"Easy" Headstock Thickness?

[Jason May]

Discussing a flat neck without an angled headstock.

This is something I've struggled with. I have a robo sander, a router table and a band saw. The most accurate way I have found, but is lengthy and requires being very safe is to band saw close to thickness and then use my miter gauge to slice the headstock to thickness. I want to create a FAST and SAFE way to do this. I may be there already, but looking for better ideas.

I've tried my robo sander and my belt sander to smooth out the headstock, but it is never anywhere near as even as my router. Also, the robo sander takes FOREVER removing material and I have a really heavy grit. Maybe my drill press is set too slow?

Thanks for any help guys!

[Randy S. Bretz]

on this build what I did was router out a pocket in the peghead top. I did the pocket at 3/8" depth from the top then added a 1/4" piece of wood for an overlay. It worked out great.

[Roosterman]

How about this for quick and easy? On this I left the headstock exactly the same thickness as the neck, but grooved out where the tuners come through. 2 minutes with either a dremel or a round file, or clamp two headstocks together face to face, and drill right down the centre on ya drill press. Maybe not pretty, but very fast :o)

[Randy S. Bretz]

Yep - Ben you got me beat- in fact I like yours more!!!
Roosterman said:

How about this for quick and easy?


On this I left the headstock exactly the same thickness as the neck, but grooved out where the tuners come through. 2 minutes with either a dremel or a round file, or clamp two headstocks together face to face, and drill right down the centre on ya drill press.

Maybe not pretty, but very fast :o)

[Roosterman]

Ah, well I like yours more Randy.

But Im scared of my router....

[Bob Harrison]

Roosterman,
I'm with you about routers, I'm scared of my router as well.
Bob:)

Roosterman said:

Ah, well I like yours more Randy.

But Im scared of my router....

[juju]

hehe! two fully grown men scared of a little Router :) hehehe!

[Jason May]

Luckily I'm not afraid of my router. I made a jig that I can slide my headstock into and use a template to cut the face off. Works pretty well, but I want to get a .5" rounded bit to make a gradual fade into the nut.

[Randy S. Bretz]

Yeah I don`t understand why anyone would be afraid to use a router, I have 3 of them and love using them. I`ve done alot of releif carving on big pieces of slabwood with them. For using on building guits their very useful, as is my dremels. Which I have the dremel router base too.

Jason May said:

Luckily I'm not afraid of my router. I made a jig that I can slide my headstock into and use a template to cut the face off. Works pretty well, but I want to get a .5" rounded bit to make a gradual fade into the nut.

[Jason May]

I could sdee why someone would be afraid. I'm sure you've had a piece of wood explode on the router table at one point or another. Or a big loud chip out. SCCRABBBLLLLLLKKKKKK!!! I hate that.

Randy S. Bretz said:

Yeah I don`t understand why anyone would be afraid to use a router, I have 3 of them and love using them. I`ve done alot of releif carving on big pieces of slabwood with them. For using on building guits their very useful, as is my dremels. Which I have the dremel router base too.

Jason May said:

Luckily I'm not afraid of my router. I made a jig that I can slide my headstock into and use a template to cut the face off. Works pretty well, but I want to get a .5" rounded bit to make a gradual fade into the nut.

[Randy S. Bretz]

I never use a router table, I do all my work free hand. The main thing you have to remember is to go alittle at a time as far as cutting depth, and to try and go with the grain when possible. Sharp bits are plus too.

Jason May said:

I could sdee why someone would be afraid. I'm sure you've had a piece of wood explode on the router table at one point or another. Or a big loud chip out. SCCRABBBLLLLLLKKKKKK!!! I hate that.

Randy S. Bretz said:

Yeah I don`t understand why anyone would be afraid to use a router, I have 3 of them and love using them. I`ve done alot of releif carving on big pieces of slabwood with them. For using on building guits their very useful, as is my dremels. Which I have the dremel router base too.

Jason May said:

Luckily I'm not afraid of my router. I made a jig that I can slide my headstock into and use a template to cut the face off. Works pretty well, but I want to get a .5" rounded bit to make a gradual fade into the nut.

[Bob Harrison]

Yep, as a machinist I am use to milling/routing all sorts of materials. But everthing is clamped to the machine and my hands are far from it. I have seen so many wood working folks over the years missing fingers from a wood router, shaper or table saw... I totally understand the value of a router in wood working, but respect them like I would a rattle snake.

And I'm not big on clowns either, they scare me as well.

Cheers
Bob:)

juju said:

hehe! two fully grown men scared of a little Router :) hehehe!

[juju]

Yes saftey is # 1 as with all power tools - after all we only get one set of fingers and when there gone there gone !

main thing i find with Routers is people try to do everything in one pass - this leads to BIG problems from slowing the router cutter down , excesive heat build-up and vibration in the cutter which tends to grab at the wood

if i'm cutting a Neck Pocket i will do that in maybe as many as 8 passes for 20mm or 3/4" ish depth of the pocket

i also keep my cutters sharp with the aid of a Diamond Stone a must have item

i must admit i'm a bit of a Router freak - i also have three and a Dremel router base which i think is Cheese i need to make a juju special - once i find the correct threading Tap for the dremel mounting thread - i also bought a new router Table last month cost me £600 and i love it ...but i'm not posting pictures or i'll be classed as a Router Pimp lol! :))))

hehe! Bob you would be suprized how many folk dont like Clowns :)