Tail graft vac jig

[Dominic]

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Hey guys, just finished this new vac jig for routing tail grafts.

This is the jig. The side that goes on the back is fixed and the side that goes on the front (top) is adjustable to fit any guitar width.

Tail graft vac jig 002 (Custom).JPG

The vac pads are made with form ply because i had it around and it does not need any sealer to make an air tight fit. The back pad is angled to fit average back angles but is flexible enough to move a bit and adapt. The front pad is also slightly angled to fit top radius.

Tail graft vac jig 003 (Custom).JPG

I used the very nice gasket tape from Joe Woodworker for the seal.

http://www.veneersupplies.com/product_i ... ts_id=1147

And I filled inside the tape with cork so that the vac does not pull the back and front out of shape which it will in a shot. This way that tape compresses only a small amount and the back and top rest against the cork. The gap allows the air to easily escape so that the tape does all the sealing and not the cork. This makes for a much more secure seal.

Here is the jig sitting on the body which is held on my home made back vac clamp which you can't see. You would usually rout the tail graft before binding is applied

Tail graft vac jig 004 (Custom).JPG

I wanted the jig to be adaptable so the jig can hold any template for various tail graft shapes I care to make. This template is for straight tail grafts and a piece from a choping board attached to my lam trimmer rides in the slot.

Tail graft vac jig 006 (Custom).JPG

The template fits into the slot and can be changed for any shape and routed with a pattern follower bit.

Tail graft vac jig 005 (Custom).JPG

The vac jig is incredibly strong and there is no way you could shift it once the air is drawn out. You would have to rip the back off before it let go. Much stronger than a compression type clamp jig and it won't damage the body like a compression clamp will to achieve a secure fit.

The hose adaptors are epoxied in the pads and I also sealed around the holes inside with epoxy to prevent air bleeding through the ply. If you use MDF you must seal it well because it will bleed air.

Hope this has stimulated the jig parts of your brains. Let me know if you need any more details.

Cheers
Dom

[DarwinStrings]

Cool tool Dom

Jim

[Dennis Leahy]

Thanks, Dom, great food for thought!

Dennis

[J.F. Custom]

Very flash Dom.

Just one question... How much do you sell them for?

Hint... hint... hint...

Jeremy.

[Allen]

Damn you Dom. Now I gotta build yet another jig.

Very clever though. Thanks for posting that.

[kiwigeo]

Damn you Dom. Now I gotta build yet another jig.

Very clever though. Thanks for posting that.

[Mike Thomas]

Dom, that's a really interesting way of clamping a jig, with little risk of damaging the instrument in the process. May I ask, what sort of vacuum pump do you use?

[Kim]

Very cool Dom, i been think'in of something along those lines to help hold my pants up

Seriously, there seems no end to the benefits of vacuum and as there will be a number of us set up with stations and clamps very soon, i think your post need to be put in the jigs section in a day or two once it has run it's course in the build forum.

Thanks for posting M8

Kim

[Dominic]

It sure does suck. I have some rubber sheet to make a brace press so that will be my next project.

Mike, not sure. It was a cheapish green Chinese one ($250) I got from an aircon place. The techies use them to evacuate the air from the system. It will pull about 27 thingies which is heaps. It uses an oil lube and emits a very very fine plumb of oil when running which is one reason I have moved it under the house behind my workshop wall. But its not really a problem. They had more expensive ones that operate without oil but this thing is fine.

I have an article from the GAL journal where Charles Fox suggests using compressors from a big old fridges. In the US he says they are available for free. Another benefit is they are very quiet. Check out electrical repair places he suggests.


Sorry Kim, I forgot to put in the jig section. But you are correct, there are heaps of uses for these systems. Look very much forward to seeing what you guys come up with.
Cheers
Dom

[Kim]

Don't apologise Dom, the build forum is the best place to post your thread and it is easy enough for us to move it to the jigs section once everyone has has a heads up on how you have been progressing with this great tool. More than happy to see plenty of input with this, I see vacuum clamping and veneering as the biggest step forward in lutherie since the silicone heat blanket with PDI control.

Cheers

Kim

[Clancy]

Strangely, they're called Vac Pumps and, as Dom said, they're used to evacuate all particles (contaminants like water) from an air con system before filling with refrigerant gas. Standard equipment for 'Fridgees'.
Any refrigeration supply shop like Actrol & Total Line should have new ones.

[Dominic]

Just one question... How much do you sell them for?

Hint... hint... hint...

Jeremy.

Jeremy, they are free, supply your own wood and hardware. Some assembly and parts cutting required.
Cheers
Dom

[SteveF]

Hey Dom, love that jig,I'll have to steal that idea..Here's a site with a rundown on a

fridge pump as the vacuum source......

http://www.dream-models.com/eco/vacuumpump.htmll

Made one like this from air

conditioner pump and it's very quiet also if you use the air conditioner pump it's easier to

take out the wiring and switches...Steve

[Dominic]

Thanks Steve, its here to be stolen.

I have a vac pump already but I think putting up links to cheaper alternatives is great because vac is so incredibly handy in the workshop.

Apart from clamping you can use it for braces and the benefit is that you get even pressure on the brace at every point. You can also do much of your brace carving before you glue them on, even feathered right down at the ends. This is thought to avoid 'hot spots' of pressure when using go bars. I have lots of ideas for jigs for clamping head plates, finger boards, laminated sides etc etc.

Lots to do.

I connected up my foot switch yesterday. Works great but don't step on it while you have a guitar in the clamp.

Dom

[SteveF]

Hi Dom,
Can you tell me where you got your foot switch,I had one organized on Ebay

a few months back but seller has no stock now,might just get three switches

(push on/push off) and make the pedal.....Steve

[Allen]

Joe Woodworker / Veneer Supplies has them.

[Taffy Evans]

Hi Dom,
Very neat jig, a real pro looking job, thanks for showing.

[Dominic]

Sorry Steve, didn't see your post. I got mine from Veneer Supplies as Allen mentioned. Seems to be the best place. It is a 3 way switch so when you step on it it lets the vac out of the jig but does not drain the tank. So the pump comes on less. It’s really convenient when working with a hold clamp because it lets go instantly, you move the guitar where you want it, press the switch and you have instant grip again.

Given the myriad of potential uses for vacuum in guitar building and the relative ease and cheapness of setting up a system and making jigs of all sorts I think vacuum is one of the most under rated tools. It seems like that is changing pretty quickly around here though.
Cheers
Dom

[woodrat]

Perhaps Dom, we've all been sucked in!

This is the final re-constructed message of this topic posted by the ANZLF recovery team.

[Dominic]

Hey, I have replaced the pictures for this jig. As with the original post, please let me know if you want any other details about this jig.
Cheers
Dominic