I built this slotting jig about 25 years ago. Simple, basic, easy. I like to use a 1/8in downcut spiral bit. You can get them from various places just by searching.
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| Author: | Ruby50 [ Mon Jul 13, 2020 7:27 am ] |
| Post subject: | saddle slotting |
Just making a saddle slotting jig for a batch of pyramid bridges. I chose a simple design but am having trouble locating a router bit. Like to have something shy of 1/8" for my 1/8" saddle blanks so I can sneak up on the fit, but my brain shorted out looking for one on the innerwebs. Does anyone have a source? How about a simple slotting jig to share? Ed |
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| Author: | doncaparker [ Mon Jul 13, 2020 8:11 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
Maybe go metric and use a 3 mm bit? That’s just a hair thinner than 1/8”. |
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| Author: | klooker [ Mon Jul 13, 2020 8:23 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
Freud 3/32 is what I use. My local Woodcraft had them. https://www.amazon.com/Freud-Double-Flu ... 0172&psc=1 |
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| Author: | Michaeldc [ Mon Jul 13, 2020 8:35 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
I buy from these guys quite a bit. https://www.the-carbide-end-mill-store. ... altin.html |
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| Author: | jfmckenna [ Mon Jul 13, 2020 9:06 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
I built this slotting jig about 25 years ago. Simple, basic, easy. I like to use a 1/8in downcut spiral bit. You can get them from various places just by searching.
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| Author: | Bri [ Mon Jul 13, 2020 11:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
Ed, Here is a recent post regarding slotting gigs. viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=53192 I have had good luck dealing with routerbitworld.com B |
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| Author: | ballbanjos [ Mon Jul 13, 2020 12:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
I use 1/8" downcut endmills too I'm using cheap "Hozly" brand mills I bought from Amazon. They seem to be good quality, especially for the price. I get a good snug press fit with a 1/8" saddle blank. The jig I'm using right now is just a pivoting milling vise on a mini mill. |
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| Author: | Terence Kennedy [ Mon Jul 13, 2020 2:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
I just use a 1/8” drop back on the saddle from treble to bass. 1/8” saddle and mark compensation points with the bent unwound part of a low E string after the guitar is set up with appropriate action and strings. For bridge location I put a StewMac straightedge against the nut, Mark the center of 12 with a pencil and a second mark downstream in the appropriate location. Typically around 0.12” or so measured in the midline. Works for me. To rout a slot on the guitar with a new bridge I have a crowned 1/8” metal bar 1/8” high to use for a surrogate bridge and when the two e’s are right I mark it and that’s where I cut the slot. I am sure there are many more elegant approaches. 
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| Author: | Ruby50 [ Mon Jul 13, 2020 3:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
Thanks all. Enough of you use a 1/8" bit fo a 1/8" saddle blank that I am going to try that. I think my jig is rigid enough (must be because that's the brand of router am using) that will be very little if any wandering. Ed |
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| Author: | Terence Kennedy [ Mon Jul 13, 2020 4:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
Whoops I posted on the wrong thread! Yep I use a 1/8” bit and saddle blanks that are a little wider and thin them to fit snugly. |
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| Author: | Clay S. [ Mon Jul 13, 2020 6:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
For cutting slots narrower than 1/8th inch I use the collet adapter from StewMac and use dental burrs I find on ebay. |
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| Author: | Ruby50 [ Tue Jul 14, 2020 6:34 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
Clay Do you use a Dremel? I find mine wanders a bit. Ed |
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| Author: | phavriluk [ Tue Jul 14, 2020 8:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
'Wandering' is a Dremel feature. For the same price as a Dremel, someone can buy a real live laminate trim router and have a real tool with real depth control. Dremels have their place, but I think that place is in a hobbyist's tool drawer. And I've owned Dremels for nearly fifty years. And never once used one on a guitar project. |
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| Author: | Colin North [ Tue Jul 14, 2020 9:31 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
And for a little extra you can get a quality laminate trimmer........ |
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| Author: | Brad Goodman [ Tue Jul 14, 2020 9:37 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
Here’s my jig...   Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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| Author: | Colin North [ Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:04 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
Used to use a similar setup, albeit with a tad less wattage, for slotting before I started routing the slot after gluing the bridge. Router comes out of the plunge base and fits a 43mm drill collar, still use it for other jobs. |
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| Author: | Clay S. [ Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
Hi Ed, I don't use a Dremel. I use the collet adapter that fits inside a 1/4 inch collet of a trimmer and makes it an 1/8th inch collet. Stew Mac sells them. I liked them better when they were $10 but I haven't seen them elseware: https://www.stewmac.com/SiteSearch/?sea ... %20adapter The burrs have an 1/8th inch shank but a smaller cutting diameter. Dremels are handy for other tasks (I have 3 of them) but you can't push them too hard. |
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| Author: | Ruby50 [ Tue Jul 14, 2020 2:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
I have a Rigid lam trimmer - I was just asking CLay because of the SM collet - thought it might be for a dremel. Just received freud 1/8" router bit- ordered it at 10:00 Monday morning and it was here at 3:00 this afternoon - Tuesday - with free shipping. Is that nuts, or what? I'll get to work and put up a shot |
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| Author: | Ruby50 [ Tue Jul 14, 2020 8:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
Thanks for the help all Here are a couple of shots of what I ended up with. When I got the bit I did 10 of them in about 15 minutes, easily and with very little opportunity to screw up. 1) shows the router base and blank clamps 2) shows the fences - one is fixed in the right place for the slot from the north side of the bridge, the other is adjustable so I can get a good tight run out of the router 3) the fences are 3/4" thick so I have plenty of support to angle the router down into the work 4) from the bottom - Corian, ebony, faux ivory, 2 Brazilian Rosewood, 2 maple for trials, 3 pine for trials |
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| Author: | Brad Goodman [ Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
Ed, That looks great. The only other thing that I do is to put a stop at each end of the jig so I can't screw up the length of the slot. If you notice in my set up I have 2 clamps that act as the stops. |
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| Author: | Ruby50 [ Wed Jul 15, 2020 1:36 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
Brad Yes I need those. I put a piece of blue tape at the right spot and ran the router up to the tape, but a stop would be better. The 1/8" router bit is not a need-the-pliers-to-remove fit, but a no-wobble fit. Why don't they make the saddle blanks just a hair thick? Ed |
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| Author: | jfmckenna [ Wed Jul 15, 2020 9:11 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: saddle slotting |
Looks like a winner. |
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