NECK ANGLE JIG GEN 2 - Luthiertool

NThis Neck Angle Jig like the previous jig has the same features. Precisely aligningthe neck angle in respect to the body and then routing out the appropriate joints isthe what this jig is designed for. The tool comes with a Edge vise that is specificallydesigned to work with the jig and also can be used for the end graph, the templatesand accessories are sold separatelyOSNECK ANGLE JIG GEN 2S A F T E YUCTIW A R N I N G1. ALWAYS wear safety glasses or aface shield.2. DO NOT wear loose clothing, gloves,neckties, or jewelry. Wear protectivecover on hair and prevent contactwith moving tool. These items canget caught in tool during operationand pull operator into moving part.3. KEEP children away.4. KEEP visitors at a safe distance.5. WEAR a dust mask all times.6. ALWAYS turn off motor beforemaking any adjustments.7. NEVER leave running tool unattended.8. ALWAYS make sure all screws aretight and any hardware is removedfrom or near tool before starting.9. SECURE all work pieces beforestarting.10. ALWAYS keep knife edges sharp.11. ALWAYS keep work area clean.12. DO NOT operate tool if under theinfluence of drugs or alcohol.We highly recommend to put a few practice necks and bodies together outof scrap wood. This is very beneficial in getting used to the tool. The practicePieces does not have to be the actual body or neck they just need to be arepresentation.TRR E C O M E N D A T I O NTop ViewSaddle lineSTruss slotINSide ViewBodySlight angle1Neck

P O I N T SThere are a few reference points that are important to the jig. The firstpoint is the hinge area this will determine how flat and well the finger board will fit.It is also important to complete all the necessary steps to insure a level area for thefinger board on the body, such as proper bracing and leveling the dome (figure 1).Hinge pointLeveling domeONSR E F E R E N C EFigure 1The other reference point or surface is where the neck will be attached tothe body (figure 2). This is the area where the edge vise will be clamped.CTIREF AUREF BFlat surface for neck attachmentSTRFigure 2The next reference points or marksare the center line of the saddle andwhere the neck will be attached(figure 3). It is important to align theedge vise and the jig in respect to thecenter line/saddle location.REF CINFigure 32

SR E F E R E N C EP O I N T S ( C O N T I N U E D )The last reference is the Truss slot on the neck.REF DTIONTruss slotThis Jig has many features designed to give you an accurate and quick way to setup and rout out the proper neck joint. It is important that you have a goodunderstanding of the neck joint and also how the neck angle is achieved. LikeSaddle height, neck relief, string height, etc. All these have an impact on how theangle has to be set.RUCD E S C R I P T I O NDial IndicatorSTRouting tableNeck AngleLocking thumbscrewTable frameDial IndicatorHeight bar lockNeck AngleAdjustment knobINNeck plate3

( C O N T I N U E D )Center adjustmentknobsNSD E S C R I P T I O NTruss slot indexpinsMounting baseThe Neck Angle Jig consists of two axis gimbal table, one for side to sideadjustment B , B- (figure 4) and the other for actual neck angle adjustment A , A.With the adjustment knob associated with REF A, the neck angle can be adjustedaccordingly with dial indicator. Where as the adjustment knobs associated withREF B, the side to side adjustment can be set also using the same dial indicator.TRUCTIOClampsREF BNSREF AIFigure 44

SIONAll the templates are indexed to the center of the Jig with pins even the edge visetemplate this way we can place the body in the Jig for proper neck angle setting.There are four 3/8” mounting holes on the base to properly attach the Jig to a solidsurface. If you do not want to use bolts two heavy duty C clamps will do.UCTIndex pointsNSTRBaseThe Dial Indicator mountingarm is attached to the Neckplate with the arm block . Thisplate also has the clampsattached to keep the necksecured during the routingprocess.Arm blockINeck Plate5

U PThe first step is to assemble the Dial indicator arm. Place the two nylonwashers in the relieved pocket on the adjustment arm, then place the dial indicatorholder over the nylon washers and screw in the wing nut. Once the assembly iscomplete insert the adjustment arm in block on back of Jig.The dial indicator arm is an extension of the neck plate (the plate that the neck isclamped to). Because the arm can be adjusted for different saddle heights it isnecessary to calibrate the arm with the dial indicator after re-positioning. We have to make surethat this plate is calibrated withthe Dial Indicator so that the appropriate neck angle and saddlecenter can be measured. We recommend making a straight edgeboard using good birch 1/2 inchplywood, making sure that it isabsolutely straight.INSTRUCTIONSS E TThis board will need to havea straight pencil line down the middle of one surface with two holes,the same diameter as the truss slotguide pins. See next page for dimensional drawing.6

U P( C O N T I N U E D )INSTRUCTIONSS E T7

U P( C O N T I N U E D )The alignment template isdesigned for ease in lining upthe Edge vise on to the guitarbody center line where the neckwill be placed. This is the onlytemplate needed becauseeverything else is indexed eventhe neck itself.IONSS E TPlace the Edge vice on the piece of wood and align the template line with thepencil line. If not the same loosen the set screws on the fixed dog and move sothat the template lines line up with the pencil line.STRUCTUsing a square, draw a pencil lineon a scrap piece of wood about 4inches wideINLine up with both the edge and the lineDrawn. If the line on the template is notLined up with the edge it may cause neckAngle deviation.8

