Headstock

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Excess glue cleaned out
from the nut seat with
a blade and needle file

The headstock face glued
ready for the headstock
veneer

The veneer clamped in place
with cauls - clamping has to
be done gently to prevent
the veneer from slipping

The veneer - in this case
ebony - in situ and ready
for trimming

The veneer after trimming
back to the headstock
shape using an edge
trimming bit in the router -
the corner 'ears' are also
cut into the headstock
at the same time - the
truss rod nut recess
has been trimmed out
with a sharp blade

The headstock sides and
top edge are sanded
smooth with a block

The machinehead hole
positions located using
a clear plastic template
and marked with a
centrepunch

The machinehead holes
drilled on the pillar drill

The headstock back being
routed to its correct
thickness

The headstock back has
been routed off and all
is ready now for the
initial carving of the
headstock-to-neck
transition

The headstock is clamped
to the bench using a
small sheet-steel caul to
protect the back from
damage during carving

The initial carve finished -
some makers form a
volute, but we prefer a
smooth and graceful
curve from headstock to
neck

A couple of necks ready
to have their transition
curves sanded in

The transition curve being
sanded - the abrasive is
used round a broom-handle
block

Once the curve is done,
the whole headstock back
and the curve is sanded
with 80 grit to blend the
curve right in

The necks are then
marked for final carving
of the transition

Four necks showing the
various stages of final
transition carving - the back
one has been marked, the
next has been roughly carved
to shape, the next has had
the side transition sanded,
the front one has had the
back transition sanded

The next four pictures show
the stages of final transition
carving close up - firstly the
rough carve ...

... then the side transition
sanded to the correct
profile ...

... and lastly the back
transition, blending
everything together - still
lots more sanding to come
to get the final smooth
finish!

The final task is to trim
the headstock veneer and
tidy the trimmed edge to
form the nut recess - next
job is finish sanding the
whole neck

<<< Neck Carving & Sanding to Shape

Neck Finish Sanding Part 1 >>>