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Square cutting the nut end of Ebony
http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=9024		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  dubell [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:44 pm ]
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I had the same problem with my first......getting a good and clean square cut on the nut end of the ebony fingerboard. I always seem to have an imperfect cut line. I tried a Dozuki, a Dovetail, and a Radial arm. Each had their issues. This stuff is like steel.

What is the best way to cut this stuff??

Thanks
Author:  Alain Desforges [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:51 pm ]
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The thing I can count most on in my shop is my bench sander. It has a 6 inch wheel in the front. I use my engineer's squares to make sure the guage and the platform are perfectly square to the wheel.

So in my case, assuming the fingerboard hasn't been tapered yet, I would make sure the sides are square (or at least one is) and then I'd give it a little shot on the sander to square up the nut.

It ain't pretty, but it works perfectly for me.

Hope this helps.Alain Desforges39016.9123958333
Author:  dubell [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:25 pm ]
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I have a blank from an LMI kit. I will try and square it up on my belt sander.

Thanks guys
Author:  old man [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:55 pm ]
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I just use my fret saw against a straight edged guide.

Ron
Author:  Cameron Reddy [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:15 pm ]
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I'm struggling with the same area. My fretboard was pre slotted by LMI, so
I just put a small-kerf saw in the top slot and cut it. But, the kerf of the
saw wasn't exactly the same as the width of the slot, and so the bottom
of the slot had a very small ledge. I VERY carefully filed it to the rest of
the slot.

In your case, I've found that, if you set the file across the edge, and grip
the file in the middle of the board, and move back an forth not allowing
your hand to get to or past the outside edge of either side, you will at
least keep the edges of the fretboard from getting "rounded" or
"chamfered" by the inevitable variance in your back and forth filing
motion. (At least, I'm not that good!). With this technique, you can gently
apply pressure one side or the other to get the thing square. It's a slow
process... perhaps what you need... as it's much harder to go too far.

Then again, maybe this isn't helpful at all. I'm so new at this it's hard for
me to believe that I could actually help any of you guys.

Great forum, though. I love the friendliness.
Author:  Anthony Z [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:50 pm ]
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Doug, do you have a cross cut sled for your table saw? If not they are pretty easy to make and come in really handy for many other tasks. Here's an example of one Table Saw Cross Cut Sled

I use a fine tooth cross cut blade and haven't had any problems.
Author:  peterm [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:13 pm ]
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[QUOTE=old man] I just use my fret saw against a straight edged guide.

Ron[/QUOTE]

yup! works everytime!! you can even do it in a fret slotting jig.
Author:  Serge Poirier [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 9:59 pm ]
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Cross cut sled and fretsaw blade on the table saw, very accurate.
Author:  Marc [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:17 pm ]
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[QUOTE=Serge Poirier] Cross cut sled and fretsaw blade on the table saw, very accurate.[/QUOTE]

Exactly, that's what I use, works great.
Author:  Mark Tripp [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:15 pm ]
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Yup! I slot on the tablesaw so I do it just like Serge. I cut the nut slot deeper than the rest, all most all the way through - it's then pretty easy to finish up wih fret saw.

-Mark
Author:  dubell [ Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:11 pm ]
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Here are my results.......I have one of those Stew-Mac circular fret blades. I put it on my table saw and cut the fretboard. I did this in about 5 passes, back and forth, as I think this is less stressful on the blade than one full 5/16 inch cut through ebony.

I then held a square up to the fretboard and held it up to a light to check for squareness. I was off slightly.

I then put the fretboard on a board to get it up off the table and favored the high side with a sanding plan. I did this with very short stroked being careful to not round over anything.

The result were perfect. Which is still a little below my standards...

Thank you all very much.....as you can see I used little bits of your advise to get a superior results. This was one of my stumbling blocks....not anymore.

Thanks
Author:  Jim Kirby [ Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:22 pm ]
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[QUOTE=Cameron Reddy]

Then again, maybe this isn't helpful at all. I'm so new at this it's hard for
me to believe that I could actually help any of you guys.

Great forum, though. I love the friendliness.[/QUOTE]

Cameron - Don't worry. I'm getting to the age where, when I learn something or have someone tell me, I've forgotten it in 6 months anyway unless I do it every day. I can always be helped. And then you coould come back in 6 months and help me again with the same thing!   
Author:  Serge Poirier [ Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:58 am ]
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Congrats Doug!
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