Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi Robbie,

I'm really enjoying some of the alternative methods of building on your dvd's. I've switched about half of my procedures over to your way of thinking. I have a question about trimming the sides. During the procedure where you push the ruler in 1mm and draw your line, I assume you actually cut along this line, but what is the purpose of it being convex? I've always trimmed my sides on the back with a gradual taper. I haven't seen a convex taper before and was just curious about the rationale.

Thanks!

John

John,

I just saw your post. I don't know how it got by me. Sorry.
To answer your question, if you just cut a gradual taper the back will be flat in this area. The pushing of the straightedge by 1mm. and then cutting along this line allows the back to be radiused along and across the back. It is basically cutting the shape that a radius dish would put into it if you were sanding the side. Make sure that you mark this side as being "convex" because after you bend it, it is very difficult to see and sometimes you can insert the neck on the sides with the back side on the top. This can ruin your whole day! I hope this answers your question.
I am glad you are finding the classical building DVD and the techniques I present useful. The method I show IMHO has simplified the process considerably.