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I just used wagner safe-t planer for the first time to thickness 3 sitka spruce soundboards. My goal was to have the final thicknesses at 2.8 mm, but I guess my inexperience with this tool showed and it took the thickness down to 2.5 mm in a few places. Keep in mind this is before final sanding which should take off a tad bit more. Is this too thin? They seem like they're a tiny bit floppy to me, but I'm no expert on the subject. Are these things workable/salvageable or should I scrap them and start over with new pieces? They'll be used on an L-00 shaped guitar, if it matters.

I've used Sitka thinner than that. (2.5 mm is ~.100" isn't it?) It depends on the stiffness of the individual top.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
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What Woody said - it's about .098425... which could work for an L-OO. Just be careful during rosette installation and final sanding to not remove much additional material.

BTW the "They seem like they're a tiny bit floppy to me" is great to read/hear. Never miss out on an opportunity to flex the wood and start to get a feel for what works and what doesn't... Even though we use more objective criteria such as deflection testing I always wanted to be the sort of builder who had a "feel" for the wood just like I imagined the Luthiers in the past did.

Good on you for using your own senses - they are one of the most powerful tools that you can ever use.

For a small body guitar like the L-OO .100 (2.5)is fine .
What guage string do you plan to brace it for?

Mike

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Mike Collins

That's a bit thicker than I'd go - I'd be closer to 2.0mm. I use my own design of lattice bracing and a large bridge plate. I like a floppy top.
YMMV

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.