Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

DIY notched straight edge


ikay
 Share

Recommended Posts

Notched straight edges are horribly expensive. I'm thinking of getting an aluminium ruler and filing out the notches as a cheaper alternative. I realise this wouldn't be precision ground to a thousandth of a cats whisker, but surely it would be good enough to do the job. Wouldn't it?!

 

Something like this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Faithfull-RULE1000-Aluminium-Rule-39-inch/dp/B000C750F6/

 

910708748_aluminiumruler.thumb.jpg.816c4019764932bfe43a41d59587ca69.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I got one of these a few years ago, not sure how that would work now we are post-brexit. Mine was a little poorly finished but nothing a quick go over with a stiff wire brush couldn't sort and I got a partial refund too.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOTCHED-STRAIGHT-EDGE-for-Electric-Bass-Guitar-Neck-TOOL-34-35-/131803388753?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Edited by BreadBin
Needed another a
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, pfretrock said:

Not worth doing unless you have access to  a notching/guillotine tool - way too tedious to file!

I just bought the ruler but don't have a fancy notching guillotine so have a few hours of filing to look forward too!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 minutes ago, ikay said:

I just bought the ruler but don't have a fancy notching guillotine so have a few hours of filing to look forward too!

An electric or air grinder would make short work if the notches, if you have access to one. Then just a quick tidy up with a file/sandpaper/wire brush etc. 

 

I have considered doing this myself but that HB one looks good value compared to a tenner steel rule plus my time. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, ikay said:

I just bought the ruler but don't have a fancy notching guillotine so have a few hours of filing to look forward too!

Actually should not take that long. Frets are under 1.5mm high so a 1/4 inch fine round file should be quite quick, put a 3or 4 mm notch at each position. Looks like the ruler is Ali. ? A bit thicker than mine so shoud not bend, (mine did) if it's bowed not easy to see the alignment on the neck.

My 30" gauge was for a kit built short scale which had neck and fret problems.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/10/2021 at 18:14, ikay said:

Et voila!  Thanks for all the input chaps. Next on the list is a DIY fret crowning tool of some sort. Any ideas welcome!

 

I made myself a fretboard rule like you have but my attempts at an improvised fret crowner failed so I ended up buying one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guitar-Crowning-Dressing-Repairing-Luthier/dp/B07KTNBT3P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...