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I just uploaded the latest Luthier Tips du Jour video. The topic is slotting the Spanish heel using a table saw. As always, comments and discussion are welcome.
Enjoy!

Simple and well explained Robbie, as usual.

I like to use the Romanillos double wedge, (two opposed wedges each side) so I guess it would be a matter of having two different sized spacers 10mm different to make the two cuts on each side before chiselling out the wood.

Colin

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Thank you Colin, You are correct. That would work for the Romanillos type wedged heel joint he uses. For folks who have table saws without tilting blades you can make a shim to raise the neck on the peghead end and get the angle that way.

Thanks for another video Robbie.

Chuck

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Nice Robbie. I think I ran into trouble trying to get a compound angle when I was trying to cut the 10 mm slot. On the plan I have, the width of the center strip is about 25 - 30 mm wide at the top, going to a point at the bottom, which makes the wedges follow the angle of the side of the Spanish foot. Turning the miter gauge around might have helped that problem. I think I'll try some experiments on some 2x4's instead of using necks I've put a V-joint in.

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Waddy

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Hi Robbie

Many thanks for the video's they help explain the different techiniques very well

Could you please tell me why you turned the Mitre fence round when you made the second tenon cut as I can't see why you did this? Sorry not trying to criticise just can't understand why it was done thats all

Dave

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So he could cut the second slot with the neck turned around, with the top of the neck in contact with the miter gauge instead of using a different surface. This way, both slots are exactly the same.

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Waddy

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Que bueno, señor! Great as always.

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

Hi Waddy

thanks for the reply

I get what you mean but would it make a large amount of difference if the timber is square to start with? Any benefit is negligible as you are holding against the mitre fence which is dangerous as the wood could slip or pull away from the mitre as you push through?

Don't mean to sound offish just can't see it would make a great difference and its not altogether safe!

Dave

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Dave, it is always best to use the same surface, in this case more so as the whole of the mitre fence then bears against the length of the neck surface for both cuts, rather than just the shorter less stable heel block, on the second one.

If you are worried just clamp the neck to the mitre fence

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Dave,

Colin and Waddy are correct. This way is the best way to make sure the slots line up after cutting. If you try adjusting the miter gauge or neck, you will have misaligned slots, Believe me!
If you have safety concerns then try clamping the neck to the miter gauge for extra support.

Nice Video Robbie.

After watching your DVD a couple of years ago I made a jig based on your method for cutting the slot but with a tilt so that the cut wasn't as deep on the top side. You just run it through one way, then flip the neck over, clamp it to the other side and run it through the other, the fence stop made sure the slots were symetrical, worked great. I also had a thin kerf 8" hitachi blade that cut a .086" slot, just about right for my sides. Unfortunately the oak miter runner warped and I needed a new blade, I never got around to replacing either, so now I just cut them by hand and do the Romanillos heel-- I'm a slow builder anyway.

Nice Jig Marc!! That is another way it could be done. Thanks for sharing.

Robbie, I guess this approach assumes that the neck has no positive angle to the body. How would you modify it to account for say a 2 degree positive angle?

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Rich Smith
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Not the case at all, Ricardo. The angle is so negligible that it is not taken into account. A 2mm drop in 325 mm is not much of an angle, You can't even see it in the sides.

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Waddy

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Robbie, thats comforting. Thanks for the tip!

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA