Dave1climber - Posted - 01/05/2013:  09:27:41

I am building a banjo, and at the point of time that I needed to do the heel cut on the neck I realized that my skills with chisels, rasps, etc. are just not up to the critical task.  So after an unsuccessful attempt to come up with a drill press sanding drum based fixture, I converted an old horizontal mill to a heel cutting  fixture.  Photos attached.  A friend called it a "Frankenmill", I just laughed.  

chickenpickin - Posted - 01/05/2013:  09:43:03

Great looking neck and a nice set up for heel cutting!! What wood do you have sandwiched between the fingerboard and the neck. I've never seen it done that way but I like it.

Tim

Ken LeVan - Posted - 01/05/2013:  09:45:44

Very nice!! I like the peghead shape a lot.

Ken

Dave1climber - Posted - 01/05/2013:  10:17:57

Tim

The neck is maple, the bottom and top layers are walnut, in between is blood wood and maple. The walnut grain is parallel to the neck, and the maple and blood wood is at right angles to the neck.  Its some what similar to what Ken LeVan does but I glued the walnut, blood wood, and maple as a separate unit from the neck and fret board. I did it that way because I couldn't get the parts as thin as I wanted, when glued together I could sand the assembly to the desired thickness with my hand held belt sander.

Ken

I could not have done this without all of your wonderful posts.  Your opinion on the peghead shape is greatly appreciated. Thanks many times over.

Dave

RBuddy - Posted - 01/05/2013:  10:45:44

Dave

Mighty nice modifications to the mill. That should make for a very functional platform. I like it!

Brian

Dave1climber - Posted - 01/05/2013:  11:02:57

Brian

Thanks, doing the conversion was just as much fun as doing the banjo build.    It was also frustrating at times.  Your setup for doing heel cuts is pretty good looking also.

Edited by - Dave1climber on 01/05/2013 11:06:05

DantheBanjoMan - Posted - 01/05/2013:  11:17:08

Dave,

That device is brilliant. 

Dave1climber - Posted - 01/05/2013:  14:03:59

quote:

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Originally posted by DantheBanjoMan

Dave,

That device is brilliant. 

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Dan

Thanks 

rudy - Posted - 01/05/2013:  17:57:59

Nice heel machine.  My curiosity is whetted, Why the side dots on the first string side (not in the same locations as position markers...)?

Dave1climber - Posted - 01/05/2013:  20:19:55

quote:

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Originally posted by rudy

Nice heel machine.  My curiosity is whetted, Why the side dots on the first string side (not in the same locations as position markers...)?

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Rudy

Thanks for the compliment on the heel machine. 

Good eyes, the original plan was to install them on both sides so that it could be re strung as a lefty if anyone wanted too.  As it turned out the last three on the first string side are a mistake, the rest are correct.

rudy - Posted - 01/05/2013:  20:34:38

quote:

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Originally posted by Dave1climber



quote:

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Originally posted by rudy



Nice heel machine.  My curiosity is whetted, Why the side dots on the first string side (not in the same locations as position markers...)?

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Rudy

Thanks for the compliment on the heel machine. 

Good eyes, the original plan was to install them on both sides so that it could be re strung as a lefty if anyone wanted too.  As it turned out the last three on the first string side are a mistake, the rest are correct.

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 That's a great concept, Dave.  With a full length fifth it would be a snap to reconfigure as a lefty.

I keep thinking that Curly of the Stooges would say, "Ambidelirious , eh?"

Dave1climber - Posted - 01/08/2013:  12:23:09

I have attached the neck to the rim to check the fit.  Photos are attached.  Needless to say it has to come apart to do the finishing.

DanKnowles - Posted - 01/11/2013:  19:51:02

Dave,

Very cool! I am so jealous!