NSS E TU P( C O N T I N U E D )On occasion the Gimbal table may be out of alignment, this may happen duringshipment. We can check for this by placing the alignment template in the Edge Vise andplacing it in the Neck Jig. You can use a straight edge or a dummy neck blank with atruss rod slot and move it all the way to the bottom of the template. We want to makesure that the edge lines up precisely with the line on the template. If it’s a bit off, you canloosen the side screws on the table frame and adjust accordingly. Please make sure thatthe template is always perpendicular to the neck plate.The last step is to make sure that theclamping spindles are set up. Thelower clamp has one spindle wherethe top has two. The two topspindles are to insure that the toppart of the neck is absolutely tightagainst the neck plate to prevent anychattering during the routingprocess. Be sure to keep the topspindles as far apart as practical.INSTRUCTIOAlignment line9Table side screws

You can move the height bar up or down to the appropriate saddle location.This location can also be transferred to the straight edge board with a pencil markfor future application.Place the straight edgeboard on the neck plate andtruss rod pins of the jig andclamp with two large springclamps.STRUCTIONSO P E R A T I O NINBe careful to pull back the dialindicator plunger before mounting the edge board. At this pointwe want to align the neckplate center line and angle withthe dial indicator.10

( C O N T I N U E D )Loosen the wing nut and move theadjustable arm from side to side sothat the dial indicator plunger centeris precisely centered on the pencilline of the straight edge board.IONSO P E R A T I O NCTThumb screwThe Dial indicator has two pointers. The small pointer will move in 0.100 ofan inch and the larger pointer will move in 0.001 of an inch. The goal is to havelarge pointers point to zero and the small pointer fairly close to a major mark.UThumb screwTRLoosen the thumbscrew near the DialIndicator and moveit so that the smallpointer is on ornear a numberedmark, then tightenthe thumb screw.SSmall pointerNThen with the outsidering rotate the dial until thelarge pointer is on the zeromark.IOutside ringAt this point the dial indicator is calibrated to the neck plate. It may be necessaryto re-zero the outer ring when you re-position the adjustment bar.11

( C O N T I N U E D )Place the Edge Vise on the guitarbody and align the body pencil mark withthe line on the template and firmly tightenthe Vise. Make sure that the vise is seatedflat on the body .TIONSO P E R A T I O NINSTRUCNow place the guitar body and edge vise into the Jig using the index pins . Make surethat the edge vise is seated all the way on the pins (the fit is a bit tight for a good pinaccuracy).12

( C O N T I N U E D )Side to Side AdjustmentWith the two thumb knobs at both sides loosen one side and tighten other or viceversa and adjust so that the tip of the Dial Indicator is precisely over the saddlecenter pencil line. Very lightly tighten the thumb screw (DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN)STRUCTIONSO P E R A T I O NINThumb knobBoth sidesThe two thumb knobs control the tilt of the main plate so that the whole bodymoves from side to side in order to line up the center of where the saddle will beplaced.13

O P E R A T I O NNSNeck Angle AdjustmentLoosen the wing nuts on both sides of the Jig andwith the knurled knob adjust the neck angle untilthe small pointer of the dial indicator is close tothe set mark and the large pointer is on zero. Nowyou can add height compensation. Thentighten the two wing nuts.CTIO( C O N T I N U E D )Wing nutRTNOTE;Remember with the dial indicator at zero represents the same projected planefor the top of the neck to the point where the saddle will be placed. With thissetting you now have a surface that you can calculate the difference between thebridge, saddle height, finger board, string height, fret height, etc. This numberwill become your height compensation. This distance may be different for thetype of guitar you are building.INAt this point the Jig has been set up for the neck angle. All we have to donow is route out the appropriate neck joints. Remove the guitar body from the jigand insert the appropriate template. Make sure to screw in the indexing pin andtighten the thumb screw plate.SUKnurled knob14

( C O N T I N U E D )SO P E R A T I O NTRUCTIONCAUTIONIt is very important to secure the body properly before routing out theneck tenon, any large vibration can cause the router bit to take out a large chuckof the wood. Always remove the majority of wood before making the final cut, butDO NOT be in a hurry and remove too much wood at one time especially with a1/2” bit. It is best to apply a slow feed rate. Practice on a scrap piece of wood tofind the correct cutting speed. Also make sure that the Edge vise is secure to theguitar body.Before routing the tenon you can check the angle by simply making a skimcut on the top of the neck tenon area. Place the neck on the guitar and using astraight edge to check the neck angle and side to side angle. Slight adjustmentscan be made before the tenon is cut.INSSkim cut15

( C O N T I N U E D )The Dove tail and Arch top templates are designed for 1” router bit extension. The router bit can be set to any desired extension for the Mortise/tenontemplates.ONSO P E R A T I O NDove tail bitNow that Jig is set up you can set the tenon depth. The drawing belowshows the typical neck joint for the Neck Angle Jig.RUCTIStraight 1/2” bitINSTUse the top surface ofthe Jig to measure the depthof the neck tenon, this is thesame surface that the routerbase rests on. Keep in mindthat the top Jig surface thickness is 1/2”. Also keep inmind to account for thecurvature of the upper boutso that the appropriate reliefcan be carved later withoutjeopardizing the tenon depth.16

There are three types of neck templates available.A. Dove tailB. Mortis/tenonC. Arch topNST E M P L A T E SOThe templates are made of 1/4” acrylic.4.00STRINThe above drawing shows the dimensions for both the neck and body templates.177.006.50U8.257.50CTI2.50