I'm planning on using a rasp to do the whole thing. Someone tell me if this is a bad idea. I can't use the table saw because the outer lams at the headstock will be parallel to the inner ones
First, I want to make sure I understand. When you say your planning to use rasps for the whole thing, does that mean you will ruff shape the whole neck and then shape the back of the neck with rasps? That is probably a poor choice if that is the case. You would do much better to ruff cut the taper and basic shape of the neck with a saw, then true it up with a template and router or some method referencing a template. I may just be mis-understanding what you are saying though.
With regards to your outer maple lams. 1/16th of outer lam at the nut is going to createa sliver like look. You may have a full 16th of an inch where the fretboard meets the neck blank, but as soon as you shape the neck much at all you will lose the maple lam(also be extreamly careful to not carve away that bit of maple, as any deviation is going to be very appearant when referencing such a small bit of wood). I just want to make sure you understand that now, and are not taken off gaurd when you get to that point, If that was not your intent, now would be the time to change up the lam configuration if you had invisioned something a little different.
Rich
why would 1/16 be so bad? Are you just talking aesthetically? I really don't like that look on some neck- throughs where the inner lams are really close together, with huge outer lams. I am going to use a router to cut the taper and to carve out the back. Then I'll use a rasp to round it out. how does that sound? The outer lams really aren't my concern. Yes, they'll be thin, but you say I'll lose them when I shape the neck. how?
Also, you say i should ruff cut the taper and basic shape with a saw. Can't I just cut it out with a router and a template first? And you say that it would be a bad idea to ruff cut the whole shape, and then shape the back with rasps. How do you shape the back of your necks? I thought of using a router bit use for cutting curved edges on corners, but it gets wider towards the bridge. you sound pretty experienced with this stuff. this is my first guitar, so your advice is really appreciated!