Luthier and Instructor, Robert O'Brien, shows how to manually cut fret slots in a fretboard using the LMI manual fret slotting jig. This jig is available at www.lmii.com
Nice clear 'tutorial' on using this jig, which does a really nice job of slotting if you take the time to set up the jig properly. Thanks for this and your other videos, I find them *very* useful and always easy to follow.
looks too expensive to me. i went to the site and seen it. it seems to me other than the template if i'm handy enough to make a guitar i should be able to make a box for my saw, no?
Thank you Robert for the info. So am I correct to assume the horizontal bolts simply push against the saw blade for lower guidance? The Miter Box looks like it runs smooth in the video.
OBrienGuitars Does the LMI Fret Miter Box have bearings on top and bottom? I can't see any bearings below. I see in the video that you adjusted 2 horizontal bolts. Are they for adjustment of the left bearings into the saw?
Make sure you cut the slot deep enough so that you can radius and level your fretboard and still have enough depth. I find that about 3.5mm is sufficient to do all this and still have enough depth in the slot.
Pois é Robert. Comprei uma desta (Miter box) com o Miguel mas ainda não usei, Fiquei na dúvida de como seria o uso. Agora percebi que ainda me falta uma régua de slots.
@skeleon246 Good question and I guess that depends on how many guitars you plan to build. If the number is going to be increasing I would recommend the tablesaw method over the hand method
I would like to know how deep you should cut fret slots and when you radius your fret board if that changes things on the sides enough to worry about.if so how do you deal whith that
Once the wood is flush to the underlying template I'm having a hard time seeing where the next slot is for the pin to be inserted. And the pin isn't such that I can slide the template fwd blindly until it drops into the next slot. Any tips for seeing this better? I'm wearing a head flash light and am using a fret scale template to get an idea where it is but would like to just easily identify the next slot without the extra steps. I have the two pc plexi templates that lock together and Im using the smaller side of the pin (since the other is too big for this template type). Thanks
Update: I figured out my process (for future readers with similar questions). Once I have the template taped to the fretboard, I pencil in an approx position of each slot as a point of reference once cutting. It made it so much easier to find the next pin position. The jig worked great! Thanks
At 6:48 it looks like your saw isn't squared to the fretboard. Maybe a few lessons from the young luthier right before would help your slot cutting a little.
Actually, I had Jeff Bamburg of Bamburg guitars in my shop last year for a fan fret master class. I filmed it but just haven't had the time to edit it yet.
I used to have a sharpening business back in the 80s . . . and for good reason I asked because I wouldn't even bother sharpening these saws either. Too many little teeth~! Too long in labor. I buy a new hand saw once a year and twice if it's a busy year. How do you feel about the Japanese saw and their kerf widths? The ones I've found weren't .020" as advertised. I didn't search much more after getting burned on the first attempt, but I'd like to know as many sources for luthier tools as possible, and good ones that aren't necessarily advertising as luthier products either due to luthier products getting marked UP for that reason.
Really cute kids that obviously "take after..." their dad. It's a shame it couldn't have been their mom but ya got no control over that stuff and they'll be ok; lol! 😏 (just an attempt at humor Mr. O - I think this is something I could not do; just half the thickness of a saw blade could affect things dramatically - geesh)
TheGrubification No. This is about cutting fret slots, not how to rape women and marry a Harpy. And if it was, he would have said "I did not have sexu... I mean I did not cut those fret slots with that jig."
i love your technique and your tutorials but i think that was not manually cut ... for me manually cut was just a saw ang a measuring device.. you are using a machine.. i think if you do not used that jig.. that was manual for me... cheers...😁
No such thing as over engineering fret slotting devices. Templates have to be precise, why not the saw jig as well ? No slop, no way to make a bad cut, no inconsistent slots. Let the saw do the work. Life is good. Bob
I have that system if someone wants to buy it. Used it once only. Moved into an apartment, so can't use any of my guitar tools anymore. It's called a divorce. I also have a template.
Amazing, here I am 14 yrs later finding this video helpful. Your shop assistant is probably out of high school by now!
Nice clear 'tutorial' on using this jig, which does a really nice job of slotting if you take the time to set up the jig properly. Thanks for this and your other videos, I find them *very* useful and always easy to follow.
Thank you! I am glad you are enjoying the videos!
looks too expensive to me. i went to the site and seen it. it seems to me other than the template if i'm handy enough to make a guitar i should be able to make a box for my saw, no?
As always, great content - thanks for taking the time to post this!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you Robert for the info. So am I correct to assume the horizontal bolts simply push against the saw blade for lower guidance? The Miter Box looks like it runs smooth in the video.
OBrienGuitars Does the LMI Fret Miter Box have bearings on top and bottom? I can't see any bearings below. I see in the video that you adjusted 2 horizontal bolts. Are they for adjustment of the left bearings into the saw?
@JoylessBrotato This jig is not designed for doing fan frets. You will need to come up with your own method of doing that.
How do you ensure fret slot depth after you put a radius on the board? Is there another tool for that? Nice video and jig.
Make sure you cut the slot deep enough so that you can radius and level your fretboard and still have enough depth. I find that about 3.5mm is sufficient to do all this and still have enough depth in the slot.
Pois é Robert. Comprei uma desta (Miter box) com o Miguel mas ainda não usei, Fiquei na dúvida de como seria o uso. Agora percebi que ainda me falta uma
régua de slots.
