French Skeleton version. Should save a few coins. I'll chop the bolts later. I've yet to try it but see no reason why it won't work.
| Official Luthiers Forum! http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/ |
|
| Do you use baltic birch for molds? http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=40813 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | Tai Fu [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 4:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
I notice body modes use a LOT of plywood... and leaves a lot of waste too. So I was wondering why should I use baltic birch for making molds instead of MDF or regular 7 ply construction plywood? I just picked up some baltic birch plywood... man it's so expensive. Paid about 60 dollars for one sheet 150cm x 76cm, 18mm thickness. I rather not use it if it's not absolutely critical... |
|
| Author: | Michael.N. [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 6:27 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
I've just made a couple from 18 mm Baltic Birch. My first ever moulds even though I've been making for over 30 years! They are an outside mould, just one layer and only 30 mm wide around the perimeter. Pretty minimalist as moulds go. Very light in weight too. I don't really see the point in using 4 or 5 layers when you can just use one layer or 2 or 3 layers with spacers. Save a lot of material that way. |
|
| Author: | Colin North [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 7:13 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
Regular construction ply here, 3 x 18mm, 50 mm wide sides for outside molds Birch Ply is way too expensive |
|
| Author: | Jim Kirby [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 7:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
I use big box plywood but with a smooth face - not construction stuff for subfloors, etc. I agree Baltic is too expensive for this application. |
|
| Author: | Jim Kirby [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 7:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
Todd - where do you go for BB? Sources I know of in the Wilmington DE area are way too expensive. I wish I had bought a bunch of the birch ply from Chile that Home Depot had a couple of years ago. It was nice stuff and cheap too. Maybe they will have it again but I haven't seen any recently. |
|
| Author: | Fred Tellier [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 7:34 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
3/4" construction grade, lighter but ugly, in my mind I am building a tool not furniture. Fred |
|
| Author: | Mike_P [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 8:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
the thing about BB is this: it's outer layer is not a veneer, it's a far more substantial layer of wood which won't easily delaminate...I'd prefer to use BB for the outer layers and cheaper stuff for the interior... |
|
| Author: | Clay S. [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 8:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
If you are not making a block mold at the same time as you are making an outside form (in which case you are not wasting a whole lot of plywood) you can make the outside form from smaller pieces. I have used scraps of 3/4 inch plywood and staggered the joints to make 3 layer, 2 1/4 inch thick outside forms. Use plenty of glue to stick things together and they are stiff enough. |
|
| Author: | meddlingfool [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 9:20 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
I just use MDF! |
|
| Author: | the Padma [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 11:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
Blocked and lamed dimensional lumber, OSB, MDF, sub flooring, G1S, Baltic...it all depends on your persuasion and your bank account. All will work. Gee you could even use glued up cardboard boxes for that matter. |
|
| Author: | Tai Fu [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
Baltic birch is not only expensive in Taiwan but hard to find.... they only sell one type of plywood and it's the crappy type, and a 3x6 sheet still costs about 30 dollars (for the crappy plywood that is) |
|
| Author: | grumpy [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
MDF or 1/2" construction grade spruce ply("sheathing") here.... MDF works fine, but is heavier than the spruce ply and as I age, I seek to build lighter molds.... |
|
| Author: | Clinchriver [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
Yes |
|
| Author: | Michael.N. [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
French Skeleton version. Should save a few coins. I'll chop the bolts later. I've yet to try it but see no reason why it won't work. |
|
| Author: | AnthonyE [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 4:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
I would def save your baltic birch plywood for some other more critical application. It makes wonderful jigs that require a nice stable substrate. And good quality baltic is really a furniture grade plywood that is free of any voids and has a great looking surface veneer (although thick is still considered a veneer). There is nothing wrong with using MDF as a mold, its downfall would be its weight and the fact that it really doesn't like to get wet at all. But the wet issue is easily fixed by applying a finish. I personally would rather use MDF as I think a heavy mold would actually be benificial other than having to lug it around. My other problem with MDF is the dust produced while machining. |
|
| Author: | ernie [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
+1 grumpy. I have made molds from all types of wood BB , chinese birch ply from homeless depot and MDF , cheapo fir plywood, 2 layers of mdf with cedar spacers from the kinkade book etc etc. |
|
| Author: | grumpy [ Sun Jul 07, 2013 5:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
I've yet to try it but see no reason why it won't work. That'll work to hold the shape, but it won't help prevent "racking"(IE: twisting) of the rim when gluing the top and/or back to the rim, which is one of the most important tasks of a solid mold. Just make a second pair, and use spacers between the two. It's all I do, now. At thew waist, I'll build-up a solid stack of spacers and using a router bit and top bearing, trim the block flush to the form. This gives me a solid waist area to prevent cracking the ribs when using a spreader. |
|
| Author: | Michael.N. [ Mon Jul 08, 2013 12:46 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Do you use baltic birch for molds? |
I won't need to do that Grumpy. The Back Bars are first glued into the Sides with the actual Back plate glued after. That's the Torres method apparently. I've never tried that before but many have. Anyway, no chance of the twist you refer to. |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC - 5 hours |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|