Scarf Joints and Tuners...

Posted by Brian Revels on September 18, 2015 at 3:15pm

Ok, so I am getting away from just doing a stick in a box and thought to make more of an actual guitar neck (based off what I seeing this may be for just the next two builds).

I finally went back to one of my first builds that did not turn out so well, and am redoing the neck. I thought it would look great with a decorative, custom shaped headstock. I actually ended up starting two necks with scarf joints.

My issue is... both necks are using .75 inch thick wood (either red oak or poplar)... the standard thickness of a 1x2 you get from a big box store.  The glue is still drying, but best I can tell, the tuner posts are going to be too short to fit all the way through.  I have some old Epiphone tuners that I KNOW will not be long enough, but I also have some of the generic, open-gear tuners from CB Gitty (I have some from eBay too, but they are identical to the ones I got from Gitty). 

What have I missed here???  Will I need to reshape the neck thinner in the back, or...?

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Replies

  • gary sheldon September 19, 2015 at 3:12pm

    Yes.  That is why God invented belt sanders.

  • Bob Marioni September 19, 2015 at 6:13am

    I cut the scarf joint and use my orbital sander to thin it to 5/8" or on a straight neck I cut it down to 5/8". Tuners fit fine then. Sometimes I use a thinner, wider board and cut the scarf angle on it. Then I cut out the shape I want and glue it to the neck.

  • MadGomer September 18, 2015 at 4:22pm
    I cut the scarf, then skinny up the headstock piece on the table saw before gluing the joint. Didn't understand this on my first build, so Used a big forstner bit on the back side to spot face areas for the three tuners. Lots of options, choose what's easiest based on the tools you have available. Enjoy!
  • Dave Steingart September 18, 2015 at 3:58pm
    I reduce the head stock to 5/8" thickness, then cut the scarf joint then cut the profile of the head. Then finally glue both sides of the neck together.
  • Keith September 18, 2015 at 3:30pm

    I usually make my headstocks out of thinner material, normally same species but thinner and then sand as necessary to thin it.  I use a jig to cut my scarfs so it's the same angle as the neck cut.

  • evanmars September 18, 2015 at 3:21pm

    That is what I did on my second build.  Put it on my belt sander until it was the right thickness.  Not sure what I did on the first build.. 

    • Brian Revels > evanmars September 18, 2015 at 3:33pm

      I have a palm sander... I guess it'll have to do. :-\  

      I still wonder what people do.  There are several videos online on how to do a scarf joint.  None that I have seen mention having to shave or sand something, or using a thinner piece of wood for the headstock (which might be a lightbulb moment, sort of).  But most use the same piece they cut off of their 1x2, flip it over and glue it! :-\

    • Paul H > Brian Revels September 21, 2015 at 5:11pm
      I used a 1x3 for my headstock. After cutting the mitre i cut the shape. I then sanded the head to a thickness which would accept the tuners.
      Using table sanders, table planers and palm sanders will do the trick too.
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