As I've got a lot of guitar making work on, and need to get some custom builds finished, also with loads of guitar shows to prepare for, I'd been thinking about improving my efficiency with slotting fretboards. I'd already recently built my second manual cutting jig, which uses an master template and an indexing system, but it's still quite a drag slotting fretboards, so after much consideration and pondering. I decided that I needed to get a table saw. Buying workshop power tools is always a problem I feel, as unless you have a huge budget, it's very difficult to get the right tool at the right price. You can get all sorts of bandsaws, table saws and thicknessers etc at attractive prices, but inevitably they are flimsily built and underpowered..and I've learned it's always better to buy something with more capacity than you think you'll need.
I'd looked all over eBay for weeks, but the used stuff that was on there was not going cheap, and generally speaking was cheaply-made junk. I've never had table saw before, but did some research, and decided I REALLY needed a small but robust machine....that's not easy to find. The main criterion for robustness was a cast iron table...and that's what takes the saw out of the budget category. Most cheap saws have inaccurate extruded or cast aluminium tables, or even worse, pressed steel tables..with flimsy pressed steel or even plastic enclosures. I found one that fitted the bill..it wasn't exactly within my budget, but I'd had a good day at the Northwest Guitar Show, so decided to plough some of my profit back into the workshop. It's an Axminster "Hobby" saw..but don't let the description fool you, it's a robust little beast...weighing in at a monster 55kg (120 lbs!!!) ...that's the cast iron for you. It is amazingly quiet, as it has an induction motor..and I suspect the motor contributes a lot to the weight...and the cost.
I had to buy a fret slotting blade (not cheap) and I also splashed out on a template so I can slot 25 1/2" and 25" scale fretboards. I've made a "sled" which slides over the table, and got a bit sophisticated with it so I can raise the indexing pin, so that as well as just slotting standard1/4" thick fretboards, this also allows me to slot direct into the top of a one piece neck blank.
I was happy slotting fretboards manually, one by one, and it's quite easy to make a jig...but when you get to making 10 guitars per week sometimes...it can become quite a task. So, hopefully, this is going to speed up getting through those back-orders..and by the way, if you need a slotted fretboard, you can now buy one from me!! Head over to my website and look in the Chickenbone John online shop
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haha ,i knew that last bit was coming , fair play ,.10 guits a week is some going, I make maybe 3 necks at a time all the same scale but with the headstock blank so i can get 'creative' but not too creative.lol.
I find the dressing the frets the most tedious ,getting that 'snag free ' feel any tips on that ,just using hand tools mind...
I didn`t find Jay`s but this one is similar to his set up.
Jay of Tinyguitars has a cool set up for doing his slotting. A saw he came up with, it has a long shaft that he has small circular saw blades same thickness as the slot. He can set them up to any scale length he chooses. One swipe and the fretboard is slotted. I think there might be a picture of it somewhere on here.
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