Official Luthiers Forum!

I have built a few guitars with a mortice and tenon joint, and handle to hold them for spraying a finish is easy to do because of the bolts. I am now spraying a guitar with a dovetail joint - what kind of handle do you use to hold the body and the neck?

Ed

Ed, When I did dovetails, I had a handle with 3/16" threads that I inserted into the end pin hole.

Chuck

_________________
_________________

I go right through the hole for the truss rod adjustment. Couple of washers and nuts on each side, long Aluminum (or wood) handle that the threaded rod screws into. Eyebolt or hook on the other end to hang it.

I have also made matching dovetail inserts which minimized the masking. Used a screw to attach to the body and/or neck. More work and not as reliable.

The straight through threaded rod works the best. Doesn't come loose and if it does it's easy to retighten and the body doesn't fall off. Works on anything that has a sound hole adjustable truss rod.

Tim

Cut fake dovetails out of scrap plywood and screw em to a stick. Keep in place with a small,finishing nail.

Good ideas all. This is an old Gibson with a truss rod nut at the head so no hole there. I like the small brad in the wooden dovetail handle.

Thanks

Ed