I am starting to form some leftover tongue & groove oak flooring into a neck. After planing it into a rough rectangle it is a tad wider and a 1/16" or so less deep than a 1x2.. My skills are not so very good, so when I say 'rough' rectangle that's exactly what it is. But I like the 'found object' aspect so away we go. Someone must have already done this... any words of wisdom from the Tribe?

Also: when I look at the end of a piece and I see the tongue I wonder if it could be sawn in such a way as to make the tongue a bridge??

Hopefully this illustrates what I mean. Is oak tough enough to handle string tension on a 3-banger?

Views: 1092

Replies to This Discussion

Here's another build from leftover oak flooring. Really like the Brickhouse box and will be searching for more. Unfortunately, the rest of the oak that I own is rather warped... unsure if I can get another neck out of it.

The U.S. flooring chain Lumber Liquidators sells unfinished hardwood flooring in custom bundles, by the square foot. Has anyone ever bought from them? For "utility" grade oak, looks like three-string necks could be as little as a buck apiece, assuming the bundles aren't overloaded with shorts and you're able to rip wide planks into narrow neck strips. I suspect short planks and cut ends would make good headstocks and heels.

Anyone ever dealt with them? I'm loathe to bother a sales clerk for a lot as small as mine without knowing how they make bundles.

I have some issues with Lumber Liquidators, based on previous experience, I'm sure lots of folks have had a good experience, but I did not. They sell in Random Lengths. That is why it is cheap. Last lot of "Random Lengths" that I had to work with came in a box 84 inches long, there was one piece at 5 ft, Nothing else over 18 inches, and a bunch of pieces at 7 to 8 inches. Completely worthless for laying a floor. Beware of random lengths! Most of the Big Box stores all sell Hardwood Flooring in 21sq foot boxes (4' long box). The industry standard "Average length" in such packaging is 18 inches. So you will find a few at 36 inches, a few at 12 and 6 inches, a bunch at lengths in between. I suspect there would lots of 2 footers in the box. For your case of flooring you might only get one neck.

I think that Cabinet Fill Strips from the big box stores would be viable for necks. Lengths of 3x36" to 3x96", in woods of Oak, Hickory, Cherry etc. prices from $10 to about $60 each.Since it is Cabinet grade, it looks very straight, nice grain, and finish.

Also there are stores that sell Insurance Salvage building materials. Lots of times it is new in box, but damaged, broken boxes, or it got wet or similar. They might have broken boxes you could pick through. Architectural recyclers might be a source where you could pick through, and my favorite is to peek around in back of Consignment Stores and Antique Stores, I once found a large Oak Table that was damaged beyond repair in back of an antique store, they let me haul it off for the asking, I am still cutting pieces of Oak off that table for projects. Could probably build 40 necks out of what is left.

Thanks, Q, for the info. They seemed remarkably evasive about what's in those bundles, but apparently it's far worse than I feared. 

I trashpicked a remarkably nice solid maple Craftsman-style headboard (inspected carefully for bedbug traces) and it's in quarantine in the back yard right now. Each of the two endposts should yield three or four clean necks, and the rails smell like heads, heels, biscuits, and bridges. There's also a huge panel that I haven't figured out what to do with.

Nice find, to me that is what it is all about! The Maple Panel might make good Fret Boards. Laminated on top of a piece of not so pretty oak or Maple neck? Might even be able to salvage the old finish.....

First Act made an all Bamboo guitar one year in a limited run and they sounded awesome. I considered buying a box of Bamboo flooring planks from Lowe's at 43 dollars to build a semi-hollow Strat. The boards are tongue-n-groove, but they are all 48" long x 3.5" wide x 3/4" thick. Plenty of material to do a full size guitar body and neck or two. Beware of the flooring that is veneer over ply or pressed sawdust though, make sure you get solid wood for guitar/CBG building.

