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Truss rod without power tools

Hello all of you knowledgeable instrument builders,

After building three four string guitars, a three string guitar, an eight string mandolin, an ukulele, and a diddley bow I feel ready to graduate to building a six string.

The only problem is that I'll need a truss rod for that and I do not have any power tools (except for a drill). So how do I cut a straight and even truss rod groove without a router?

Any suggestions?

My only idea so far is to make a three part laminate neck with the middle part the same width as the square metal rod I want to use as a nonadjustable truss rod. Something like the sketch below.

Do you think that would work? Has anybody done this successfully?

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on February 5, 2018 at 2:37am

You don't need power tools, you can use a traditional router plane, sometimes known as an "old woman's tooth". You should be be able to pick one up reasonably cheap 2ndhand.

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Permalink Reply by Kirk on February 5, 2018 at 3:03am

Or build your own.

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/BuildingaWoodenRouterPla...

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Permalink Reply by Matt Quinney on February 9, 2018 at 11:51am

That is beautiful, Kirk!

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Permalink Reply by Rob Todd on February 14, 2018 at 12:00am

There are instructional videos on You Tube on how to make your own. To be fair it looks harder than making a three string!

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Permalink Reply by Richard Dean on February 5, 2018 at 4:40am

your multi-piece neck will probably work and might even be stronger than a single piece neck. As far as the router plane, all the ones on eBay were more expensive than a real router, not sure what you can find in Germany, you may find someone who has a shop and can route it for you for a minimal cost.

Let us know what you do

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Permalink Reply by Kirk on February 5, 2018 at 4:50am

This method is a "poor man's" router.

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on February 5, 2018 at 10:16pm

I'm liking that!

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Permalink Reply by Derek Rose on June 11, 2018 at 2:15pm

That is great!

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Jordan on February 5, 2018 at 7:24am

Multi-laminate necks are the way it was done before truss rods came along.,the diagram above will work just fine.,.,.,even if you leave out the metal rod.,.,check out Steve Wishnevsky's builds.,.,he has a 6 string bass on ebay right now with no truss rod in the neck and none needed.,.,i'm sure he has thousands of builds that used the multi-laminate style neck with no truss rod.,.,ask him.,.,he tells no lies.,.,

and I have tried it too.,,.a 3 piece neck with a fingerboard, and the diagram above is very similar to a "I" beam.,.,plenty rigid.,.,

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Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Nation on February 6, 2018 at 2:22am

I own a Wishnevsky "Wishbass" and it's fantastic!

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Jordan on February 6, 2018 at 8:10am

Shane, I used to be a Wishnevsky collector.,I was up to 25 or so before the big sell-off.,.,I still have 5 or 6 from the old days., Have to say you have some nice builds yourself,. !!

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Permalink Reply by Derek Rose on June 11, 2018 at 2:21pm

I have built 3 six strings with the 3 piece neck, 23 1/2 scale (like a Taylor Mini) for reduced string tension. The added fingerboard thickness significantly reduces the bending stress. Plus it makes the neck less top heavy.