Truss Rod Channel Routing Jig

UPDATE: I've improved the design of this jig by using t-nuts instead of simple nuts, it works so much better now... I also added a few more improvements... You can see the updated version of this jig here projectelectricguitar.com/a-tr...
This truss rod channel routing jig has a base and two fences. The bolts allow fine tuning of the centerline and also hold the neck blank in place.
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[@kzalaska4804]

Thank you so much!!! I'm building my first guitar and had stalled out because I was nervous about cutting the truss rod channel in the neck that I had glued up. I made one of these jigs, cut a few practice slots on some pine scrap then went for it. It came out perfect! Thanks again.

[@Projectelectricguitar]

Nice! Thanks for sharing. I'm happy to hear that my videos are being helpful.

[@philippgrunert8776]

This makes perfect sense, I will consider building such jig as well. Thank you for the information

[@lloydpittonet]

That last bit of info about marking the depth was truly as useful as the whole video!

[@Projectelectricguitar]

haha... thanks!

[@mauricerrr]

Simple yet great results, good idea!

[@BenjaminVallejera]

i really appreciate this jig. i was thinking of building a router table with fence... this one saves me a lot of moolah and time! will do this next weekend! thanks a lot!

[@Projectelectricguitar]

I tried the router-table fence method and also the table saw method for carving the truss rod channel and although they work fine, this method with this jig is my preferred method. Glad it's helping you out. I made some improvements to the jig since the video, you can see them here: projectelectricguitar.com/a-truss-rod-channel-routing-jig/

[@naminnooman]

Excellent video...just what I was looking for. Thanks so much for making the video and thanks so much for sharing!

[@Projectelectricguitar]

Thanks and you are welcome!

[@whatisthis1188]

That's a brilliant jig:) thanks so much for the video

[@Projectelectricguitar]

Thanks.

[@74dartman13]

Thanks for the tips. This is the one part of guitar building I haven't done yet...a neck with a truss rod. I've built several cigar box necks without rods. I want to try a full size neck some day. This helped me to understand exactly how to do it!

[@Projectelectricguitar]

Great, glad it was helpful.

[@74dartman13]

Project Electric Guitar it sure was! Thanks again!☺

[@wojciechm2428]

Thank you. Good idea.

[@elbenaso]

great vid and technique indeed! Congrats!

[@Projectelectricguitar]

Thanks!

[@Reginaldesq]

You explained that really well. Thank you

[@Projectelectricguitar]

Thanks

[@MOZOGuitars]

Awesome man 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

[@Ibaneddie76]

NICE JIG AS ALWAYS. I JUST RUN MY NECK ON MY ROUTER TABLE BUT THIS IS A REALLY COOL WAY TO DO IT PLUS JIGS ARE JUST COOL AND FUN TO BUILD. YOU BUILD A LOT OF REALLY COOL JIGS AND NICE GUITARS AS WELL, THANKS FOR SHARING.

[@Projectelectricguitar]

Thanks eddie!

[@javanthomas4122]

Very clever

[@GrumpyTy34er]

Yup, going to be copying this for myself to clean up an old neck

[@Projectelectricguitar]

Go for it! :)

[@GrumpyTy34er]

@@Projectelectricguitar one quick question, how high up did you install the bolts?

[@MarkMerrick]

Thank you. Very helpful.

[@Projectelectricguitar]

You're welcome!

[@fat-hand]

Would it not have been less prone to inaccuracy by making the jig walls conform to the round router base vs. the plunge pillars?

[@Bird_in_camera]

Great idea, i also think i could make it so that I can accurately level the face of the neck. One piece of advice if I may, i would wait till the router has stopped rotating before you would remove it - safe guard your work but more importantly yourself, hands, fingers etc.

[@Projectelectricguitar]

Yes, you can use it to plane the surface of the neck as well. Good advice about waiting for the router to stop... thanks! :)

[@geoffm35]

Do you happen to have build plans for this jig? Thanks.

[@tombrackettjr.9308]

Thanks for this video. I have made a jig similar to this but have yet to route a good clean channel. I got three great ideas from this. I need to add the bolts on the side. Do you have something that they go thru in the wood so eventually it doesn't just strip out the wood? Secondly I need to add the stop piece because the truss rod I routed for last night I went too far so I had to reglue some pieces in the channel for a stop. And thirdly mine is just a fracton too wide so I have to add something in the sides so it doesnt float around. I'm getting there. A work in progress.

[@tle999yt]

Thanks for sharing.

[@Projectelectricguitar]

+tle999yt You are welcome.

[@walterrider9600]

what a great idea. thank you

[@Projectelectricguitar]

Thanks!

