Shaping Necks

[ZacJM]

I was curious, since there are several guys on the forum that make their own guitars, I was wondering how you shape the neck? I've been using a belt sander on the ones I've made, but I can't get that nice sound shape. Is it all hand sanding, is there a tool for it? I'm just wondering what others methods are

[KRamone27]

the way I've done it and still use this meathod, is to grab your number 1 guitar and a contour gauge. Make a profile at the first fret and one at the 16th fret. mark the contour of both locations and profiles and transfer those to a piece of card stock. try to get as close as you can with the shaping at those two points then just try to transition between the two points. Hope this makes sense and hope it helps. Kevin

[Olav]

The way Kevin describes it is the way most do it. You can use spokeshaves or rasps.
Or build yourself a jig like this guy did;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv-mLftE ... Rk&index=4

[olrocknroller]

I'm much less scientifical...(is that a real word?) I use a general shape template I've made for a slightly flat-sided neck, and go at it with a big ugly rasp until I get within about 1/8", when I switch to a fine rasp. Both are large, twelve inch files which I find help to avoid uneven lines in the work. At about 1/16" from home, I switch to Swedish steel furniture scrapers...these guys can still remove stock at a good pace, but produce a nice smooth finish. How smooth? I can go direct to 400 grit sandpaper from here, then to 600 etc. I also find that the scrapers do a nice job of removing feathering in the surface, making the first coat of oil a very smooth finish right from the start. From here, I use at least 600 grit as soon as the oil sets up, sanding to fill the pores in the wood, then another coat, etc. until the neck is so slippery smooth that you question whether you can hold the guitar by the neck.

There are probably all kinds of better ways, and faster too, but this produces what I look for in a guitar neck. Oh, in case you haven't guessed, I never use high-gloss lacquers etc. My hands sweat, buckets, and the liquid somehow turns to gum on a lacquered neck; with this finish, I can sweat all night without sticking to the guitar.

[woodchuck30]

Yeah, I'm old school like you guys. I use band saw to cut the general shape then a small grinder to rough in the overal shape then have at it with rasps, sand paper and a cabenet scraper for final shapeing. I dont make guitars for a living I just do it to see if I can. The jig thing sounds like a good deal if your masproduceing them.

Al

[Ghastlyone]

I've always used the belt sander/rasp/file method followed by a palm sander to clean it all up (I like to use a mouse sander for the neck). I use templates as a rough guide but rely heavily on how the neck feels in my hands. I used to feel like a caveman using this method until I visited the Gibson factory in Memphis and saw them taking very rough neck blanks and doing all of the contouring on a (you guessed it) belt sander, frequently running their hands along the neck to see how it felt.
Now, of course, most necks are shaped on a CNC, but the other mass production method uses custom made shaper blades on a shaper table. There are some old Fender factory photos where you can see them doing that. A lot of expense if you're only making a guitar here and there.