats on the head stock and I'll be ready to try my hand at fretting it.

Today I picked up a nice piece of birdseye maple for the telecaster neck. Here's a close up of one end of the board. The photograph only picks up about half of the birdseyeing that's there. I haven't tried laying a pattern on it yet, but it might be possible to get two neck blanks out of it.

Ironwolf · November 7th, 2009, 07:31 PM

I put another coat of poly on the Strat neck's headstock, and decided to start the process of making a neck for my "Super Tele" design. That's what the birdseye maple is for. The question will be, "What kind of wood to us for a fret board?". If I can find some that is straight enough at the local WoodCraft, I may use some Honduran or Bolivian rose wood. There are a lot of choices there, so we will see.

I cut a piece of MDF and using a couple of rulers, a StewMac neck pocket template and a tracing of a Tele headstock from a set of plans I have, I drew the outline for the Tele neck template.

Tomorrow, I should be able to cut and ready the template, and maybe the neck blank as well.

Ironwolf · November 7th, 2009, 10:31 PM

I took the template blank out to the garage and set up the bandsaw.

Rough cut the head stock:

Cut the sides and heel to finish.

Tomorrow morning I'll route the sides and sand the heel and headstock.

Ironwolf · November 8th, 2009, 10:47 PM

This morning I finished the template using the router table with a straight edge to do the sides, and the oscillating spindle sander and a hand block on the heel and headstock.

Ironwolf · November 8th, 2009, 10:59 PM

I then used the template to trace the neck on the birdseye maple blank.

Lots of birdseyes.

The bandsaw was used to cut the blank close to the line, and the oscillating spindle sander smoothed it out esentialy to the line.

The template was attached with double sided tape, all that was required for the router to take off was about the width of a pencil line, maybe 1/32nd of an inch all the way around.

hackworth1 · November 8th, 2009, 11:00 PM

Is that one of the Chinese $100 oscillating spindle sanders? How do you like it?

Ironwolf · November 8th, 2009, 11:14 PM

Next, I set up the drill press and using StewMac's tuner jig,

I drilled the headstock for the tuners.

That will probably be all on this neck untill next weekend; I'll have to get a truss rod and finger board before I can continue, and there isn't enough light to work by, when I get home in the evening.

Ironwolf · November 9th, 2009, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hackworth1

Is that one of the Chinese $100 oscillating spindle sanders? How do you like it?

I don't know. It's probably Chinese, seeing as how we don't make anything but hamburgers here anymore. I got it when I started my first guitar build, about a year and a half ago, at HarborFrieght. It only cost $89 then, and it's done what I asked it to.

tdowns · November 9th, 2009, 01:20 AM

You are doing some awesome work. Work to a level I would never attempt. Thanks for sharing.

Ironwolf · November 14th, 2009, 07:32 PM

The weather here is quite frigid today, in the low 30's. In fact, it was still in the 20's when I started this morning.

I set up the slide jig and cut the truss rod channel in the Tele neck.

Then, I thinned the headstock down to 9/16" to fit a set of Fender locking tuners.

Ironwolf · November 14th, 2009, 07:41 PM

I picked up a piece of Blood wood for the finger board. I think it will look very nice.

I cut the board almost to size, and glued it up with Tightbond.

This neck has a quarter inch overhang for 22 frets.

tdowns · November 15th, 2009, 12:01 AM

I guess it would push your limits for PG-13 if I told you the Wylie Texas area weather today was 77°F high and 63°F low.

Don't you think you could have got a few more clamps on the fretboard??

Again, nice work. I can't wait to see it finished.

Ironwolf · November 15th, 2009, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdowns

I guess it would push your limits for PG-13 if I told you the Wylie Texas area weather today was 77°F high and 63°F low.

Those are the kind of temperatures we were having here 3 or 4 weeks ago. Idaho only has two seasons Summer and winter. Think Sahara and Antarctica.

I started fretting the Strat neck using StewMac's fret press mounted in my drill press.

I tapped the ends into the slots with a hammer, then, using the press, squeezed the bejeez out of them.

Ironwolf · November 15th, 2009, 02:55 AM

Once I had them all in place,

I used the nippers to flush cut the ends.

I have a bit more finish work to do on it, and a couple of more tools to aquire, then I'll dress the fret ends and attempt to level and crown them.

barkley · November 15th, 2009, 04:54 AM

Hey iron wolf, looking good!!

maybe you mentioned this earlier, but are these your first neck builds?
If so, holy cow thats some careful work!!

Also, any glue or anything in the fret slots? Or just lots of pressure pushing them in?

Ricky D. · November 15th, 2009, 10:26 AM

Very impressive work!

