Official Luthiers Forum!

Just curious if anyone has used Padauk for FB & bridges. I have a couple of nice planks that I thought about using. It's open grain but no more so than EIRW.

Also what about Ipe? It looks a lot like Sapele but much denser and heavier. It is also much closer grained.

_________________
tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

I have not used Ipe for either but it would be hard enough for a fingerboard although probably too heavy for a bridge.

Padauk on the other hand I have started using for bridges (I build classical) once I learned that Smallman and others are using Padauk because of its lower weight but high strength would help a classical bridge. Most Padauk would probably not be hard enough for fingerboards.

Tim,

I've used padauk bridges on a couple of short scale travel bouzoukis that also had padauk b/s - also used it as bridge plates. Works really well - polishes up fine once you get rid of all of that red dust!!



If you have the right piece of padauk I don't see why you couldn't use it for fingerboards - people use cocobolo. I'd test first to check that you don'y get red fingers when you play

_________________
Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

I've used padauk on a few classicals I've built. Here's one on a 10-string I finished this past summer:



Padauk is actually a nice tonewood. It's light -- the stash I have has a density of about 0.65, plus it has a very clear, metallic ring to it when tapped. It's easy to work with files and machines well, although it does tend to splinter. I have to be especially careful when working on the corners of the bridge wings.

I agree that it would be too soft to use as a fingerboard material. However, if you're looking for a red colored fingerboard, bloodwood does make a nice fingerboard, and it doesn't slowly oxidize to a brown color the way padauk does.

If you're thinking about using it for a steel string acoustic with bridge pins, you might find some tearout, however. I notice a little occuring where the strings exit the back of the tie block on the padauk classical bridges I built.

Best,

Michael

_________________
Live to Play, Play to Live

I don't believe I have ever seen IPE. What color is it?

John

Bro--I've got some to show you when you come this Christmas. It's green/brown, when it's not brown/green.

That's clear, isn't it?

KBW

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

oh, yeah.