MAKING
THE NECK -- 8
Here I am beginning to fine tune the shape of the neck - here the
volute at the peghead- using a fine tooth half round rasp. This
is a rather nice file - made by Nicholson- which I dearly love.
It can cut aggressively and yet, with the proper touch, leave quite a
fine finish as well.
Here is the heel
for a cutaway that is all machine work (band saw and spindle shaper).
Here is a heel
that I have "hand shaped" on the end of my belt sander. I
find that this is a very effective and efficient tool - I can go from a
machine shaped heel to this point in perhaps 3-4 minutes.
This is the same
heel after I have refined it with a file.
Here is the volute
with just machine work.
A volute that
has been sanded on the belt sander.
And a volute
that has been refined with the file (rasp).
More of the same, here working on the heel. I think a finely
shaped, delicate heel is essential to a good looking guitar.
After the neck is brought very close to shape with a spokeshave and
file, I begin the sanding process. I start with a technique which
I think of as shoe shining. A strip of 60 grit sandpaper is used
like a shoe shine cloth and very quickly smoothes the shaft of the neck
and makes the curves smooth and uniform.
More of the same.
There is a lot of pure hand sanding as well. Getting all the
curves smooth and fair is time consuming but necessary.
More of the same.
After shaping the
necks get sprayed with lacquer. I finish the neck and body
separately and put them together after they have been polished. This
looks better and makes it much easier to remove the neck if it is ever
necessary. (Most guitars will need it after 20 - 40 years.)
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