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Rasps or spokeshaves for neck carving?
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 12:22 pm
by Dave Bagwill
I'll be carving a neck here pretty quick, first time.
I've seen this done with shaves, I've seen this done with rasps.
I need to purchase one or the other - I know nothing about either.
So some recommendations would be very welcome. If you have a preference, can you give me some criterion for picking a particular type of rasp - is it called anything special? - or shave?
Thanks. I'm a noob to neck carving, not to building, so I have some general ideas but I want to spend my money wisely.
Thanks
Re: Rasps or spokeshaves for neck carving?
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 12:58 pm
by John Parchem
I like using rasps and at times micro planes. The rasps I use are carpenters rasps from LMI very nice. I mostly use the fine Rasp. The microplanes really work well as well. When using them you need a light touch as it is easy to flatten the blades. I have not used a spokeshave.
Re: Rasps or spokeshaves for neck carving?
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 2:58 pm
by dave d
My feeling is that each tool has a task that it's good at, but if you were getting just one the rasp is more universally applicable for shaping each part of the neck.
Re: Rasps or spokeshaves for neck carving?
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:54 pm
by Ken Hundley
I know it doesn't help much....I use both.
Re: Rasps or spokeshaves for neck carving?
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 4:47 pm
by Robert Hosmer
Ditto what Ken Hundley said.
Edged tool (spokeshave, chisel, etc.) for speeding up major stock removal, then rasps in varying degrees of coarseness to blend in what the spokeshave can't get.
If $$ is an issue and you can't get both, the rasp could do it all, but much slower. The rasp will wear out quicker, and so will your body!
Re: Rasps or spokeshaves for neck carving?
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 5:13 pm
by ken cierp
I have one of these
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page ... te=ROCKLER
Sharping a round spoke shave "makes me sad" so I simply don't use them.
For roughing -- I know its not a hand tool -- but in my opinion you can't beat a rotary rasp for quick accurate wood removal.
Re: Rasps or spokeshaves for neck carving?
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 6:17 am
by Dave Bagwill
Bob - I saw the words 'whilst' and 'centre' in your post and then realized - you're a Brit! :-) Good show! I read a lot of the 'Inklings' works and can spot what are, to us on this side of the pond, eccentricities in spelling.
All in good fun, Bob!
Your volute is a thing of art; do you use the same profile on your standard guitar necks?
The more I read of the responses in this thread, the more I think I need CNC technology...