Neck reinforcement

[Pat.Hawkins]

Hi Folks,
I plan on dropping a 300mm length of carbon fibre into a baritone ukulele neck. It's roughly 3mm x 9.5mm
Is this a good idea?
If I do, should it be installed as a dry fit or should I flood the channel with epoxy and lock it in?
Cheers

[peter.coombe]

Use Epoxy.

[kiwigeo]

I haven't used CF rods in my steel string necks for a while but I used to always epoxy them in.

[Robert Gleason]

Epoxy them in wth good epoxy, not the 5 minute kind. Also, add a couple mm wood filler strip over the top so that you still have a little working room to plane the neck to straighten it or put relief in.Bob

[Pat.Hawkins]

Thank you for the advice. I've only ever kept 5 min. epoxy on the shelf but for this job I'll look for something better. Also, If I have a cover strip that's a bit proud, I'm not confident I could get a good finish with the hand plane so either the jointer or sanding board?
I'm just picturing that awful glue line running down the side of the fretboard where I've rolled the edges of the neck. Cheers

[kiwigeo]

Thank you for the advice. I've only ever kept 5 min. epoxy on the shelf but for this job I'll look for something better. Also, If I have a cover strip that's a bit proud, I'm not confident I could get a good finish with the hand plane so either the jointer or sanding board?
I'm just picturing that awful glue line running down the side of the fretboard where I've rolled the edges of the neck. Cheers

I use Techniglue epoxy.

https://www.carbatec.com.au/techniglue- ... -60a-500ml

A light plane over the centre strip will get it flush. Finish the job with sandpaper and a hard sanding block....or run the neck blank over a large sanding board.

[Pat.Hawkins]

Thanks again,
we have a Carbatec rep. make regular visits . I'll order some and avoid shipping costs.

While I'm here......... we should share our rookie "learning experiences" right?

I've just bandsawn the tapered edges off the neck and haven't routed the rod channel yet.
Ouch!
I guess I can temporarily stick the tapered waste edge back on.

[kiwigeo]

I've just bandsawn the tapered edges off the neck and haven't routed the rod channel yet.
Ouch!
I guess I can temporarily stick the tapered waste edge back on.

Yep.....thats pretty much what Ive done in exactly the same situation. A couple of bits of wood glued to side of neck that will register against router table fence. If using a hand held router then glue a full strip of wood along one side of neck and plane to required dimension.