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I am still struggling with cutting channels on my harp pegheads. I just can't figure out how to do it. Those that understand the geometry of the "Micky Mouse" shape will get my problem. Help please...

I can't speak specifically to harp guitars, but I recently had an instrument where I couldn't get my binding jig around the neck portion of the instrument (carved top bouzouki). I ended up cutting the channels by hand with a gramil, razor blades, exacto knife, chisels and the sanding attachments on my dremal. It was a slow and painfully tedious process, but I was pleased with the results. My guess is you may have to do something similar with your peghead.

Just don't be in a rush and you should be fine.

Josh

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Josh House

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I use a gramil all the time, so those tight inward corners aren't so different from the rest. Just have to score the curve freehand with an x-acto knife rather than having the gramil to make it easier. Do the first couple passes slowly and lightly so you don't catch on the grain and get dragged away from where you want to go. Cleaning out the channel is a little trickier as well, jabbing into the corner with an x-acto knife where you can't chisel in from the side. But really no tricks to it, "just do it"

The F5 mandolin peghead is about as complex as you can get and I always cut the shape out and bind it before glueing to the neck. Sorry Mike, it won't help you with your current build, but consider it for your next.

Yes, this might have to be done by hand.

Haans, peghead is not connected yet. . What about a custom router base with a pin guide?

I'm thinking of a custom base with an arm coming back 4-6", then a 1" spacer block with a return arm that allows me to hold a vertical pin that is on center with the router bit.

I'd just get a nice sharp palm carving chisel the size you need and start learning to do it by hand. You might find it's easier and faster then you think. Just make sure it's a good sharpened chisel. You can use the tape method like I used to mark my purf channel around my ribrest. I used 1/8" auto pin striping tape as the guide but I think it might come in 1/16" width too.