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| Saddle end rounding jig? http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=51836 |
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| Author: | UKSteve [ Sat Apr 20, 2019 9:45 am ] |
| Post subject: | Saddle end rounding jig? |
Has anyone come up with a simple jig for shaping (rounding) the ends of a saddle? I’ve always filed and sanded by hand but it seems like a task crying out for a jig to make it perfect and repeatable every time. My limited intellect just can’t conjure anything up. A quick web search has come up dry, but maybe someone here has thought about this and come up with a solution. |
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| Author: | itswednesday14 [ Sat Apr 20, 2019 10:22 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
roundover bit on router table before other shaping |
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| Author: | doncaparker [ Sat Apr 20, 2019 10:50 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
During a typical setup job, I doubt that I would want to take the time to set up my router table, or any other jig, just to put rounded ends on the saddle. It requires a few strokes on PSA backed sandpaper stuck to the bench, and boom, it's done. I guess you could use a fret crowning file. My point is that, other than in a high volume factory setting, I really don't think this is something that needs a jig. It just needs some TLC in the moment. |
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| Author: | Colin North [ Sat Apr 20, 2019 11:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
I'm with Don, PSA on a slab. after thicknessing. |
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| Author: | Michaeldc [ Sat Apr 20, 2019 11:45 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
doncaparker wrote: During a typical setup job, I doubt that I would want to take the time to set up my router table, or any other jig, just to put rounded ends on the saddle. It requires a few strokes on PSA backed sandpaper stuck to the bench, and boom, it's done. I guess you could use a fret crowning file. My point is that, other than in a high volume factory setting, I really don't think this is something that needs a jig. It just needs some TLC in the moment. +1 for keeping it simple. I use a 12x12 granite tile with 150, 240, 320, and 400 grit 3M Stikit gold paper ready to go. It can’t take me more than a couple of minutes to radius the ends using this setup. I also write the grit on the face of the paper so I don’t screw up as I’m sneaking up on a good tight fit. Best, M |
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| Author: | UKSteve [ Sat Apr 20, 2019 1:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
Thanks for the responses chaps. The simple way works fine, I was just wondering if anyone had come up with an elegant jig based solution. For one off saddles I agree it’s probably overkill, but perhaps a jig could be useful if making a batch of pre-shaped blanks. I’ll give it another coat of thinking. 
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| Author: | sdsollod [ Sat Apr 20, 2019 3:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
If you want speed you could use a disk sander if you have one set up to quickly get close to the size of the saddle slot and knock off the corners. Like Michael, I have a board that I glued successive grits of sandpaper to. I can start off with course and quickly go through finer grits... |
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| Author: | Trevor Gore [ Sat Apr 20, 2019 8:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
Make a custom sanding stick with a groove in it of the right diameter. Make it long enough and you could finish the job with one stroke! |
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| Author: | Ruby50 [ Sun Apr 21, 2019 7:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
You know those razor knife/box cutter blades that come in dispensers of 100? They have 2 rounded cutouts at the top that fit the handles. Those two rounded cutouts make perfect scrapers for the shape of saddle ends and tops. Ed |
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| Author: | Brad Goodman [ Mon Apr 22, 2019 9:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
I start with a 45 degree chamfer on the 6 X 89 belt sander followed by a rounding on the same machine ,then hand sand- total time 3 minutes. |
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| Author: | Tim Mullin [ Mon Apr 22, 2019 6:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
Rounding one end is not so difficult — many options. The tricky part is rounding the opposite end while keeping the saddle length perfect. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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| Author: | Brad Goodman [ Mon Apr 22, 2019 6:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
Tim Mullin wrote: Rounding one end is not so difficult — many options. The tricky part is rounding the opposite end while keeping the saddle length perfect. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Yes, good point. I have noticed on many guitars from even some prominent makers a gap at one end of the saddle-very disturbing! |
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| Author: | doncaparker [ Mon Apr 22, 2019 6:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
Like I said above: a little TLC. It’s easy to go too far. |
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| Author: | Clay S. [ Mon Apr 22, 2019 8:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
"Rounding one end is not so difficult — many options. The tricky part is rounding the opposite end while keeping the saddle length perfect." " I have noticed on many guitars from even some prominent makers a gap at one end of the saddle-very disturbing!" " Like I said above: a little TLC. It’s easy to go too far." "I’ve always filed and sanded by hand but it seems like a task crying out for a jig to make it perfect and repeatable every time. " 
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| Author: | Hesh [ Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
Treat the end of the saddles like a fret that's been leveled and you are now crowning it. Or, in other words set your end points and make a pencil mark on what will be the crown of the saddle ends then have at it with a nice file. I like fairly non-aggressive 1/2 round files for saddles. Anyway I make saddles from scratch every week and do the ends by hand and it only takes a minute per end. It's so quick and a no brainer that a jig for me and our shop which is high volume commercial would be a waste of time, effort and opportunity costs. Also gaps are not acceptable especially on the ends and pretty easy to not have. Remember too that your nut buffer.... can be a good tool to dial in saddle ends as you are polishing them and removing scratches. |
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| Author: | Terence Kennedy [ Tue Apr 23, 2019 10:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
Brad Goodman wrote: Tim Mullin wrote: Rounding one end is not so difficult — many options. The tricky part is rounding the opposite end while keeping the saddle length perfect. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Yes, good point. I have noticed on many guitars from even some prominent makers a gap at one end of the saddle-very disturbing! That is one of the first things I look at when evaluating a guitar for fit and finish. I have a few saddle blanks sitting around that didn't quite make the grade. |
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| Author: | SteveSmith [ Tue Apr 23, 2019 3:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Saddle end rounding jig? |
Yep, every once in a while I have to remake a nut or saddle. I'm picky about what goes out on customer instruments. |
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