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Heel slots on classical-is this possible?
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Author:  Antonio [ Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Heel slots on classical-is this possible?
For my next guitar I would like to try a different way to do the heel slots.
There are several methods: saw with +/- 2mm kerf (can't find one of those), wedges, double wedges etc.

Here is a picture to explain what I am thinking of:


Image

the blue lines show the usual way with the 2mm kerf saw.
I am thinking of sawing with a japanese saw with a much thinner kerf along the red lines. When you finished sawing along the red lines you have 2 pieces of wood A & B. Then, you just have to perfectly sand the surfaces and glue these pieces 2 mm apart from the original saw lines leaving a perfect slot .

What do you think? what are the possible implications?
Author:  Michael.N. [ Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heel slots on classical-is this possible?
It will work but will require accurate positioning and gluing. I don't really see any advantage over the slots or the wedges though.
Author:  John A [ Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heel slots on classical-is this possible?
It would be easier and better to just saw on the blue, in the traditional method (I use a thin Japanese style saw as well), then insert a scarp blade in the kerf, then saw again to widen the kerf. It really only takes a couple of minutes with the Japanese saw.
Author:  Antonio [ Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heel slots on classical-is this possible?
John,

I tried the way you describe and it was a mess. I had to do in more then one cut. I should have a blade thick enough to just be able to make the slot sawing only twice.
Author:  WilliamS [ Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heel slots on classical-is this possible?
In my opinion the easiest way to get a nice fit is the romanillos double wedge method. The 2mm kerf saw works fine as well. It is true that you won't likely find a saw with that much set but it's easy and cheap enough to pick up an old diston and a saw set. On my first three I used an old stanley miter box with a turn-of-the-century diston miter saw that I picked up on ebay for about $20 several years ago. After sharpening and setting it cut my 2mm slots beautifully. I have since switched to the double wedge method and have been toying with the idea of abandoning the spanish foot altogether (mostly to make finishing a little easier).
-William
Author:  WilliamS [ Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heel slots on classical-is this possible?
In my opinion the easiest way to get a nice fit is the romanillos double wedge method. The 2mm kerf saw works fine as well. It is true that you won't likely find a saw with that much set but it's easy and cheap enough to pick up an old diston and a saw set. On my first three I used an old stanley miter box with a turn-of-the-century diston miter saw that I picked up on ebay for about $20 several years ago. After sharpening and setting it cut my 2mm slots beautifully. I have since switched to the double wedge method and have been toying with the idea of abandoning the spanish foot altogether (mostly to make finishing a little easier).
-William
Author:  Michael.N. [ Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heel slots on classical-is this possible?
The advantage of the wedge method (single or double) is that it allows you access to the slot and it's much easier to correct any discrepencies. The Neck/wedge method goes back hundreds of years and is an elegant solution, which is why Romanillos copied it.
Another solution to cutting a 2 mm slot is to laminate 2 saws together, perhaps with a spacer inbetween to give the correct width of cut. I think that was the solution that Kevin Aram used at one time.
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