Ironwolf · November 15th, 2009, 12:47 PM

Thanks for the compliments, and yes these are the first necks I've made.

Mark-00255 · November 15th, 2009, 09:00 PM

Nice work, man! The blood wood fingerboard ought to look really cool!

Ironwolf · November 15th, 2009, 11:07 PM

I flush trimmed the fret board with the router table. I had a chip out near the nut, but fortunately, once the fret board is thinned to a quarter inch (it's currently 3/8'') and radiused, it will be completely gone.

Ironwolf · November 16th, 2009, 12:19 AM

I rebored the tuner holes on the Strat neck to fit a set of vintage style tuners.

That will probably be it till next weekend.

gsoutherland · November 20th, 2009, 11:44 AM

Ironwolf, I like that jig you built. what are the dimensions on it?

Ironwolf · November 20th, 2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsoutherland

Ironwolf, I like that jig you built. what are the dimensions on it?

It is made of 3/4 ply (voidless birch) It's about 30 inches long. and about 6'' wide (inside dimensions; width to accommodate a Strat style headstock). The sides are 1 1/2 inches high as currently configured. There is a removable 3/4 thick bed in the bottom that can be removed for working on a set neck.

Ironwolf · November 21st, 2009, 10:34 PM

Today I built a radiusing router slide for the jig box. Tomorrow morning I'll try thinning and then radiusing the fret board of the Tele neck. Stay tuned.

thinline4fatty · November 21st, 2009, 10:57 PM

Impressive.

gsoutherland · November 21st, 2009, 11:33 PM

Quote:

It is made of 3/4 ply (voidless birch) It's about 30 inches long. and about 6'' wide (inside dimensions; width to accommodate a Strat style headstock). The sides are 1 1/2 inches high as currently configured. There is a removable 3/4 thick bed in the bottom that can be removed for working on a set neck.

Thanks, Ironwolf, I got my pieces cut today! Hopefully I'll get to assemble it tomorrow.

Ironwolf · November 22nd, 2009, 11:33 PM

I thinned the fret board to 1/4".

I was planning to radius the fret board, but then I realized, fortunately, that I would be getting way ahead of myself. For those who might be curious, however, here is a shot of the radiusing sled I made yesterday.

Ironwolf · November 22nd, 2009, 11:41 PM

I set up the jig box as a miter box and cut the fret slots.

Then a little basic geometry, a few minutes with the drill press, and a dowel let me do the marker dots.

Well, that's it for today.

Zatar · November 23rd, 2009, 04:34 AM

truly nice work! By the time you've finished those 3 necks you would've taught me enough to build some myself :D

Ironwolf · November 24th, 2009, 08:31 AM

After the glue dried the dots and fret board were sanded flat.

Ironwolf · November 28th, 2009, 09:56 PM

Today, I carve the neck (carved the turkey the other day, so I'm ready).

Here are the tools laid out, ready to go.

After about an hours work, its ready for hand sanding with a block.

15 or 20 minutes with a hand block loaded with 100 grit paper has it ready for the next step.

Ironwolf · November 28th, 2009, 10:04 PM

I have a number of things to do today, including my niece's 16th birthday party, s this is probably as far as I'll get today.

Using the radiusing router sled, I put a 71/4 inch radius in the fret board, then gave it a quick rub down with 100 grit paper in StewMac's radius block. It took longer to set up the routing jig than to cut and sand the radius; less than 15 minutes to cut and sand.

Ironwolf · November 29th, 2009, 02:23 PM

Last night I fretted this one while watching the discovery channel. Now I need to clean up and bevel the fret ends.

Ironwolf · November 29th, 2009, 02:52 PM

Done, and done.

Next is a little fine grit polish sanding, and finishing decisions.

Ironwolf · January 9th, 2010, 04:59 PM

Both necks were dyed with an alcohol based amber and finished with wipe on oil based gloss poly urethane. they just need a level and crown, and the nut mounted.

The Strat neck will be used on the mahogany Strat body running in another thread.

Leigh · January 9th, 2010, 08:02 PM

Wish I had seen this before starting my neck.

Amazing work, and this is your first necks?

I don't think I'm enjoying my neck build!

