Joseph J Redman
Handmade Classical, Spanish & Flamenco Guitars
Josred Handmade Guitars
joseph
Below are a few photographs of the fret slotting device that I use.
I built it from a few pieces of mostly off-cuts.
If you are interested in building something similar, please let me know by e-mail, and I will gladly send you a few sketches with the necessary dimensions.
This is the fret slotting device with the base and accurately graduated aluminum rule. The rule slides in the slot in the base, indexing following the holes. The fingerboard is held in position on top of the rule by means of double sided tape.
I bought the rule at the local hardware store and sanded off the graduations. I then marked the fret positions accurately, using large vernier calipers, and drilled the holes accordingly.
The location pin in the middle of the slot locates into every hole, as the fingerboard is indexed along to the next fret slot.
Here the location pin is engaged in the hole of the 1st fret. The zero fret position can be seen at the end of the rule.
The zero fret slot and 1st fret slot have been cut.
When I cut the fingerboard to length, I square it off at the zero fret slot, plus 0.5mm(0.020"), which gives me the required nut compensation to ensure the correct intonation at the nut end of the fingerboard.
The adjustable jaw, showing the ebony pad that slides against the side of the saw blade.
The fixed jaw, showing the ebony wear pad at the bottom.
The saw is placed in position, the movable jaw is pushed up against the side of the saw blade and then locked in position by tightening the wing nuts.
The ebony wear pads hold the blade in position, perfectly vertical to the top of the fingerboard.
The rosewood pad on top of the jaw controls the depth of the cut. Once the bottom edge of the saw blade back support hits the top of the pad, the slot is at the correct depth.
All the slots have been cut.
The slots are perfectly square to the edge of the fingerboard.
Josred Handmade Guitars
joseph