Official Luthiers Forum!

I am exploring the idea of making my own truss rods. Curious to know if anyone here on the board actually does this. If you do - where do you get your supplies? What types of stock are you using for the bar? The thread stock? etc.

Thanks,
Chris

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

What ever you end up doing I expect to see a demo of the process at one of the Florida Meetings.

I would think you could use some bar stock of the appropriate material and thread the ends. Of course I'm still waiting for a swap meet truss rod to show up and then I will officially have held my first. It is all theory until you have one in your hand.

I make my own single-action truss rods from 3/16" diameter stainless steel that I get from various online suppliers. I buy truss rod nuts from Stew-Mac. The anchor end just gets a 90 degree bend. Heat shrink tubing goes over the rod.

Barry thanks for weighing in...

John....soon my friend..

Is there no one else that can weigh in on this?

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

3/16" cold rolled steel heat it up with a propane torch bend in half and hammer down the hot end. a small brass block. one through hole which you will feed extra rod through and thread the end so you can attach those Allan key nuts and one stop hole for the rod to push against. about 2/3rds of the way through your brass block. heat shrink or that really strong carbon fiber tape to wrap up the rest of the rod.

I can dig out my notes and get the exact measurements for the block if you want/draw up a diagram.

I have made truss rods with 3/16", 300 series stainless, which will work for a 10-32 thread. Cover the rods with heat shrink tubing.

All the ones I have made have needed a right and left hand thread, both single and double rods. Also matching anchor blocks. Never bent one over but know that that is something that is covered in Cumpianos book.

Hot set up would be to do a group buy on rods that have roll form threads which would give a smooth, tight feel. If you are just doing a few should be able to buy materials from MSC or McMaster Carr.

I make mine Like P@aul, which is the Cumpiano way.
http://cumpiano.com/Home/Book/textbook.html#Improved%20truss%20rod%20design
The allen nuts are difficult to get!.

What size shrink wrap tubing, where? Ebay?

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Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

Heat shrink tubing you can buy from either MSC or McMaster Carr. Last spool I bought was on the sale table at the local electrical supply store. I always thought it was readily available as it is made by several companies. Should have the size range listed on the spool.

Why the itch to make your own? Do you need a specific size, or feature that you can't get in an off-the-shelf rod?

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The member formerly known as erikbojerik....

I make mine because I can. I don't like to out source stuff that is easily made. Plus, you can't buy a commercial rod with a 90 degree bend for the anchor.

perfect answer just because you can. and its cheaper in the end making it all yourself. instead of paying 15-20 for one id say for 30 40 you could be making 6 or 7.

A few reasons, other than the perfect answer above, are lighter weight, custom anchors and special lengths.

I'm not going to say it's cheaper to make simply because if I need to put food on the table, making truss rods would leave me looking anorexic. It is more satisfying knowing it's mine though.

Tim