asm Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 i just got a stewmac hot rod and i forgot they make the width a STUPID 7/32" width which is an extremely hard bit to find. sooo. how exact does it have to be? can i just route a tad smaller size and then sand till it goes in? ive seen people say "NO" you have to get exact size, then a recent guy went with one larger bit and said it worked. just wanting to make sure. thx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 I've managed ok with a 1/4" bit and then shim the two brass blocks firmly in on each end. Whats between the blocks doesn't really matter, the rods don't contact the sides anyway. Hell, I can remember the very first truss rod slot I routed was crooked as a dog's hind leg, . But it still worked out ok. Just make sure your anchor points ( the blocks) are set in firmly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asm Posted August 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 great. many thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdog Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 A 7/32in bit is not an extremely hard bit to find.....Frued, Whiteside, Jesada, Bosch and about a dozen other companies make them.....Do a Google search and you should be able to find one and order it online in 5 minutes. I know I've posted links to the ordering pages of some of these companies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asm Posted August 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 i know they arent hard to find online, but i hate buying one thing located in all the way across the US. i need something i can find locally at home depot or ace hardware Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Luthier Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 I've managed ok with a 1/4" bit and then shim the two brass blocks firmly in on each end. Whats between the blocks doesn't really matter, the rods don't contact the sides anyway. Hell, I can remember the very first truss rod slot I routed was crooked as a dog's hind leg, . But it still worked out ok. Just make sure your anchor points ( the blocks) are set in firmly. Just do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGM Guitars Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 I just went to a local tool shop and ordered the 7/32 through them, took 2 days to get here, that was pretty simple. Then I decided I hated the hotrods anyway beacuse they're so tall and quit using them anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asm Posted August 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 what are you using now? and why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litchfield Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 If you desire a twin action rod, LMII and Allied Lutherie both carry ones that are pretty decent. They're not as tall, and they are wider. I still like the Hot Rods, but check out the others. Also, I ise a 1/4" bit, and shim the blocks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 i use the proper sized bit...because i feel if i don't at least try to improve on factory tolerances,then why not buy the factory guitar? factory guitars are cheaper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litchfield Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 Good point wes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank falbo Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 I think (don't quote me though) that I once used a 3/16ths bit, the next size smaller (and easier to find in stock) and the actual rod fit in just fine. Then I chiseled or dremeled each end for the blocks. I've also made the bottom of the hole rounded many times with a 3/16ths cove bit, so as to leave some extra wood under the rod. It also makes a nice cradle for the rod to nestle in if you have to use it to correct backbow. I've had their bit for a long time though, so this would've been at least 5-7 years ago or whenever the hot rods first came out. You'd have to check if the main rod section could fit in a 3/16ths slot. The other thing that's been discussed here is to use the 3/16ths bit and just poke your jig over slightly for a second pass to pick up the extra 16th. As for the rod itself. I like it. Unless you're making "Wizard" dimensions (and I know some of you including Jeremy are) it's not too tall. Plus I want the rod as narrow as possible. You get more strength out of a neck by having a taller narrower slot than a shorter wider one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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