Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on March 25, 2015 at 7:44am

A spokeshave that is properly set-up & sharpened will do a fine job to remove most of the material. A rasp or coarse file will finish up nicely, preparing you to move to sanding. Be mindful of the direction of the wood grain...always shave with the grain, never against. And go slow. It's easier to remove than to put back the shavings.

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Permalink Reply by jeffrey ross on March 25, 2015 at 9:05am

Hand tools are awesome if you are good with them and like that sort of work. Personally, I use a band saw for shaping the neck and finish with the sander. A bench top model works great and takes up little space in the shop. Good luck!!

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Permalink Reply by Greg Thompson on March 25, 2015 at 9:27am

I have neither, so I use my trusty rasps and files. After rough shaping it's time for sanding.

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on March 25, 2015 at 9:30am

I recently picked up a wood rasp from Home Depot for about $8.00. It is a very nice tool with course teach on one side and more fine on the other. Don't know how long it will stay sharp, but it is very easy to use and accurately remove material. For the price, it's worth a try even if only on a test board.

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Permalink Reply by AnnaW on March 25, 2015 at 10:11am

Thanks guys- I really appreciate your advice! Can't wait to get started!

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Permalink Reply by TN Twang on March 25, 2015 at 10:19am

A good spokeshave can be expensive. It can last for centuries but must be sharpened and adjusted. (Someday I hope to own one or even two.)

Most of us use cheaper hand tools--at least that's been my observation. Lowe's sells an 8 or 9" rasp with fine and coarse grits and one curved side and one flat side. You can make quick work by flipping the 4 different surfaces to suit the situation. I've also got a little 4" Stanley surform that's handy for creating a lot of sawdust in a hurry.

PS Always sand after carving with whatever tool. Sanding will smooth the surface in ways that tools can't. Hardcore purists claim that carving after sanding dulls your tool on the grit residue in the wood. I can't prove this since all of my tools are dull to begin with.

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Permalink Reply by Vinylhed on March 25, 2015 at 11:38am

I use a spokeshave, and the shaping of the neck is hands down the most pleasurable aspect of building a CBG. It has an almost Zen-like quality to it. After that, all that's left to do is to sand the neck and you're left with an amazing sense of fulfilment.

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Permalink Reply by RTZGUITARS on March 25, 2015 at 7:14pm

I used surform I have a round and flat they work well on mahogany, I'll get a spokeshave when I find a good one. What ever gets the job done right and fast.

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Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on March 27, 2015 at 4:14pm

Vinyl has it...   Something satisfying about the curly shavings rolling off the spokeshave.

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Permalink Reply by Randy S. Bretz on March 26, 2015 at 1:07am

I have use both the surform and spokeshave . The spokeshave works will as long as you go with the grain, my finger spokeshave works great for finishing the profile of the neck. The surform is like a beaver eating wood...lol, that's one tool all builders should have in their tool collection. I prefer the surform block style myself, a bit easier to control and can be used with one hand. The long round surform file works great for doing the neck - peghead flare outs.

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Permalink Reply by AnnaW on March 26, 2015 at 2:52am

I was a bit nervous about profiling a neck myself before but it sounds like it isn't that difficult afterall - thanks guys!

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on March 26, 2015 at 5:09am

I would try your technique on a scrap piece of wood first, so you don't destroy one of your good pieces.

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