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Post by dickt on Oct 22, 2014 6:05:08 GMT -5
Been to four hardware stores in the last week acquiring stuff for my cigar box guitar projects. One thing I'm looking for is a spoke shaver or a draw knife. Clerks in Home Depot, Harbor Freight, and two mom & pop stores had no idea what I was talking about. Even when I showed them a picture on my phone they drew a blank. I want to carve my necks by hand. I could use my cheap router I suppose but I feel like I'll get the profile I want shaping them by hand. I've got some very dense oak that I reclaimed and it's very slow going with a sureform. Bought a 48" 1"x2" maple blank from Rockler and will split that in two for two necks--maybe it will be easier to work. For fingerboards I bought some 1/4" paduak stock.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2014 6:39:25 GMT -5
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Post by brucemacneill on Oct 22, 2014 6:39:46 GMT -5
Walmart claims to carry them and Amazon has several.
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Post by dickt on Oct 22, 2014 6:51:20 GMT -5
No one stocks any in the stores--including a mega Home Depot and Harbor Freight. Sure I can order one, but I wanted to work yesterday.
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Post by Cosmic Wonder on Oct 22, 2014 7:08:14 GMT -5
Dude. Woodworking specialty stores. Since not too much call for making wagon wheels any more, the only place you will find a spoke shave is at a wood store.
Mike
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2014 7:28:54 GMT -5
I have a small concave spokeshave that is perfect for carving necks. I never use it as it is way too difficult to keep sharp. I have always used a Stanley Surform plane/rasp for roughing out a neck shape.  |
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Post by dickt on Oct 22, 2014 7:37:00 GMT -5
I am using both large and small Surforms. The large one I inherited from my father so it must be forty years old. Maybe they still sell new blades that fit.
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Post by Marshall on Oct 22, 2014 7:53:06 GMT -5
I've got an ancient draw knife. Looks like the 5" carver knife in Howard's link. Inherited it from my wife's grandfather, along with some cool planers. I'd have to hunt for it though. And it's been used for miscellaneous projects over the years, so it's in need of a good grinding and sharpening.
The internet makes possible sales of all sorts of specialty things that a local hardware stores; even the big boxes (especially the big boxes) can't carry. Any number of times I've gone out to buy something local only to find nobody carries the thing. Internet ordering is the ONLY solution.
I suppose I'm ahead of you on the cigar-bow front; but only because I bought a bolt-on neck already. It was from an Epiphone SG. Frets in great shape. I also bought an adjustable floating bridge. But I've got to finish my layout drawing before I venture out to buy lumber.
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Post by Doug on Oct 22, 2014 8:06:47 GMT -5
Big box stores carry what works for the masses. Hardware, auto stuff, even booze.
Where you have grocery store sales you never can find high end booze, or even med high booze. Here in Kingman, no Hennessy VSOP or better, no Rebel Yell but lots of fufu flavored this and that.
The VW has a black steering wheel so I wanted one of those lace on covers in a light color (this is AZ and wheel can burn your hands) 4 auto parts stores only 2 have any lace on covers and they are all black.
If it's not something that thousands are buying local stores don't carry.
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Post by dickt on Oct 22, 2014 8:32:15 GMT -5
I live in Virginia. Booze only sold at state ABC stores.
What I'm finding is that the era of hand tools is over--they've got fifteen different Dremels and clones, 12 palm sanders, multifunction tools and anything that plugs in basically.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2014 9:06:08 GMT -5
Since I have nothing but time to kill today I'll try to post a traditional method for shaping a guitar neck. Just need to find that old book and scan a few pages.
EDIT: Sorry don't have that book, but I think I know which apprentice has it.
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Post by millring on Oct 22, 2014 9:10:45 GMT -5
I could never manage a draw knife, but I love my spokeshave.
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Post by dickt on Oct 22, 2014 9:15:03 GMT -5
Since I have nothing but time to kill today I'll try to post a traditional method for shaping a guitar neck. Just need to find that old book and scan a few pages. Thanks, that's got to be helpful. Cigar box necks are usually just made out of 1x2 stock and often just have simple cutouts for the headstock (thinning it to 1/2") and for the area under the box lid for through necks so that the top can vibrate, pickups can be installed, etc.) |
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Post by TKennedy on Oct 22, 2014 9:33:22 GMT -5
You'll need to go to a woodworkers store like Rocklers, Woodworker Supply, or Woodcraft. (Or mail order from their websites) I have had the best luck with a microplane rasp and Nicholson 49 and 50 patternmaker's rasps. The small fine dragon rasps from StewMac are great for refining headstock/neck and heel/shaft transitions and final heel shaping. www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Files/Dragon_Hand-cut_Rasp.html |
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Post by dickt on Oct 22, 2014 9:56:31 GMT -5
I've got an ancient draw knife. Looks like the 5" carver knife in Howard's link. Inherited it from my wife's grandfather, along with some cool planers. I'd have to hunt for it though. And it's been used for miscellaneous projects over the years, so it's in need of a good grinding and sharpening. The internet makes possible sales of all sorts of specialty things that a local hardware stores; even the big boxes ( especially the big boxes) can't carry. Any number of times I've gone out to buy something local only to find nobody carries the thing. Internet ordering is the ONLY solution. I suppose I'm ahead of you on the cigar-bow front; but only because I bought a bolt-on neck already. It was from an Epiphone SG. Frets in great shape. I also bought an adjustable floating bridge. But I've got to finish my layout drawing before I venture out to buy lumber. Are you making a six string? Is the lumber for the wings you are attaching to the box and would that be dimension lumber (2" nominal thickness)? The ones I'm planning are four string. Maybe one with a 22" scale tuned as a tenor guitar. For one I want to use a mag pickup. For the other I'll try a piezo rod under the homemade saddle. |
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Dub
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I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
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Post by Dub on Oct 22, 2014 10:08:21 GMT -5
Dick, You can find these tools in antique shops… at least around here. They're often cheap because few people know what they are anymore. I've picked up lots of great hand tools in antique shops. Farm auctions often produce some good ones too.
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Post by Village Idiot on Oct 22, 2014 10:26:55 GMT -5
Just what Dub said. I see spoke shaves in junk stores and antique stores all the time. I never bought one, because I don't know what I'd do with it.
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Post by Marshall on Oct 22, 2014 10:36:50 GMT -5
Just what Dub said. I see spoke shaves in junk stores and antique stores all the time. I never bought one, because I don't know what I'd do with it. |
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Post by fauxmaha on Oct 22, 2014 10:42:57 GMT -5
I assume you've already acquired the necessary overalls.
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Dub
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I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
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Post by Dub on Oct 22, 2014 10:48:25 GMT -5
I have metal spoke shaves but I strongly prefer the wooden ones. Much nicer to use. Drawknives are easy to use too. You need a good way to hold the work. A shaving horse is handy but bench dogs can be used too.
Like any woodworking hand tool these things need to be very (scary) sharp to work as intended.
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