Using a shaper

[Dave Fox]

Anyone use a shaper to carve necks? What kinds of jigs did you make? Have any pics to share? I'm toying with the idea of getting one, but still like to make them by hand, too.

[Charlie Hoffman]

I have two shapers and would not be without them. One that reverses is all you really need. I have the smallest Grizzly and it works fine. I have perhaps 30 different jigs that I use with it and most can be seen somewhere on my web site in the guitar construction pages (www.hoffmanguitars.com) . I do recomend that you check out www.orbittools.com They make custom router and shaper cutters and their quality is great and the price is very reasonable. The most important cutter is a straight cutter with a ball bearing follower of the same size. Much like a pattern cutting bit on a router table but it can be reversed which is very helpful on occasion.