November 2nd, 2009, 12:31 AM	#42 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	The radius is 7 1/4 inches. The fret slots will have to be "sweetened up when I start the freting process but for now they'll do while I start the finishing. The spoke shave didn't give me any problems; it was just a matter of finding the proper cutting depth and angle on the blade. I've spent the last couple of hours fine sanding up through 320 grit. Tomorrow I'll mix up some amber dye and give it a little color. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 2nd, 2009, 11:46 PM	#44 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	Thanks for the complements. I've put off dyeing the neck until tomorrow night, it seems I'm out of alcohol, and will have to buy a can tomorrow. Just for general accounting purposes, for people put off by making necks, I figure that the actual time I've spent on this, not counting the time to make templates, jigs and fixtures or waiting for glue to dry (skunk stripe, marker dots), is no more than 6 to 8 hrs from cutting the wood out of the big blank to the ready to finish state it's in now. So grab some tools and go to it gents! __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 6th, 2009, 10:37 PM	#45 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	I have the decals on and a couple of coats of wipe on Oil and Urethane. A couple of more coats on the head stock and I'll be ready to try my hand at fretting it. Today I picked up a nice piece of birdseye maple for the telecaster neck. Here's a close up of one end of the board. The photograph only picks up about half of the birdseyeing that's there. I haven't tried laying a pattern on it yet, but it might be possible to get two neck blanks out of it. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 7th, 2009, 07:31 PM	#46 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	I put another coat of poly on the Strat neck's headstock, and decided to start the process of making a neck for my "Super Tele" design. That's what the birdseye maple is for. The question will be, "What kind of wood to us for a fret board?". If I can find some that is straight enough at the local WoodCraft, I may use some Honduran or Bolivian rose wood. There are a lot of choices there, so we will see. I cut a piece of MDF and using a couple of rulers, a StewMac neck pocket template and a tracing of a Tele headstock from a set of plans I have, I drew the outline for the Tele neck template. Tomorrow, I should be able to cut and ready the template, and maybe the neck blank as well. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 7th, 2009, 10:31 PM	#47 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	I took the template blank out to the garage and set up the bandsaw. Rough cut the head stock: Cut the sides and heel to finish. Tomorrow morning I'll route the sides and sand the heel and headstock. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 1st, 2009, 10:48 PM	#41 (permalink)
mcgeorgerl TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Age: 54 Posts: 99	Good progress. What radius did you use? Are you going to have to sweeten up the fret slots after radiusing? Did you have to fiddle with that Stanley Spokeshave to get it to work? Mine took a while....maybe I got a lemon. And I love the repurposed cast iron sewing machine cabinet legs as a work table frame!

November 2nd, 2009, 11:13 PM	#43 (permalink)
Mojotron Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Seattle Age: 45 Posts: 403	Looks great - really inspiring!

November 8th, 2009, 10:47 PM	#48 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	This morning I finished the template using the router table with a straight edge to do the sides, and the oscillating spindle sander and a hand block on the heel and headstock. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 8th, 2009, 10:59 PM	#49 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	I then used the template to trace the neck on the birdseye maple blank. Lots of birdseyes. The bandsaw was used to cut the blank close to the line, and the oscillating spindle sander smoothed it out esentialy to the line. The template was attached with double sided tape, all that was required for the router to take off was about the width of a pencil line, maybe 1/32nd of an inch all the way around. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 8th, 2009, 11:00 PM	#50 (permalink)
hackworth1 Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: florida Age: 69 Posts: 353	Is that one of the Chinese $100 oscillating spindle sanders? How do you like it?

November 8th, 2009, 11:14 PM	#51 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	Next, I set up the drill press and using StewMac's tuner jig, I drilled the headstock for the tuners. That will probably be all on this neck untill next weekend; I'll have to get a truss rod and finger board before I can continue, and there isn't enough light to work by, when I get home in the evening. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 9th, 2009, 01:20 AM	#53 (permalink)
tdowns Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Wylie, TX US Posts: 3,211	You are doing some awesome work. Work to a level I would never attempt. Thanks for sharing. __________________ Best regards, Terry Downs http://terrydownsmusic.com Equine quadrupeds may be coaxed to the reference of specific gravity but may not be compelled to imbibe thereof.

November 14th, 2009, 07:32 PM	#54 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	The weather here is quite frigid today, in the low 30's. In fact, it was still in the 20's when I started this morning. I set up the slide jig and cut the truss rod channel in the Tele neck. Then, I thinned the headstock down to 9/16" to fit a set of Fender locking tuners. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 14th, 2009, 07:41 PM	#55 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	I picked up a piece of Blood wood for the finger board. I think it will look very nice. I cut the board almost to size, and glued it up with Tightbond. This neck has a quarter inch overhang for 22 frets. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 15th, 2009, 12:01 AM	#56 (permalink)
tdowns Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Wylie, TX US Posts: 3,211	I guess it would push your limits for PG-13 if I told you the Wylie Texas area weather today was 77°F high and 63°F low. Don't you think you could have got a few more clamps on the fretboard?? Again, nice work. I can't wait to see it finished. __________________ Best regards, Terry Downs http://terrydownsmusic.com Equine quadrupeds may be coaxed to the reference of specific gravity but may not be compelled to imbibe thereof.

