I made a little block that sits on the fretboard and has a lip on that goes over one side of the neck to act as a square. The height of the block means that when the brass back on the saw hits then the slot is the right depth. I clamp the block to the neck and bench (kitchen table). The saw has no set (it did have but I ground it off) so it is a bit stiff in the slot, which is why the candle is used to lube it a bit.By the way, it's at times like this that I realise how much grey hair I have.
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You are probably right. I put this here when I was doing one at a time. This weekend I will be doing eight and will see how I get on. Not enough time to get a scroll saw, but if doing the eight drives me insane (would any of us be doing this if we were sane) I will sort something for next time.
Fretting is certainly the most nerve wracking part of the process. I like your setup mine is dodgey as but works for me. I took the fret to my local hardware and got them to put a micrometer on it so I could find a blade for the dreaded junior hacksaw. I install my neck and use a cooking skewer as a temporary fret and put the strings in and tune it. That way any issues with ill fitting parts come to light early rather than later. I then use a tuner and the skewer to mark the frets (my builds have a short scale length so fret calculators arnt accurate for me). I mark and leave it for a day and recheck. Then I have liner tape that I use to mark exactly where the cut should be. I use a teeny bulldog clip on the blade to regulate the depth. I use a bar of soap to lube the blade. As I said dodgey but works & they are in tune.
Jeff. I love your idea of shining a light threw the saw teeth. As far as the grey is concerned, what choice do I have, so embrace it I will.
Uncle John. The knife is made from a parting tool blade incased within two pieces of ramin (because I didn't have any box wood at the time). When it gets blunt you just grind it down and cut a bit of the handle away, rather like sharpening a pencil.
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Thanks Randy. I 'll give it a go.
hey Wade when i cut my slots with my power scroll saw i use those hand scroll saw blades, just take the pins out of the ends.
Hey Phrygian,
picked up a used scroll saw- what size blades do you recommend?
thanks,
wade
Hi Jef.
You are probably right. I put this here when I was doing one at a time. This weekend I will be doing eight and will see how I get on. Not enough time to get a scroll saw, but if doing the eight drives me insane (would any of us be doing this if we were sane) I will sort something for next time.
Hi Penny.
Sounds like you have a good method there. You can't ask more than that it plays in tune.
Hi Jeff and Uncle John.
Jeff. I love your idea of shining a light threw the saw teeth. As far as the grey is concerned, what choice do I have, so embrace it I will.
Uncle John. The knife is made from a parting tool blade incased within two pieces of ramin (because I didn't have any box wood at the time). When it gets blunt you just grind it down and cut a bit of the handle away, rather like sharpening a pencil.
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