Workshop: Steel Non-Adjustable Rod Install

A customer was asking for some in-process shots of a guitar I'm working on for him and I was reminded that I'd taken shots of it when I was installing a steel rod in the neck. This is an old Oscar Schmidt 20s guitar and he wanted to stiffen the neck to handle heavier gauges. The above shot is of me test-fitting the rod after cutting the slot (I use a Dremel to do most of the work).

Here I've taped the slot off and put in a bunch of epoxy. Yes -- don't be a dummy -- use tape to keep the excess glue off.

Here's my hefty piece of steel. Danelectro didn't even use stuff this tall!

Here it's in and with the epoxy drying. I've since reglued the board and refretted the neck.