Neck support when hammering in frets...

nikpearson · #1 02-11-2021, 07:28 PM

I’m interested to know what your preference is for supporting the back of the neck when hammering in frets. So far I’ve used a basic wooden neck support but I get the feeling that this transfers quite a lot of energy through to the bench.

Would a better solution be to use an absorbent rest?

Thoughts very much appreciated.

Dave Abrahamson · #2 02-11-2021, 07:36 PM

Make your own bean bag. I've used a bag of car litter. I'm sure you'll get more than a few suggestions.��

Carey · #3 02-11-2021, 07:49 PM

A 25-pound bag of lead shot works well, and isn't too expensive. I put mine inside another heavy plastic bag so the (possible) lead dust doesn't get out.
The idea came from an old Luthiers' Mercantile catalog, IIRC.

Rudy4 · #4 02-11-2021, 08:31 PM

A bag of play or mason's sand from your local home supply store works fine. Wrap it in an extra hand towel for additional padding.

MC5C · #5 02-12-2021, 07:13 AM

I fret before the neck is carved but after the fretboard is glued on and finished, so I just use blocks of wood. Archtop necks so I have a neck extension under the end of the fretboard. I had a sandbag that I used when I did carved necks, but it got used on the walkway a few winters ago, lots of ice around here...

nikpearson · #6 02-13-2021, 08:54 AM

I’ve bought an inexpensive gun rest which I’ll fill with rice, lentils or similar and see how that works out.

Frank Ford · #7 02-13-2021, 02:25 PM

As always, it's more about the technician and the technique than it is about the specific tool.

I took this photo a couple of decades ago, featuring my neck support I'd been using for 20 years at the time:

It's a chunk of redwood 4x4 with two layers of leather wrapped over.

I still use it today. . .

charles Tauber · #8 02-13-2021, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Ford

I took this photo a couple of decades ago, featuring my neck support I'd been using for 20 years at the time: It's a chunk of redwood 4x4 with two layers of leather wrapped over.

I still use it today. . .

Too bad you're just finding out now that it was the wrong tool.

I use a hard rubber sanding block, same one I've used for a few decades. It's probably the wrong tool too.

Frank Ford · #9 02-13-2021, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charles Tauber

Too bad you're just finding out now that it was the wrong tool.

I use a hard rubber sanding block, same one I've used for a few decades. It's probably the wrong tool too.

Yeah, I reckon I was young then and just didn't know any better -- and I suppose it led to a lifetime of using wrong tools. . .