Making a traditional trussrod

[Canadianbreed]

Here is a video short I did showing how I make my trussrods.

[JessRey]

Thanks for this Bill, I am about to start making a few and had some questions. Thanks again!

[bcruise]

Thanks for sharing! I'm currently doing my first build, and have watched your other YouTube videos as well.

I've chosen to do a neck-adjust truss rod, but this is very instructive.

[jonal335]

I've always made my own truss rods , years ago we had to - there were none available. I think it's a great way for builders to get a little metal-working experience. The rods and tools are not expensive and are available at most hardware stores. Maybe more builders should give it a try - I know that I find it very enjoyable...

[Mojotron]

Originally Posted by jonal335

I've always made my own truss rods , years ago we had to - there were none available. I think it's a great way for builders to get a little metal-working experience. The rods and tools are not expensive and are available at most hardware stores. Maybe more builders should give it a try - I know that I find it very enjoyable...

I agree - I'm always trying to make my truss rods better too. When you make your own you have every option you want - put the anchor in heel or under the nut... make it out of 1/8" rod... make the neck as long or short as you want... It's not difficult or expensive - one just needs to make a couple of practice rods.

I like the peghead adjustment - so I make most of my rods like this.

[jonal335]

I make my anchors crossways like yours, rather than lengthways like Bill S. It seems easier to place into the neck; but I think I will try Bills way next time - just to see how it works...

[Mojotron]

Originally Posted by jonal335

I make my anchors crossways like yours, rather than lengthways like Bill S. It seems easier to place into the neck; but I think I will try Bills way next time - just to see how it works...

Ya, when I got started I just copied what Warmoth was doing - I think it's simpler to do it the way I do and the peg head adjust allows me to do a lot of tweaks on the rod if I want to.

Another thing that makes the machining a lot easier is Rapid Tap oil:

I don't know what they put in there, but when I drill or tap/die with Rapid Tap it makes it all go really smooth - I can drill at 500 RPM - keep things really cool - and I can thread an inch of 10/32 threads on 1018 steel rod without having to clear the filings - Rapid Tap is great stuff.

Also - it helps if you drill a 3/16" hole through a block of cheap wood and drive the wood down as you thread the rod - it keeps even pressure on the base of the die - keeping it all straight while rotating like this:




That way the thread width is even on both sides; even threading is the name of the game for a strong anchor.

[CapnCrunch]

This thread is just in the nick of time for me. I've been putzing along on my first neck build and was trying to work through the rod building. There is info in other threads but I haven't seen a detailed walkthrough on building the rod. Then, here this is...........

Thanks Bill! I love the videos. I have watched your neck building vids several times. They are much more useful than just a simple build thread with pictures (for me anyway).

[Colt W. Knight]

Here is how I do mine. I prefer heel adjustment rods.


http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home...ty-issues.html

[Jack Wells]

Good job! Nice video. Seems to me that four teeth on the anchor would be better than eight ...... like this one available from Warmoth, although either will probably work fine.

......

I wonder what sort of anchor Fender used on one piece necks in the early days. I know they used a metal plate on the early two piece necks.