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I could have swore that there was a jig posted somewhere (as I recall it was Bruce Dickey's) of a gizmo that used a router to create the lap joint in a number of x brace pieces simeltaneously.

I seem to remember it was adjustable so you could set it to any angle.

Does anyone know where that is? I didn't see it in the jigs area....

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Brock, Don't know where the jig is around here, but take a look at Charlie Hoffman's jig, you may be able to get some ideas from it.

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Speaking of Bruce, where has he been lately? He got us all to put up our bios and then it seems like he dissapeared. I hope everything is alright.

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Brock, I could be mistaken but I think Bruce's jig just cut the profile on a pattern bit laden router table. But maybe there's something new as I'm not aware of a jig for the notch. I'd like to see it if you find something.

Bruce did post his method for cutting the X-joint slots but it appearantly did not make it into the jigs page.
I just did a little searching in and around the archives and didn't come up with anything so maybe I was dreaming.

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We must have had the same dream.

I think you are right Paul. But as I remember it, it held a few pieces together simeltaneously and there was an adjustment on the fence so you could cut a variety of angles.

I just can't seem to find it though.

It has always been one of those things I wanted to try, but have never quite gotten around to.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

It was no dream. I think Bruce posted a pic of the slot cutting process about a year ago. I have not found it in the archive yet, but I remember it. The post started on the subject of pre-cutting the scallop profile but he also talked about, and I believe posted a pic of the slotting fixture as well. I remember it because that is when I decided to pre scallop my braces.MichaelP38649.5423726852

Im pretty srue he got it from Charlie Hoffmans site - you may want to browse around there..

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It's here somewhere...he had a stack of finished X-braces hanging on the wall in the background of the picture.

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Here's the link to the pic of all the braces Bruce did, with an explanation of the jig, but no jig itself.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Rod, yep that's the photo I had stored in my mind...seems that a plywood "L" with a straight cut in from the front would work, then just screw a guide to the "table" part of the "L" at a slight angle for the router/lam trimmer base to follow...screw a plywood stop to the underside at 90 degrees to the straight cut and clamp the brace(s) to it from each end? I'm guessing, and probably didn't articulate the idea very well, but could be a start.

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

I emailed Bruce, here is what he sent me

Hi Rod,
I've been fine. Working out of town some, now back in the shop. Yes, I copied my x-brace from an idea I saw on Hoffman's site. Mine and his are totally different looking though. Mine cut's fourteen braces at once with a 5/16th in carbide bit. The first and last brace are sacrificed in the process, so I sometimes put scrap in those positions. The rest back each other up and cut perfectly.

You know you have a great fit when it makes a little squeak as the x goes together. Then I hit all four joints with some thin CA and that is that, time for final arch sanding in the dish. Here are a few pics:




Here it is hanging behind my adjustable go-bar deck. The go-bar even angles to the taper of a guitar end to end, same sticks on everything, gluing braces, gluing top and back too, even my florentine jig uses the same sticks, 5/16 inch hardwood, plenty strong and resilient.

Back to the xbrace notching jig, the wingnuts under the cross bars, tighten the blanks into place. The underside of the cross bars is covered in cork for blank gripping. One pass, that's it. The first photo shows a plywood deadman which is used if only doing a few pair, just to take up space and give the router something to ride across. Pull the router toward you, and the closed end is on the left. I tried it to the right and it spewed braces all over the shop, out the open end. That was before the cork too. Jigs get better after you use them the first time. grin. Let me know if you have any questions. I still add a small piece of scab atop the open xbrace. Just makes sense to close it, Bruce
Rod True38650.0438657407

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Thanks. I knew he had figured out a way to make this adjustable.

:-)

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I'm confused, how it it adjustable? Looks to me like they all line up against the registered side and are clamped down in that postition. Am I missing something?

Now that I look at it you are probably right.

However on mine, I am going to route a keyhole slot in that back clamp down area, so the whole parallogram will pivot left/right allowing you to change the angle. I may also need to add a top brace and change the way the back clamp down bolts work (slot vs. hole)

Then when you have it where you want it you can lock it down with the wingnuts. Brock Poling38650.3848726852

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Speaking of angle...what are you guys using for your X's? I've so far been hanging around 87 degrees...is that about normal?

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

[QUOTE=Rod True] Here's the link to the pic of all the braces Bruce did, with an explanation of the jig, but no jig itself.[/QUOTE]

Not the post I am thinking of. This one started with a discussion of pre-scalloping the x braces then went into notching them.