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 Post subject: My neck jig for fret & fingerboard leveling
PostPosted: September 24th, 2009, 8:55 am 
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Joined: March 10th, 2008, 7:00 pm
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Location: Seattle, WA USA
I don't believe I've posted this before ...

I have a home made jig I use when leveling a fingerboard/fretboard and also the frets. The idea is to attach the neck and support it so that the fretboard/fingerboard is level along its entire length. The support keeps the center of the neck from flexing while sanding the wood level to tolerance, which prevents a small bow from being sanded into the center if the neck were to flex under weight of the sanding block.

Image

The neck is secured into place so that its centerline is directly above the centerline of the jig. I then adjust the bolts up to the neck so that they support it, and validate the neck is level with a notched straight edge(as seen below.) Each of the bolts is capped with a thin piece of rubber like material to prevent marring of the neck, but also a material the resists compression so that it doesn't give

Image

I then utilize a long machined radius block (seen in the first image with slightly used 300 grit gold colored sandpaper attached) to sand the fretboard/fingerboard or frets until they are all level to the same arc. I use a machined leveling bar when working a compound radius board.

I've recently revised by fret dressing workflow for that portion of the job that takes place after the frets are all leveled (recrowning, edge dressing, and polishing) and am finding the results to be significantly superior to my old workflow. When time permits I'll document my steps and post them here

all the best,

R

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 Post subject: Re: My neck jig for fret & fingerboard leveling
PostPosted: September 24th, 2009, 11:50 pm 
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Joined: November 26th, 2008, 6:14 am
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Location: Oahu, Hawaii
Rodent, thanks for the post. I don't think I'll ever be in a position to this step, but just knowing how it can be done, and that this is a home-made jig shows that it can be done.

Looking forward to the next installment...

Ian

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 Post subject: Re: My neck jig for fret & fingerboard leveling
PostPosted: September 25th, 2009, 8:40 am 
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Joined: March 10th, 2008, 7:00 pm
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Location: Seattle, WA USA
dressed a fretboard last night for the new VRB-P5 build I'm about ready to wrap-up, but forgot to bring the camera to the shop until I was getting ready to polish the frets :(

well, here's that neck all taped up and waiting to have the frets polished

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all the best,

R

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 Post subject: Re: My neck jig for fret & fingerboard leveling
PostPosted: September 25th, 2009, 12:15 pm 
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Joined: November 26th, 2008, 6:14 am
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Location: Oahu, Hawaii
Just curious - do you tweek the truss rod to make the neck level? I don't see that you're holding down the headstock with a clamp. Or does the neck start out with neutral tension as there are no strings pulling on it yet?

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 Post subject: Re: My neck jig for fret & fingerboard leveling
PostPosted: September 25th, 2009, 9:35 pm 
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Location: Seattle, WA USA
I have the trussrod totally slack and adjust the bolt heights under the neck until it's fretboard face is absolutely level.

Since I'm not exerting any significant pressure on the neck in any direction, a couple pieces of double stick tape holds the neck perfectly well. I could also utilize a clamp on the headstock and then screw the neck in place, but i haven't seen any difference in the frets using that method

all the best,

R

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