Neck Mortise and Tenon Jig ?

Questions about tools and jigs you want to buy/build/modify.
Post Reply
User avatar
Michael Baresi
Posts: 119
Joined: Sat Jul 13, 2013 12:36 pm
Location: Mesa Arizona
Contact:

Neck Mortise and Tenon Jig ?

Post by Michael Baresi »

Can anyone direct me to a good deal on a jig for routing m & t and dovetail joints?
I know stewmac has one but its a little too pricey for me.
User avatar
Randolph Rhett
Posts: 349
Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 5:19 pm
Location: San Diego, CA
Contact:

Re: Neck Mortise and Tenon Jig ?

Post by Randolph Rhett »

You can buy plans from Robbie O'Brien to make the exact same one as LMI sells. It is not too hard to build, but I understand that some people love building jigs and others not so much. Of course you can buy it from LMI for $200. While that is an outrage for a few sheets of MDF and some bolts it's a bargain compared to your time building something you don't love making and are just making to save some cash.

By contrast the StewMac jig is just insane to me. $80 for an acrylic template, and you still have to build a jig. The "jig" they suggest you build is laughably primitive. I would suggest build from Robbie's plans or buy the LMI one.
Brian Evans
Posts: 922
Joined: Sat Aug 30, 2014 8:26 am
Location: Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia

Re: Neck Mortise and Tenon Jig ?

Post by Brian Evans »

I just made mine based on the pictures in the Benedetto archtop book. The only real trick is getting the templates to match perfectly (particularly it you are doing a dovetail). I needed several iterations to get the body template to match the neck one (I made the neck one first, so I made the body to match). When I did a dovetail I found that depth of cut was critical, shallower equalled a narrower cut, deeper opened up the cut, so again I cut the neck as perfectly as I could, and then iterated the depth of cut on the body using scraps until I got it as perfect as I could. If doing it again I would figure out a way to make the neck angle easily adjustable - mine is adjustable, but not easily.
User avatar
Michael Baresi
Posts: 119
Joined: Sat Jul 13, 2013 12:36 pm
Location: Mesa Arizona
Contact:

Re: Neck Mortise and Tenon Jig ?

Post by Michael Baresi »

Brian Evans wrote:I just made mine based on the pictures in the Benedetto archtop book.
I have that book. I better dig it out and take a look.
Right now I'm inclined to go with the Robbie O'Brien plans and build my own.
thanks
User avatar
Michael Baresi
Posts: 119
Joined: Sat Jul 13, 2013 12:36 pm
Location: Mesa Arizona
Contact:

Re: Neck Mortise and Tenon Jig ?

Post by Michael Baresi »

I found a guy in Idaho that builds a nice jig for a reasonable price. (140)
It arrived yesterday and looks quite nice. Very well built.
If anyone is interested pm me and I'll send you the link
Gordon Bellerose
Posts: 1186
Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 11:47 pm
Location: Edmonton AB. Canada

Re: Neck Mortise and Tenon Jig ?

Post by Gordon Bellerose »

I built mine by watching the instructional videos, and figuring it out.
Mine works fine, but if you're not sure, buy the plan and routing pattern from LMII.
I need your help. I can't possibly make all the mistakes myself!
Post Reply

Return to “Tools and Jigs”