I am currently repairing an old English banjo. I have built a jig to recut the neck heel angle but I had to remove the dowel stick. In the process the dowel part that went in to the heel got munted so I had to cut it off. I experimented using my benchtop drill press and it almost worked. The dowel part is not sitting exactly where I want it and it is slightly off the line of the dowel stick.
Any advice on building a jig to redo this? Photos appreciated.
I had to luck up the word "munted." A New Zealand word for broken or ruined.
Many of the highly skilled restorers do not remove the dowel from the neck heel. They simply cut it off. Using steam and pressure can delaminate the two piece necks, particularly the ones with the ebonized maple down the middle or twisting the dowel can snap the heel. Best to avoid this problem.
They then mount the banjo's dowel stick and use an X-Y-Z set up that positions the dowel in relationship to a drill bit to drill a hole into the dowel stick to insert a new end into the dowel. This is typically done on a lathe or a horizontal mill.
Another option would be to plug the hole in the heel of the banjo neck and redrill that hole to fit your now off-center dowel stick end.
quote:
Originally posted by Banner BlueI had to luck up the word "munted." A New Zealand word for broken or ruined.
Many of the highly skilled restorers do not remove the dowel from the neck heel. They simply cut it off. Using steam and pressure can delaminate the two piece necks, particularly the ones with the ebonized maple down the middle or twisting the dowel can snap the heel. Best to avoid this problem.
They then mount the banjo's dowel stick and use an X-Y-Z set up that positions the dowel in relationship to a drill bit to drill a hole into the dowel stick to insert a new end into the dowel. This is typically done on a lathe or a horizontal mill.
Another option would be to plug the hole in the heel of the banjo neck and redrill that hole to fit your now off-center dowel stick end.
Thanks for the response. Where can I find info on the X-Y-Z set up? I have measured the angle at which the dowel stick sits through the rim (2.55 degrees). I am in the process of researching and building a horizontal drill rig that will be adjustable to drill at the right angle. This is what I want info on.
Here's a link to one way to drill a dowel mortise in a heel.....
facebook.com/media/set/?vanity...244712909
The drill bit follows the same path each time, and you shim and adjust the neck to give you the correct placement and angle of the mortise according to the dimensions of the neck.
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Originally posted by Mark RalstonHere's a link to one way to drill a dowel mortise in a heel.....
facebook.com/media/set/?vanity...244712909
The drill bit follows the same path each time, and you shim and adjust the neck to give you the correct placement and angle of the mortise according to the dimensions of the neck.
Thanks Mark, I saw this this morning on my FB feed. Have saved the photos to my phone and will build my jig along those lines.
Mark's system can also be designed for a lathe with everything the opposite. In the case of a lathe, the neck on its sled is pushed into the drill bit which is in a chuck mounted in the headstock. If you are going to do lots of these, the sled for the neck can be made out of a thick piece of sheet aluminum, with adjusters (tap for two bolts on the far end) to raise and lower the neck angle.
quote:
Originally posted by Banner BlueMark's system can also be designed for a lathe with everything the opposite. In the case of a lathe, the neck on its sled is pushed into the drill bit which is in a chuck mounted in the headstock. If you are going to do lots of these, the sled for the neck can be made out of a thick piece of sheet aluminum, with adjusters (tap for two bolts on the far end) to raise and lower the neck angle.
That makes sense. However I only have a micro lathe which wouldn't work.
