Kevin Chilcott
Luthier
MAKING AN ANGEL
Routing the Truss Rod Slot
PAGE 1
The position of
the Headstock and Truss Rod
Slot has been marked out. The vertical line
in the centre of the picture represents where the slot
ends in the Headstock..... 1 1/4" from
where the Headstock angle 'breaks' by where the 'Top
Nut' will be..... The right one of the pair
of vertical lines on the pattern.
( This particular distance of 1 1/4"
applies to the
type of Truss Rod that will be used.)
For this particular neck, the Truss Rod ends at a position under where the 22nd fret will be.
Positions marked.
The Truss Rod will be 3/8" wide and its actual size has been marked on the Neck blank.
The End of the
Neck
is where the vertical line to the far left is on
the Neck blank.
The Truss Rod will end at the
22nd fret.
All marked out.
The Router Jig for cutting
the Truss Rod Slot..... This comprises of a Standard
Router with a pair of edge
guides
attached to the Jig arms. Two edge guides are
needed to enable as perfect a cut as possible.
( No power to the
Router while the picture was taken.)
Lining up the Router Jig to enable an
accurate cut. The cutter is a 3/8"
'Two Flute' TCT* type.
HSS** is okay, but needs to be regularly
sharpened.
( No power to the Router while the picture
was taken.)
Continued on Page 2.....
DESIGNING AND BUILDING A GUITAR FROM SCRATCH
*
..... TCT
is for Tungsten Carbide Tipped
which is very durable.
** ..... HSS
is for High Speed Steel
which does blunt quite quickly.