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Dovetail to bolt-on Conversion
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Author:  Bigbear [ Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:49 am ]
Post subject:  Dovetail to bolt-on Conversion
Hi peeps,
I've been reading all I can on this site about the argument for and against dovetails and bolt-ons.I've reset the necks on about 20 dovetails and worked on about the same number of bolt-on types(not many I know,but enough to form my own semi-educated opinion).
So,before I begin my first build which was going to be a dovetail joint (until now!)I've got an old 1940's Kay jumbo in for a reset that I'm going to do a Dovetail to bolt-on conversion.
I'd like to keep the mortise and tenon of the dovetail and bolt it ala cumpiano style.
Would like to know if any of you guys have done this and your method(s) of going bout it.

Thanks in advance for any replys.
Cheers!
Author:  Jeffrey L. Suits [ Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dovetail to bolt-on Conversion
I don't do it that way, I turn the dovetail into a straight V tenon w/ hangerbolts.
Image
Author:  Bigbear [ Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dovetail to bolt-on Conversion
Yes,thats basically what I'm gonna do.How do you handle the mortise,do you leave it as is or fill the sides of the joint to make for a close fit?

Thanks in advance.
Author:  Laurent Brondel [ Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dovetail to bolt-on Conversion
Another possibility is to leave your dovetail pretty tight fitting, and just drill for an insert (the end grain type) in the dovetail, and hole for a furniture bolt in the neck block. One bolt would be enough, I don't remember what builder does this.
Author:  Jeffrey L. Suits [ Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Dovetail to bolt-on Conversion
Bigbear wrote:
Yes,thats basically what I'm gonna do.How do you handle the mortise,do you leave it as is or fill the sides of the joint to make for a close fit?

Thanks in advance.


I just leave it, no reason to do anything to it. Some, that I have to saw off, become a butt joint.
Author:  Blain [ Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dovetail to bolt-on Conversion
I took a tour of Collings Guitars and they basically did it just as Jeffrey shows in his picture.

I posted pictures of the tour here, so you should be able to find it by searching "Collings guitar"

As of right now, I use the hanger bolts, but with a regular Mortise and Tenon. However, I've been thinking of purchasing the dovetail templates from Chris at Luthier tools and try it as Jeffrey has shown.
Author:  Jeffrey L. Suits [ Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Dovetail to bolt-on Conversion
Blain wrote:
I took a tour of Collings Guitars and they basically did it just as Jeffrey shows in his picture.

I posted pictures of the tour here, so you should be able to find it by searching "Collings guitar"

As of right now, I use the hanger bolts, but with a regular Mortise and Tenon. However, I've been thinking of purchasing the dovetail templates from Chris at Luthier tools and try it as Jeffrey has shown.


If you use a true dovetail, you can't use hangerbolts--the neck has to fit into the socket horizontally.
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