I joined up with the city park district because they offer a program called "Open Woodshop: 18 and Over." I signed up for it, thinking I could really enhance some of my builds by getting access to professional equipment, especially on learning to use a drill press to route out neck pockets.
Well, "Open Woodshop" actually meant "Beginning Arts and Crafts", as I am stuck making a 3" by 5" dovetail box. The instructor laughed when I asked about learning to use a table saw and a drill press, and assured me that my little guitars hadn't yet prepared me for REAL woodworking.
So, i thought I'd open it up here: anyone have useful advice for routing out neck pockets?
Replies
Hi Paul. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I'm not going to reveal which CPD I'm at, but I think your assessment is spot-on -- concerning the instructor.
The wood shop members have all been incredibly welcoming and kind, and a handful of them even expressed interest in using shop time to make CBGs. (One of them teaches a children's woodshop, and he picked up right away the idea of bringing it to his class.)
But at my first class, the instructor seemed to make a snap judgement about me when I told him I didn't share his ambition to make chairs and tables. Even when I actually brought a guitar to show him, he offered no input on what I could work on to better future builds. I was really disappointed.
I have a feeling this is going to end with a letter to the park district manager.
Paul H (PRH) said:
Hi,
I'm in the Chicago Park Dist adult woodcraft classes too. My experience has been very different from yours. The head guy started with rules n safety and how to use the tools but progressed to table saw/drill press pretty quickly.
Very encouraging of growth etc.
Text is a terrible medium for talking something through I hope this comes out right, but is it possible you were (profiled)?
Some CPD workers feel that they have little kingdoms and have been known to discourage people who they think might not fit in (watch for this particularly in wealthy neighborhoods) are you in Lincoln Park/Yuppieville?I heard the locals like to keep this one to themselves (lots o equipment there).
That's BS.
I/we ran into this when my buds played volleyball. If we didn't fit the profile or someone felt life was crowded we got the bums rush.
The working neighborhoods may be more receptive to new members. Try Portage or Horner for east or Shabbona or Merrimac for west. As long as you approach these with some humility I'm pretty sure you'll be welcome.
Sessions are over for the summer but I'd stick with it. It's your park after all (insert muttered curse here).
Hope this helps.
Paul H
The worst thing about the experience is not the non-refundable cost, because it was only $50; it's that I could have put that $50 toward buying machinery of my own.
I went in hoping that he could show me how to make cleaner cuts on my scarf joints -- or at least cut them for me -- and when i brought it up, he began hemming and hawwing about how that kind of cut would require a jig, and he doesn't have time to focus on one person in class of 12, etc etc...
Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) said:
I wonder if I made that point in my guide. Second edition, I guess.
Adding to this point, you want to get a variable speed route. Larger bits want slower speed.
JUJU AKA SOUNDSSOGOOD said:
I have a really hard time with condescension. I don't think your instructor and I would have a productive relationship.
I'll leave it to others to give useful neck pocket info. My advice relates to my version of woodworking in general (or "life", if you are into metaphors. lol).
1st, NEVER forget that wood is tougher than flesh and bone. If a tool will alter a bit of wood, it will definitely alter your body. Django and the old, arthritic Les Paul are the only 2 fingered guitarists I can think of.
2nd, scrap is your friend. Practice. That old 2x4 is cheap. Your new StewMac curly maple neck blank is not.
3rd, It isn't a race. Don't rush. Hurrying leads to dulled tools, damaged projects, injury, and mistakes of all kinds.
and 4th, Remember the Nike ads? Just Do It. If someone says "The only way to do this is.....", they are almost certainly wrong. Some ways are far better than others, but I could cut a neck pocket with a broken bottle and a piece of rock.(I hope I never have to!) Don't be afraid to try out a crazy idea. It's just wood. If it doesn't work, plant a sapling in penance.
Mark Bliss said:
Scotty, I dont think I like your instructors attitude, and I would probably find it hard to resist letting him know that fact on my way out the door!
Now, that aside, if I could contain myself, a class in handmade dovetail joinery is a great way to learn a good combination of basic woodworking and tool skills.
Heres a video on one way to route neck pockets. The only thing I take exception with in this particular video is the movement/relocation of the jig part way through the process. I would prefer not to risk any shift in my original set up and set up a jig that stays in place during the entire cut. Otherwise this is a pretty good example, with good tips.
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