©2014, Rockler Woodworking and Hardware
Page 5
See
Figure
2:
Neck
Joint
Clamping
.
You
may
optionally
want
to
cut
v
‐
notched
wooden
caul
to
help
provide
a
good
clamping
surface
on
the
neck
heel.
Be
sure
to
use
a
piece
of
scrap
wood
and
padding
on
the
bottom
of
the
body
to
distribute
pressure
and
prevent
scratches.
For
the
advanced
woodworker,
now
is
also
a
good
time
to
check
the
neck
joint
alignment
and
make
adjustments
if
needed.
This
is
covered
in
the
Advanced
Steps
section
of
the
instructions.
Note:
Neck
joint
alignment
is
set
in
the
factory
to
a
reasonable
standard.
While
attempting
to
adjust
it
by
hand
may
result
in
a
more
precise
alignment,
it
may
also
result
in
a
poorly
aligned
or
weak
neck
joint
if
not
done
properly.
2.
Fine
Sand
the
Body
and
Neck
In
preparation
for
applying
a
finish,
sand
all
wooden
parts
of
the
guitar.
Most
parts
are
probably
ready
for
220
or
320
grit
sandpaper;
some
areas
might
need
slightly
courser
grit
first.
Sanding
to
finer
grit
is
personal
preference.
Once
sanding
is
complete,
clean
the
wooden
parts
of
all
sanding
residue
using
a
tack
cloth,
compressed
air,
or
some
other
method.
3.
Mask
the
Fretboard
and
Soundhole
Most
guitar
makers
apply
finish
to
the
body
and
the
neck
separately.
This
is
easier
and
results
in
a
better
finish
than
masking
lots
of
bits
and
pieces
and
trying
to
apply
finish
around
all
the
different
parts
of
the
guitar.
However,
the
neck
and
bridge
still
need
to
be
glued
to
the
body.
Since
glue
bonds
best
to
wood,
the
neck
joint
and
the
area
where
the
bridge
will
be
glued
to
the
soundboard
(the
top
of
the
guitar)
need
to
be
considered.
Through
masking
or
through
removal
of
finish
later
in
the
assembly
process,
those
areas
will
be
bare
wood
before
they
are
glued.
Neck
heel
clamping
caul
Figure
2:
Neck
Joint
Clamping
