SUPER SIMPLE JIG To Route Truss Rod Channels/Slots

In this quick tutorial, I go over a super simple jig that I use to route a truss rod channel quickly, easily and accurately onto any surface.
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[@AwenLutherieCustomGuitars]

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[@peachmelba1000]

I know this is a ridiculously late comment but thanks for the idea. Will be using this for sure. Additionally, have you ever wondered why the hardware involved in guitar making is so _oddly_ sized? I mean, for sure a simple truss rod could be a straight 6mm or .25" in width all the way along, including the barrel. The ones I have on hand are .236" in width fir the flat bar and .275" for the barrel. I can't for the life of me understand why. Have you any ideas?

[@muzzymusgrave1798]

Thanks Mate! Super helpful

[@guidovankemenade2564]

Very useful depth stop trick. Thanks !

[@AwenLutherieCustomGuitars]

You're welcome! It's a handy one, very useful indeed

[@calmthoughtcafe]

I watched a bunch of other people doing this and your solution is much easier and elegant. Simple is always best. Thank you for taking the time to do this!

[@scottguitarsuk23]

Great tutorial, i love the depth stop trick!

[@keithfr7095]

Great jig and I love the chisel work. Thanks

[@Humanitron]

Thanks! Im going to buy some MDF and make a jig today. I have been looking for a simple, inexpensive way to route my necks. Also, I appreciate you showing how you cut out the square bitts at the end of the truss rod. Great video.

[@NichtBernd666]

super simple jig. Thanks for that

[@AwenLutherieCustomGuitars]

Glad you like it! Thanks for watching

[@artiefufkin3292]

Hi, thanks very much for this video. I made this jig today. Will give it a try tomorrow. Cheers.

[@AwenLutherieCustomGuitars]

Thanks for checking out the video, I hope it worked well for you!

[@letterli]

THANKS!!!

[@MonsterGuitars]

Having seen this video, I may just change the way I rout for truss rods. Thanks!

[@josephrubinstein285]

Great video! Thanks

[@AwenLutherieCustomGuitars]

You're welcome!

[@davidbaldry5516]

Cheers Sean, great idea. Hope you are enjoying your time at Crimson mate.

[@SawdustPassion]

Great vid, what diameter bit did you use?

[@NiallLeechphoto]

Great video, thanks. Just in my first ever guitar build and after spending a long time doing a 7 piece laminated neck, I'm kinda anxious about this next step of the build! Reckon that jig will make it a bit less likely that I'll screw it up!

[@AwenLutherieCustomGuitars]

I hope you managed to get your neck done without any hiccups!

[@NiallLeechphoto]

@@AwenLutherieCustomGuitars got it done ok.. ended up having to do curved channels for it but worked great. Have a video of the build and the final photos on my channel. Thanks!

[@gastrits4504]

Would it work for an one piece neck? (the truss rod would be routed in from behind)

[@Ibaneddie76]

That's the same method I use, must be an Irish thing haha! I actually have that router too, it's the last really great router that DeWalt produced I really love that thing.

[@AwenLutherieCustomGuitars]

I miss my old DeWalt.. I don't miss having to hold the trigger on it, though!

[@MarkMcCluney]

Genuinely helpful and instructive Sean, thanks so much. Could I ask, what make/model of truss rod were you using there?

[@AwenLutherieCustomGuitars]

Thanks a bunch, really appreciated! These are just generic dual action truss rods. I can't remember where I got them to be honest, I bought about 25 of them maybe 2 years ago, possibly from Ebay and I've had not a spot of trouble from them so far. I always test and inspect them before gluing on the fretboard though, just to be on the safe side.

[@PinetopJackson]

Hey man I found your channel from the Home Guitar Projects group on Facebook! Looks like a fully realized luthiery shop you've got there! How long have you been building?

[@AwenLutherieCustomGuitars]

Hi! Glad you made it here! I'm very proud of my shop alright. I'm trying to do this full time so I've invested plenty of time and cash into it. It's basically a large wooden shed or small workshop (5*5m) that I've worked to get running smoothly for me. I built my first guitar about 10 years ago, while I was still in school, but I got serious maybe 4 years ago, and invested in the shop about 3 years ago.

[@frankryan8100]

Sooooo.. how do you get the hex key in to adjust the truss rod?

[@loganricherson]

You drill another hole through the headstock. Alternatively, you can just extend it a little

[@stevenboyer8887]

What type of bit are you using? Is the bearing riding the channel?

[@AwenLutherieCustomGuitars]

I'm using a 6mm stright cutting. The sides of the jig are keeping the router in place and the bit stays in the centre of the slot.

[@danskinder3891]

How do you avoid kickback. There's no way I could do this in one pass with out kickback. I have a good router too. I don't know why but I'm pretty good with tools but I do not understand a router

[@AwenLutherieCustomGuitars]

Absolutely take several passes! Even the best router will struggle with a full depth cut for a truss rod. If you take it 2-3mm at a time, you'll have no risk of kickback

[@Bajguitars]

Hey, could you make me ajig?

[@Ibaneddie76]

No offense but if you can't make a simple jig then maybe you should take some wood working basics courses at your local community college before you try and build a guitar, there are much more difficult processes involved than putting a jig together that requires 3 pieces of MDF.

[@Bajguitars]

@@Ibaneddie76 I meant couldn't he make one?🤣 I'm a fully qualified luthier!🤣

[@judgeofthedamned8831]

My jig was below par. Ruined my project today. sad :(

[@FIGGY65]

Why don’t you fit a piece of matching stock and glue cut into your channel to save your mistake? You’ll learn something and save $$$