November 15th, 2009, 02:55 AM	#58 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	Once I had them all in place, I used the nippers to flush cut the ends. I have a bit more finish work to do on it, and a couple of more tools to aquire, then I'll dress the fret ends and attempt to level and crown them. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 15th, 2009, 04:54 AM	#59 (permalink)
barkley Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canberra Australia Age: 28 Posts: 539	Hey iron wolf, looking good!! maybe you mentioned this earlier, but are these your first neck builds? If so, holy cow thats some careful work!! Also, any glue or anything in the fret slots? Or just lots of pressure pushing them in?

November 15th, 2009, 10:26 AM	#60 (permalink)
Ricky D. Friend of Leo's Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Maryland Age: 59 Posts: 2,224	Very impressive work!

November 15th, 2009, 12:47 PM	#61 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	Thanks for the compliments, and yes these are the first necks I've made. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 15th, 2009, 09:00 PM	#62 (permalink)
Mark-00255 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South of Seattle, WA Age: 52 Posts: 688	Nice work, man! The blood wood fingerboard ought to look really cool!

November 15th, 2009, 11:07 PM	#63 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	I flush trimmed the fret board with the router table. I had a chip out near the nut, but fortunately, once the fret board is thinned to a quarter inch (it's currently 3/8'') and radiused, it will be completely gone. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 16th, 2009, 12:19 AM	#64 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	I rebored the tuner holes on the Strat neck to fit a set of vintage style tuners. That will probably be it till next weekend. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 20th, 2009, 11:44 AM	#65 (permalink)
gsoutherland TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cincinnati Age: 32 Posts: 90 4 Photos	Ironwolf, I like that jig you built. what are the dimensions on it?

November 21st, 2009, 10:34 PM	#67 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	Today I built a radiusing router slide for the jig box. Tomorrow morning I'll try thinning and then radiusing the fret board of the Tele neck. Stay tuned. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 21st, 2009, 10:57 PM	#68 (permalink)
thinline4fatty Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: USA Posts: 154 27 Photos	Impressive.

IMPORTANT:Treat everyone here with respect, no matter how difficult! No sex, drug, political, religion or hate discussion permitted here.

November 22nd, 2009, 11:33 PM	#70 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	I thinned the fret board to 1/4". I was planning to radius the fret board, but then I realized, fortunately, that I would be getting way ahead of myself. For those who might be curious, however, here is a shot of the radiusing sled I made yesterday. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 22nd, 2009, 11:41 PM	#71 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	I set up the jig box as a miter box and cut the fret slots. Then a little basic geometry, a few minutes with the drill press, and a dowel let me do the marker dots. Well, that's it for today. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 23rd, 2009, 04:34 AM	#72 (permalink)
Zatar TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hamme - Belgium Age: 21 Posts: 30 4 Photos	truly nice work! By the time you've finished those 3 necks you would've taught me enough to build some myself :D

November 24th, 2009, 08:31 AM	#73 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	After the glue dried the dots and fret board were sanded flat. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 28th, 2009, 09:56 PM	#74 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	Today, I carve the neck (carved the turkey the other day, so I'm ready). Here are the tools laid out, ready to go. After about an hours work, its ready for hand sanding with a block. 15 or 20 minutes with a hand block loaded with 100 grit paper has it ready for the next step. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 28th, 2009, 10:04 PM	#75 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	I have a number of things to do today, including my niece's 16th birthday party, s this is probably as far as I'll get today. Using the radiusing router sled, I put a 71/4 inch radius in the fret board, then gave it a quick rub down with 100 grit paper in StewMac's radius block. It took longer to set up the routing jig than to cut and sand the radius; less than 15 minutes to cut and sand. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 29th, 2009, 02:23 PM	#76 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	Last night I fretted this one while watching the discovery channel. Now I need to clean up and bevel the fret ends. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

November 29th, 2009, 02:52 PM	#77 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	Done, and done. Next is a little fine grit polish sanding, and finishing decisions. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

January 9th, 2010, 04:59 PM	#78 (permalink)
Ironwolf Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Age: 53 Posts: 1,509	Both necks were dyed with an alcohol based amber and finished with wipe on oil based gloss poly urethane. they just need a level and crown, and the nut mounted. The Strat neck will be used on the mahogany Strat body running in another thread. __________________ Oderint Dum Metuant - Nero Caesar

January 9th, 2010, 08:02 PM	#79 (permalink)
Leigh Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Northamptonshire, UK Posts: 154	Wish I had seen this before starting my neck. Amazing work, and this is your first necks? I don't think I'm enjoying my neck build!