[@lasancheofficial1933]

Built this jig last night. It’s almost perfect. A flaw I’ve noticed (patterned after your update on your website) regarding the T nuts which hold the adjusting bolts. How do you account for when loosening the bolts to put in a neck blank, the T nuts push of the walls? I ended up using a nut and washer. I have to grabs four more nuts to lock down the bolts because of this. Not a deal killer by any means, but wondering if you have found any improvements to your upgrade?

[@nathanhays1746]

I've found replacing the base of the router with a square plate allows much better registration with the edges of a jig such as yours. I believe some of the slight errors you have occur because you are using the unreliable widest points of your router's base. Any twist will change the registration with the edge of the jig. Thank you for your videos!

[@Projectelectricguitar]

A square plate is a great idea! Thanks.

[@ninosciorra6312]

Nice jig.you could put some plexyglass down the router and mark over there the centerline

[@AntonioFardella]

Amazing. Only a question. I see your router has not symmetric base. Could it be an idea to remove the black base and replace it with something "handmade", maybe even a squared shaped piece of wood (3/8" should be enough), so one is sure the router goes straight in the jig?

[@Projectelectricguitar]

I really like that idea! Even though the base on my router is not symmetric, it has not been a problem for me so far. But I will keep your idea in mind for future designs. Thanks!

[@cgrovespsyd]

Project Electric Guitar I am making one myself and have the same router as you. I also noticed the asymmetrical base. The round part is 5 3/4 inches in diameter, which is the width I will make the parallel fences. The front of the router will be at an angle, which will make it easier to use.

[@Reginaldesq]

I know this is 2 years ago but for anybody else reading this. If you make a square base it would be advisable to round the edges of that square to prevent jamming.

[@SkillTreeDesigner]

Awesome video! But how do you acuratelly match the thickness of the truss rod with the thickness of the carving? Does the router bit exactly match the thickness?

[@Projectelectricguitar]

Thanks Skills. Yes, a 1/4" router bit matches exactly with the truss rod thickness (width).

[@ramathetonk900]

Hi, why not cut the trussrod slot first on square section stock before you shape the neck. You wont need a jig, just a fence on the router...

[@joekao192]

Cant see if the line is center !

[@user-ni8pf1ec4f]

Wow

[@manueladrianmontielacosta9716]

Hi!!! I like yours videos!!.... I have a question. What kind router bit and what size truss rod chanel do you use?

[@Projectelectricguitar]

Thanks Manuel. I use a 1/4" straight router bit and the truss rod channel is also 1/4" wide and deep enough to insert the rod.

[@manueladrianmontielacosta9716]

Hi Thanks so much !!! I have other question can you tell me ,the pickups cavities the sizes of router bits. Please ThanksRegards From Mexico

[@ryanschofield1978]

Great template, just one question. How did you get the bolts to stay in place? I see a nut but not sure how it is attached. Thanks

[@Projectelectricguitar]

Thanks Ryan. To hold the nut in place, I simply drilled a shallow hole and then chiseled the edges and then forced the nut in. It's not perfect but it works. However, since the video came out, I have a better design of this jig that uses t-nuts instead of simple nuts, it works so much better now... I also added a few more improvements... You can see the updated version of this jig here projectelectricguitar.com/a-truss-rod-channel-routing-jig/

[@ryanschofield1978]

awesome! The T nuts are a great idea, I am going to build one of these this week.

[@Projectelectricguitar]

Cool, would love to see it when it's done. If you want, you can join the Project Electric Guitar Facebook group and show it there: facebook.com/groups/ProjectElectricGuitar/

[@ryanschofield1978]

Would I need a plunge router to use this jig? I have a regular router, the handles seem too far down the body for this jig. I was going to try lowering the walls of the jig but not sure if I will have room to use the stabilizer bolts. Any advice? I would like to buy a plunge router eventually so I may just go ahead and bite the bullet.

[@Projectelectricguitar]

I don't think you need to lower the walls of the jig. You can rotate the router so the handles are inside the jig and the non-handle sides of the router ride against the walls, do you know what I mean? As long as your router bit can go down deep enough to carve the correct depth of the channel, you should be fine.

[@lalodiaz3886]

you can put any truss rod on any guitar model?

[@Projectelectricguitar]

If you can make it fit properly and allow access for adjustments, then probably yes.

[@thesouthsideshovlerleonard13]

Doesnt the end of the bolts but divits in the side of the neck?

[@Projectelectricguitar]

No not really, I don't tighten them all that much. Even if they did, they neck will be shaped later one and any divits will be gone anyway.

[@DrPoke1723]

@@Projectelectricguitar Put wooden shims in on the sides. That will protect the neck from getting marked.

[@marklr5716]

Tip I was taught by a luthier.. Don't lift your router from the work until the bit has stopped rotating totally..