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Yesterday, I installed my first CF rods in a neck. Today, I went downstairs, looked at it and remembered I should have cut them short enough to clear the tenon cheeks, but I didn't. When I go to cut the tenon, will my router bit go through those at all, or should I cut it close and get in there with the hack saw? Could I make the tenon really wide for the top half inch? Other option? Either way, it won't be too soon. I need to finish my jig and templates.

If it matters, it's Los Alamos rectangular rod.

Thanks,
Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

Mike,
You can cut them with your router, but you'll ruin your bit doing it. Even if you cut them close with a hacksaw you'll probably still ruin your bit.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Thanks, Jim. I figured it would ruin the bit whether it cut the CF or not. I am wondering if I can route around it and then relieve the shoulders ala Hesh's neck fitting tute, giving me access to undercut with the hacksaw. We'll see how it goes. As long as I stick with an opaque fretboard on this one, it should end up fine.

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

I did the same thing, first time... Bad word! Bad word!
I trimmed the stubs away with a cutting wheel chucked in the Dremel tool. Only after dulling my favourite chisel... Twice!
It's worth having a Dremel mandrel & a few of the cutting discs around... Very handy for fixing little screw-ups.

Thanks Daniel. I don't have a Dremel, but my friend uses his for everything. I'll make sure I borrow it.

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

Mike: Any chance of incorporating the CF in the tenon by making it wider...? I put my rods close to the truss rod slot and let them run out to the end of the tenon.
Tom

CF rod too long here, too.

Chuck a roto-zip 1/8" ceramic tile cutting bit into your Dremel - cheaper than the Dremel bit. With Dremel in SM router base, pivot the bit into the CF rod - in my case, both 1/8" - using the continuous edge of the router base as the pivot point.

I rev'ed up the Dremel and lowered slowly.

Repeat as necessary.

Nothing but a tiny pile of CF dust. Vacuum it up.

Wear a mask.

Couldn't be easier.