How to make a "Scarf Joint Headstock" for your Cigar Box Guitar

[@charlesmccoy6078]

Extremely helpful video. I used to watch a KZbin channel presented by Moses at Burrell Guitars and he covered different ways to form the headstock. Sad to say that he passed away. He seemed like a great guy. So, again thanks for your dedication to keep making video content. Chuck McCoy from Eastern Kentucky

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

hey Charles!!! thank you ☺️

[@sixstring001]

Put a piece of wax paper to keep clamps from sticking. To keep from slipping, drive two small nails in one piece and cut nails off, almost flush. The nails barley sticking out will bight in the wood and stop the slipping. Your the best out here. 👍👍👍

[@amgauctions29musicgearandm31]

You have inspired my inner creativity again, Thanks Del !!!

[@tracymcdougal6381]

Nice,I had to look up how the master made the scarf joints.😂😂😂😂

[@dougc314]

Another use fir those little sheets!, thanks.

[@ClimbHi1950]

Here's a tip: To help these joints from sliding around during glue-up, sprinkle a tiny bit of salt on the glued surface before putting them together and clamping them. And no, unless you put a whole bunch of salt on there, it doesn't weaken the joint.

[@genomitchalinni8106]

🎵 Hardwood splinters, in your eyeballs, hurt! Wear Safety glasses. ". 🎶

[@alonzofineart2428]

Thanks for the added tip regarding the wings.

[@genomitchalinni8106]

Great idea to stain the fretboard first before assembly.

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

I like that veneer you get in the boxes sometimes, comes in handy for all sorts of CBG stuff.

[@chrisboucher7848]

Awesome! I'll be making my first scarf joint on my next build! Stoked man. Thanks

[@tipptoggy]

Just a quick note on the scarf angle for the jig . A 14 to 15 degree angle has a Tangent of almost 1/4. So if you draw a right angle triangle with that ratio of 1 to 4 for the opposite and adjacent sides it will be right every time.

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

smart

[@lorinthunell4617]

Del, you are the man! I've always wanted to have a cigar box guitar, so now I have the know how to give it a shot. Thanks from Heber , Utah

[@tracymcdougal6381]

I gotta try it that way.

[@guitararnie6092]

What a simple, yet brilliant scarf jig. Will use one on my next build for sure. Many thanks for sharing your hard earned knowledge.

[@genomitchalinni8106]

"Sweat on the brow? Much cooler than New Mexico".

[@genomitchalinni8106]

That's a real cool jig, if you plan on making more than one CBG.

[@kennethbrown818]

Aaauummm,,read the reviews an no one caught it or made a comment,,,,I'm just saying. Del,you forgot ur safety glasses.., sorry for I'm a old hand at wood working clear back to 1976,,in highschool,,..very nice video tho,I'd never thought about veneer but you know all those tote lids I see on the side of the road, color head stock with plastic.keep up the great work,dark tan OUT

[@douglas_kmg365]

That veneer is great stuff to keep handy. I use it mostly for shimming things like bridges and nuts, small gaps around the neck, fret slot filler, you name it.

[@bobbyleon6243]

OMG you've made my day with those cedar sheets

[@tonysansom]

Tamar Hannah (3×3 Custom) recommended your channel when she built her CBG. I've really enjoyed watching your work and learned a lot too: I had no idea that a scarf joint was as simple as a single cut! And, yes, I've got the bug 😀

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

beware... this is an addicting hobby... your life may never be the same 😫

[@stevesstrings5243]

I built the same jig! It certainly saves time and gives reproducible results! I have some of that same veneer. I think I will try it on a headstock as well!

[@tylerlee549]

Can’t you just build the jig to be an easy 90 degrees and adjust your miter saw angle 13 degrees off square?

[@stevesstrings5243]

I suppose you could. Although I am not sure I can consistently set my saw to 13 degrees.

[@tylerlee549]

Steve's Strings hmm, good point!

[@tomsniff2029]

Do you have plans of the template of the jig

[@clawhammer704]

Formica makes for great fretless fingerboards and headstock top cover. I use them when making fretless banjos for old time. Slick as can be..

[@gamehunter3985]

I never knew it was called a scarf joint. That's the only way I know. I like the idea that your using the thin piece of wood for veneer, that's a good idea, I'll have to start incorporating that into my projects. I'm working on a neck now and I'm using that wood as a inlay, so far so good. I made the design in the shape of leaves and dug out the neck using just a cheap dremel. I shaped the wood using scissors and sandpaper. I usually try not to get fancy, but this one is for someone special. My cigar box supply is getting low and are getting hard to find these days, so I started making my own boxes out of wood that I find on the side of the road. Some of the wood already has designs on them, especially if it comes from antique furniture so that makes things even better and less work for me. I hope everyone knows, once you make your first cigar box guitar, you'll get addicted like I did. I'm at the point I don't know how many I've made over the years. I don't care as long as people get enjoyment out of them. Again, thanks for your video's, you do awesome work.

[@bobjohnston4325]

Great video! I veneer my headstock tops with the same veneer. I found that contact cement works great without clamping. I prefer the water based contact cement for less vapors and easier cleanup.

[@Xerisis]

Sprinkle some salt on it before glue up. It will help keep it from shifting and bite into the wood. Or you can use a staple or small nail and cut it to help guide and keep it where you want it. I do that for fretboards all the time 😁

[@ronmiller7916]

I use small cauls wrapped in shipping tape between the wood and the clamp. The glue won't stick to the shipping tape, well, 5% of the time it sticks a little.

