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Does anyone buff out the body and neck separately (before gluing the neck to the body) when using a buffing machine with large buffing wheels?

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Formerly know as Mandodiddle.

Yup.

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Doug

Don't let fear or common sense stop you from trying to build something

Yep. Just about everyone does it that way.

Yeah, it's just easier.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

It's the only way to do it. Ok, that sounded pompous. Just try and do it with neck attached. DAMHIK

Yes, do that. There are no advantages (I think) and many disadvantages to doing it after assembly.

I started out by building classicals which require finishing with the neck attached if using a Spanish heel. I continued that method when building steel strings until recently, when I started finishing with the neck detached. The biggest benefit for me was the ability to buff out the area at the neck join before joining the neck.. Also makes for a very crisp neck to body transition.

Yep.

Same here. I will buff the neck shaft with my big buffing wheels, but usually switch to some hand buffing where the neck shaft transitions to the headstock. It is really easy to buff through the finish on the corners of the headstock if you're not real careful.

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

Thanks guys,
Do you see any advantage to reducing the number of buffing wheels to just one wheel thick when doing the neck?

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Formerly know as Mandodiddle.

I only use one buff per side.....Hasn't been an issue for me.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

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Yup - buffed out as two separate operations here too. Besides it gives me twice the opportunity to have the instrument ripped from my hands and shattered against the floor.....

Seriously though lots of Luthiers have had a guitar either thrown by the buffer or darn near thrown by the buffer. Some use copious amounts of padding, old mattresses, etc. around their buffers in case this happens. I use rubber gloves to get a better purchase on the thing.

Yep -- everybody loves their spindle buffer until this happens two minutes before the project is complete. RO auto polishers works for me. I believe it was John Greven that talks about this being the most pressure packed (and unwanted jobs) in the guitar factory where he once worked.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

I've come close, but never had it happen. I used a screwed in dovetail grip and an eyebolt in the endpin hole. I sat in a chair, and used the bottom of the buff. That way I could lean into it with my upper leg. Learning which way to buff an area is VERY important.

Right you guys are. It's also one of these things that the only way to learn is to accept the risks and go at it.