@skeleon246 Good question and I guess that depends on how many guitars you plan to build. If the number is going to be increasing I would recommend the tablesaw method over the hand method
How much is your fretboard cutting hand saw millimeters?
It is .023 inches
I do not understand well how you cut the 'capo'
I would like to know how deep you should cut fret slots and when you radius your fret board if that changes things on the sides enough to worry about.if so how do you deal whith that
what is the song at 5:50, ive heard stuart hamm do bass solo version of that song i think, just dont know what it is :D
T.Y for this vidéo. But where can i buy the LMI manual fret slotting jig.
@MrZippitydo I cut my slots 2mm-2.5mm for non radiused fretboards and about 3mm for radiused fretboards
Once the wood is flush to the underlying template I'm having a hard time seeing where the next slot is for the pin to be inserted. And the pin isn't such that I can slide the template fwd blindly until it drops into the next slot. Any tips for seeing this better? I'm wearing a head flash light and am using a fret scale template to get an idea where it is but would like to just easily identify the next slot without the extra steps. I have the two pc plexi templates that lock together and Im using the smaller side of the pin (since the other is too big for this template type). Thanks
Update: I figured out my process (for future readers with similar questions). Once I have the template taped to the fretboard, I pencil in an approx position of each slot as a point of reference once cutting. It made it so much easier to find the next pin position. The jig worked great! Thanks
This jig is available from Luthiers mercantile International. You tube won't let me put a link but you can do a google search.
At 6:48 it looks like your saw isn't squared to the fretboard. Maybe a few lessons from the young luthier right before would help your slot cutting a little.
I think that might just be an optical illusion. It is pretty tough to be out of square with this setup.
Hi Bob, any chance you'll be showing us how to execute a fan fret in the near future?
Actually, I had Jeff Bamburg of Bamburg guitars in my shop last year for a fan fret master class. I filmed it but just haven't had the time to edit it yet.
OBrienGuitars aww man you got to! that'd be awesome
Is it uploaded yet?
Fret board
please tell me it is uploaded now
donde y como lo compro? soy de chile,gracias.
Upon closer inspection there are bearings underneath that stabilize the saw blade from below. My bad.
You get a like and subscribe from me, just for your 3 year old assistant. I thought that was funny AF🤣🤣
@JoylessBrotato why would ye want fanned frets?
I can't hear what is being said
Do you still have this for sale?
Thanks!
Bench a bit wobbly?
Cuánto dinero cuesta esa máquina?,gracias
www.lmii.com/lmi-shop/2703-manual-fret-slotting-system.html
This jig only has bearings on the top.
Hmmm, should I buy this jig for $180, or should I just buy a $20 pre-slotted fretboard...
@jcabacu Puedes comprar via Luthiers Mercantile International e esta é la liga lmii (ponto) com
muito bom mestre!!! parabéns pelos seus videos
great video, very helpful
Where does one go to get these handsaws sharpened?
I usually buy another one. It is not real cost effective to have others sharpen them. Perhaps you could do it yourself if you know how.
I used to have a sharpening business back in the 80s . . . and for good reason I asked because I wouldn't even bother sharpening these saws either. Too many little teeth~! Too long in labor. I buy a new hand saw once a year and twice if it's a busy year. How do you feel about the Japanese saw and their kerf widths? The ones I've found weren't .020" as advertised. I didn't search much more after getting burned on the first attempt, but I'd like to know as many sources for luthier tools as possible, and good ones that aren't necessarily advertising as luthier products either due to luthier products getting marked UP for that reason.
Where can I get one❤️👍
www.lmii.com
Really cute kids that obviously "take after..." their dad. It's a shame it couldn't have been their mom but ya got no control over that stuff and they'll be ok; lol! 😏 (just an attempt at humor Mr. O - I think this is something I could not do; just half the thickness of a saw blade could affect things dramatically - geesh)
great video... very helpful... thank you
Thank you Robert
Vc poderia mim informar onde eu compro essa serra
acho que Miguel da Musictools vende
is bill clinton talking?
TheGrubification
No. This is about cutting fret slots, not how to rape women and marry a Harpy. And if it was, he would have said "I did not have sexu... I mean I did not cut those fret slots with that jig."
hey Obrien ;)
Very good Video !!
I don't think I'll ever buy this. But I like to see how other people work.
they should supply 2 small scale templetes for smaller guitars
i love your technique and your tutorials but i think that was not manually cut ... for me manually cut was just a saw ang a measuring device.. you are using a machine.. i think if you do not used that jig.. that was manual for me... cheers...😁
Thanks for watching. It is a pretty fancy jig but I don't know if I would call it a machine.
Luthiers Mercantile International has it for sale
www.lmii.com/fretting-tools/2703-manual-fret-slotting-system.html
No such thing as over engineering fret slotting devices. Templates have to be precise, why not the saw jig as well ? No slop, no way to make a bad cut, no inconsistent slots. Let the saw do the work. Life is good. Bob
The first cut is the deepest
Rod Stewert, Night on the Town album. Good song.
Volume of your voice is way too low on all of your videos.
If you make lots of fretboard, I'd say it is a good tool to have. If you make 2 or 3 in your entire life, probably a waste of cash.
I have that system if someone wants to buy it.
Used it once only.
Moved into an apartment, so can't use any of my guitar tools anymore.
It's called a divorce.
I also have a template.