[@avalon3309]

Sprinkling a little bit of table salt on the glue will help keep that scarf joint from shifting

[@genomitchalinni8106]

I used to retrofit old mills and lathes. Convert them to CNC. Sounds like a song, don't it?

[@michaeldavid6652]

great video! I was kind of afraid to try a scarf joint but you make it look not so bad. Gonna give it a shot, on a scrap piece first.....

[@allanwood3562]

Nice one Del, I picked up a couple of handy details there that I won't have to "discover" on my ownsome. Keep well mate.

[@eml5086]

Thank you!

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

You're welcome!

[@johntaev4345]

What a cool idea

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

i stole the idea from KP

[@RayHdownUnder]

Thanks Paul - great explanation using the scarf joint. My question is when do you thin down the head stock from 3/4" thick to the thickness to housing the tuners?

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

typically when i cut the back angle

[@Francois_L_7933]

Since you always use the same angle, you could also make a gluing jig.

[@jfrankcarr]

Have you tried more extreme, lute-like, scarf joint angles? I've done a few, mostly 1 or 2 stringers, with 45 and 60 degree angles just to get a different look.

[@genomitchalinni8106]

Trademark Glass slides while the getting is good.

[@jimbucket2996]

What if you have 2 CBGs? Is that still 3 strings too many? Tip if you want to try it: Use contact cement on the veneer and headstock face. Wait until the shine is gone and stick em together. Rub with pressure using a roller or dowel etc. Wait a few minutes to dry. Flip headstock on its face and score around headstock a few times. Flip back over and fold scored edges down with a flat stick. The excess will fall right off. It should take you less than ten minutes. I've done lots of veneer/laminate work. That's how I do it. Make sure you don't buy the fume free stuff and take a few good huffs before you put the lid back on the cement.

[@dkehrerproductions]

I do all my builds with scarf joints .

[@towpathguitars]

Just tried my first scarf joint. Let the glue soak in a bit, then clamp. Also just a little less glue. Clamped in the middle and I'm set. Do you make the angled part thinner for the tuners like a straight neck?

[@larrylawrence1553]

Does the thickness of the headstock matter with the installation of the tuners? Will the tuners be long enough for the thickness of the headstock? Sorry for the double question, most all the other videos show cutting about an 1/8” off the thickness. I really like your videos, very clear and concise easy for an old man to understand. Keep them coming, oh, I really enjoy listening to you play.

[@rakridge]

Yes thickness matters. It's not rocket surgery but they have to fit. If your headstock is the same thickness as your neck. In most cases it will not. I know this was a year ago but someone else might have this question

[@schullieringer]

Trying to figure out how to use such a jig on a regular table saw. Or is that not possible?

[@ronmiller7916]

Ever try the scarf joint reversed? Where it's hidden under the fretboard? No joint in the middle of the headstock and no need for a veneer to hide it.

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

Yup... I mentioned it in the video

[@ronmiller7916]

@@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar yeah, I must be missing it.

[@davidskimin3471]

Hey Del, great video, I made a jig like yours only 15 degree. I found the wood kept tilting on cuts though, meaning the joint edge wasn't straight, had a few kick back moments as well. I finally found that if you mount the jig onto a square 10mm plywood board it gives a steady surface to support the side of the piece your cutting. Davy

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

Dude!!! Why didn’t I think of that !!?!? Great idea!!!!

[@romainvilleneuve]

awesome dude 👍👍👍👍

[@Juampi1975]

Thank you!! Could you tell me how many degrees is the angle to cut??

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

Roughly about 13

[@duanevigue1603]

Why not cut the scarf joint the other way, into the neck, so you have a whole headstock? Like on a Les Paul?

[@genomitchalinni8106]

Now, I need to pause your video for a PSA. Tony Iomy, lost his finger in "Wood Shop". Be careful.

[@ronj5485]

but yer saw.. has angle mesurements... why build a jig ?

[@TheRedhawke]

I just put a shake of salt on my glue to keep it from moving.

[@rwbimbie5854]

Tablesaw Its not just a Saw, its also a Table

[@9jmorrison]

There was a neck swap here.

[@genomitchalinni8106]

Is that called The Fretboard Jig? Just taking notes, Master of Disaster.

[@simonhopkins3867]

Miter glue with activator, super glue, brads and PVA... Sorry I'll show myself out. 😉

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

Too funny... but I dolike the brads idea!!!

[@eddiederosia731]

Why did you cut your hair?

[@ericshaffer9823]

Somebody did. And trimmed the beard too! A hopeful sign from CovidQuarantineLand. Great sounding guitar, that one!

[@scottyonbass4003]

"I never have problems until I turn the camera on!" Straight, unadulterated application of Murphy's Law! 😄

[@ice_n_sticks3431]

Spanish cedar sheets

[@markevans911]

Dowel pin that puppy!

[@gmannikonov4250]

ШЫКАРДОС!!!

[@genomitchalinni8106]

Never drink Dot 3 Brake fluid again! Or I shall unsebscribe! ( Just kidding. Just don't do it.).

[@genomitchalinni8106]

The Gibson neck is overrated. Depending on the customer.

[@genomitchalinni8106]

Yea, but that a Gibson, not a true Box Guitar. F that.