MIMF

There was some discussion earlier about uses for a pin router. Well, here's one that is extremely helpful and a real time saver. Basically, you secure the neck (to be routed) on a template of the neck. I used a half inch baltic birch. Use index dowels and clamps etc...you don't want this thing shifting around on you. Set up entry/exit points at the heel and nut. Use a 3/4" roundover bit w/bearing 2" cut width. Run a couple of scraps through there for final tweeking...and you should be good to go. Edit:....Oh yes...technically...it is no longer being used as a pin router...but you get the idea. There is a similar type thing on youtube...Martin I think is his last name? This idea has been long brewing for me...didn't have a real pin router until a few weeks ago. Oh...yes...don't forget your shim under the nut area for your taper.

I used a similar jig in a shaper (big, 5 HP 3 phase shaper) at the shop where I once worked. It is indeed a time saver, especially with woods like curly maple where a draw knife just doesn't quite do the job. Just make sure your locating mechanism and attachments are very secure!

So do you take multiple passes until you get to depth?

Hi David....well you can if you'd like, and I guess it all depends on what dimensioned stock you're dealing with. Typically, at this point in the game you have a neck app 3/4" thick. You are only trimming roughly 1/8" on the back of the neck at the nut end. You've band-sawed as near the neck outline as possible, so you are not removing a great deal of material either from the side or back. But definitely, the secret to success with the pin router, I have found, is to take very controllable/several passes with, I prefer, no more than 1/4" depth (pickup cavities, body outlines etc). This procedure is by no means a finished product...but it sure helps to get you started.

Wow, 1/4 inch? Do you have some big Hp behind this thing, as John describes?

I wish it were that easy for an acoustic neck! Nice looking setup though.

well Jason...it's a 3.5 hp variable speed Porter Cable Router...I don't normally do 1/4" depth...but I don't think it's entirely unreasonable with this machine. Two complete turns on the wingnut adjustment is app. 1/8". It makes dialing in for neck pockets and pickup cavities a real treat. That's a very comfortable cut for me...may take a few extra minutes, but the overall time saver makes it a no-brainer.

Don...you may recognize this machine...I bought it from Sylvan. I fail to see why you could not use the main objective of this idea for acoustics as well??

I too have seen this on Youtube. The guy's name is Ryan Martin, from Becker Guitars.
I've been wanting to build one of these for myself. Yours looks a lot simpler that the one on Youtube.
I like it.

I don't have a pin router, but I think the jig I just built for doing binding will work for this too. It will hold the router at whatever height I set it at, or float for binding work too.
Of course I would use a smaller, lighter router for binding.