Although I have heard a good sounding guitar with a body made of MDF with Lipstick Tube pickups, I usually prefer solid wood for my builds.

great idea for bridge yes ...but  u need to check how the lines of yer wood go ..basicly if u put a string on it the lines of the wood and the string should make a cross otherwis it wil defo break at one point

 Many builders and some manufacturers have use laminated necks over the last 60 years. Depends on how good the glue and bonds are. Some guitar companies are known to have problems with broken necks(aka-the scarf joint), but others have a lot of success with it. Laminated necks are said to be stronger than solid wood necks and less likely to warp. I've even seen a plywood neck before and I remember that there's a member here that has a plywood neck on his CBG.

Just need good glue, good bonding and a good adjustable trussrod.

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Discussion Forum

Cutting deep boxes in half

Started by Justin Stanchfield. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 20. 9 Replies

Attention 1st time builders!

Started by BrianQ.. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 27. 2 Replies

Brickhouse CBG Wiring

Started by Ian Boyd. Last reply by Ian Boyd Dec 11, 2023. 1 Reply

Fretless fret markers

Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Michael Myers Apr 20, 2023. 8 Replies

canjo building and tuning

Started by Brenda. Last reply by MadGomer Dec 3, 2022. 5 Replies

Minimum tools needed

Started by Wichita Sam. Last reply by Taffy Evans Nov 14, 2022. 21 Replies

High G problem

Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Taffy Evans Nov 3, 2022. 4 Replies

Doubling the high string

Started by Robert Killen. Last reply by Paul Craig Oct 14, 2022. 23 Replies

Aluminum License Plate

Started by Larry Sobol. Last reply by Larry Sobol Oct 1, 2022. 6 Replies

C. B. Gifty three string fretless kits.

Started by jon neet. Last reply by Taffy Evans Aug 16, 2022. 6 Replies

Frettin' and stainin'

Started by Doug Laffin. Last reply by Order99 Aug 11, 2022. 4 Replies

Bolt on neck to a set neck body?

Started by Paul Craig. Last reply by Paul Craig Jul 17, 2022. 14 Replies

Locations

Started by Roy Smith. Last reply by the anonymous pick May 15, 2022. 2 Replies

Help please re Bento Box Uke "nut"

Started by Al Lobe. Last reply by BrianQ. May 10, 2022. 18 Replies

Clarification on pick ups

Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Taffy Evans May 6, 2022. 5 Replies

Licence plate cbg

Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Michael Myers May 2, 2022. 5 Replies

Builder's Tips

Started by Wichita Sam. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 23, 2022. 2 Replies

Getting there but needing advice/help please.

Started by Lionhound. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 18, 2022. 8 Replies

Tres Cubano Build

Started by Paul Craig. Last reply by Paul Craig Dec 9, 2021. 18 Replies

CB Gitty Country Roads Banjo kit

Started by Ken Hope. Last reply by Christopher G Daniels Nov 29, 2021. 4 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
Thumbnail

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

"i See Your ready to Blow away the GRAND STADIUM ! tree strings more of DAR DELIGHT !! Shine Girl !…"
4 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you for the kind comments Doug! Glad you liked the Picture !"
5 hours ago
BrianQ. commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
9 hours ago
BrianQ. liked Dar Stellabotta's video
9 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Project Punch!

" Thank ya again Keith!"
11 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Punch Project!

" Thank Ya Keith!"
11 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on AGP #'s photo
Thumbnail

AGP #527 - ''Led-Zep 2''

"This build really strung you along Alan! Reminded me of all my fishing line experiments; a lot of…"
13 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Diggin’ the slow blues. I like that last pic Andries! Look at all those cool guitars. Yeah!!!"
13 hours ago
Dar Stellabotta posted a video

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

This video is the unboxing and the demonstration of a beautiful, six stringer built by Louie Lamanna. Join Louie and I June 15 at the second annual Pittsburg...
14 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter to you too Andries! The passion is definitely in full swing. Turns out I’m…"
15 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter Doug ! the Passion is in full swing !"
15 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Ricky D's photo
15 hours ago

Events

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->