Hi Guys,
Been watching you for a while & listening in, man you guys are inspirational !
Made a mean Diddley Bow (I'll vid you l8r). Built up my workshop from scratch, gotta bench, various tools.Now I'm about to go for my first build.
I've gathered plans from everywhere I can find on your site, but... to help me organise myself, would anyone please give me hints on the most obvious question? The only thing I don't feel I've got covered... How do I make a nice, comfortable smooth curved neck from a piece of square wood?
What tools do I need? Doing the right 'Prep' ? Pitfalls to avoid ... etc?
As much help as you can give me I'd really appreciate, just point me in the right direction if you're busy. I've actually downloaded so many plans it's already becoming a 'shock & awe' project.
Man this is humbling, real 'rights of passage' stuff' ;-[
Tags:
Hello Righteous... There are alot of guys using a spoke shaver to form their necks, Some use a electric sander with some 60 or 80 grit paper. But myself I love to use a full sheet of 60 grit paper and roll around 1/2 inch wooden dowel and rough sand the shape i want then change grit to something lighter... I love hand sanding the whole thing. The trick is to start sanding with the grain as soon as you have it roughed in to take out all scratches.. make sure to clamp down the neck so you can use both hands... And I'm sure some others on here will add to their experience of shaping necks.. Also try not to knock the neck around to much unless to want the beat up look... Good luck and if your like most of us on here your gonna love building these gits...It gets into your blood...LOL
Spokeshave is the way to go - after hacking and sanding a few necks i was tempted by other builders to try one, and when i did i found it a very satisfying experience and had to stop as i was running out of wood...! (-;
...seriously, if you get used to using one you won't go back, though it will need final sanding for a fine finish, and always cut with, that is along the direction of the grain not against it.
.
Ok, for my first one I used what I had, a stanley tools sureform with a convex blade. It worked great I shaped a cherry neck from a block of 1 3/4" x 1 3/4". I have since added an antique stanley spoke shave (from when they were made well) and now I use both. After shaping lots of sanding with a block behind your paper will smooth it up in no time. Start with 100 grit then move on to 150 220 then finer if you want. 220 should be fine enough though. Now put on some shiny stuff and its good to go. Almost forgot, before any shaping I cut my neck profile on a band saw. I think from all the advise you have gotten you should be able to make something nice, good luck with it.
By the way nice old spokeshaves can be found on ebay for not to much money and can be better than the new stanley versions. Good new ones are pricey.
Started by Justin Stanchfield. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 20. 9 Replies 2 Likes
Started by BrianQ.. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 27. 2 Replies 4 Likes
Started by Ian Boyd. Last reply by Ian Boyd Dec 11, 2023. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Michael Myers Apr 20, 2023. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Brenda. Last reply by MadGomer Dec 3, 2022. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Wichita Sam. Last reply by Taffy Evans Nov 14, 2022. 21 Replies 1 Like
Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Taffy Evans Nov 3, 2022. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Robert Killen. Last reply by Paul Craig Oct 14, 2022. 23 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Larry Sobol. Last reply by Larry Sobol Oct 1, 2022. 6 Replies 2 Likes
Started by jon neet. Last reply by Taffy Evans Aug 16, 2022. 6 Replies 1 Like
Started by Doug Laffin. Last reply by Order99 Aug 11, 2022. 4 Replies 1 Like
Started by Paul Craig. Last reply by Paul Craig Jul 17, 2022. 14 Replies 1 Like
Started by Roy Smith. Last reply by the anonymous pick May 15, 2022. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Al Lobe. Last reply by BrianQ. May 10, 2022. 18 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Taffy Evans May 6, 2022. 5 Replies 1 Like
Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Michael Myers May 2, 2022. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Wichita Sam. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 23, 2022. 2 Replies 4 Likes
Started by Lionhound. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 18, 2022. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Paul Craig. Last reply by Paul Craig Dec 9, 2021. 18 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Ken Hope. Last reply by Christopher G Daniels Nov 29, 2021. 4 Replies 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 LikesMay 30, 2024 from 6:30pm to 10pm – The Casual Pint of Huntsville
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!