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How thin is too thin? http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=4416 |
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Author: | John Elshaw [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 4:44 am ] |
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I was planing one of my cedar tops I bought from Jason and got a little over-zealous with my newly sharpened planes. The top is now about 2mm thick. I still need to install the rosette and sand down to final thickness. What is the thinnest most of you would go with cedar (this is a Hauser style braced guitar). I'm thinking about pressing on with the build to see the effects of such a thin top. The guitar is not a commission or anything like that, so I'm not worried about an unhappy customer. I'm just curious if this is a recipe for certain doom and I should bail out now, or if I should press on and see what happens. I have plenty of other tops so I'm not worried about saving the wood, I'd just hate to spend a ton of hours if there's virtually no hope for it holding together. Thanks! John |
Author: | RussellR [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 4:50 am ] |
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John 2mm is probably too thin for cedar with rosette installation, final sanding etc you arer going to be well under 2mm, I would kick it out and try a new one, or you could waste alot of time and then have to replace it. |
Author: | Bobc [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 4:51 am ] |
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That's about .078" Way too thin. I would start over. |
Author: | Shane Neifer [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 5:20 am ] |
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I have to agree...that is even too thin for a spruce top if final sanding was required! Shane |
Author: | John Elshaw [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 5:48 am ] |
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Thanks guys, that's kind of what I was thinking. I think I may just cut up that soundboard in strips and use it for solid cedar kerfing like you see on some Hausers. Cheers! John |
Author: | BruceH [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 6:58 am ] |
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John, You might want to save the top for that experimental lattice bracing you'll want to try someday ![]() But I agree with the others - pitch it. However, I built a much too thin redwood topped parlor and have gained a much better understanding of the forces involved by watching my top slowly deform. I believe that the knowledge gained will far outweigh the time it will take me to retop this guitar. |
Author: | Colin S [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 7:03 am ] |
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John As they said it's now much too thin, but why not have a go at a double top, I think we had a thread on it last year some time. Colin PS you could always use it to cook salmon like LMI says! |
Author: | RCoates [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 7:17 am ] |
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Yep save it for lattice bracing... |
Author: | Rod True [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 7:22 am ] |
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I agree with Colin, Salmon plater. |
Author: | L. Presnall [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 7:53 am ] |
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![]() ![]() |
Author: | L. Presnall [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 7:53 am ] |
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M R Salmon.... |
Author: | jfrench [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 12:10 pm ] |
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I have zero experience with cedar, but I definitely wouldn't go so far as to say its too thin for spruce. There are Torres guitars out there that are less than 1mm in some places, and still being played 145 years later. If you were careful inlaying the rosette I don't see why you'd loose any thickness, plus the rosette is reinforced - a thicker area. But 2mm may well be too thin for your top, I don't know... |
Author: | old man [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 2:26 pm ] |
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M R NOT Salmon, salmon swim upstream! M R Salmon: ><}};> ><}};> ><}};> ><}};> ![]() Ron |
Author: | Brock Poling [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 4:17 pm ] |
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how about a uke? or 2? |
Author: | Ken Franklin [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 4:42 pm ] |
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I agree with Colin, make it a double top. Go to Randy Reynolds' site and check it out. Two millimeters might be too thick. ![]() |
Author: | Matt Mustapick [ Sun Jan 08, 2006 5:13 pm ] |
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Either it's too thin or it's an opportunity to get *really* creative with the bracing, which could be fun, and would likely be a unique and successful guitar. |
Author: | rlabbe [ Mon Jan 09, 2006 3:25 am ] |
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Blackshear as gone as thin as 2mm (once, as far as I know) on a classical with cedar and says it has held up fine. But you will be under 2mm, so it's a no-go. If the wood is nice save it for lattice bracing or double top. Or heck, sell it to somebody for that use. Pitching the top or cutting it up seems pretty wasteful use of a perfectly good top. |
Author: | sfbrown [ Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:52 am ] |
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What about the "under top" for a dual top guitar? Steve Oops, sorry! Just noticed that Colin already mentioned it. Hey, brilliant minds think alike! ![]() |
Author: | tl507362 [ Mon Jan 09, 2006 10:20 am ] |
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Send it to me! I can use it for a cigar box uke! I use 1/16" on the tops, and I think that is perfect. Tracy |
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