What’s your favourite neck carving technique?

[TomBicknell]

Of all the different approaches to carving a neck, what have you settled on and why? Rasp, faceting, spokeshave, router templates, CNC, something else?

[kiwigeo]

1. rough out heel with bench chisel.
2. shape heel with dragon rasps.
3. rough shape neck shaft using spoke shave (flat sole) working along facets marked along neck shaft in with pencil
4. rough shape headstock/neck shaft with dragon rasp and small wood files.
5. final shaping of neck shaft working strip of sandpaper shoe shine fashion.
6. final shaping of heel and headstock/neck shaft using sandpaper wrapped around piece of wooden dowel (various diameters)

[Dave M]

Pretty much like Martin except I don't use rasps. I like a pair of skew chisels to get at the two sides of the heel. Quite a lot of sanding with different diameter batons.

Keeping symmetry is key so replacing the centre line as it tends to get lost as you carve is important.