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So, I've gotten tone wood and it's thicker than I need. Let's say on average 30-50% thicker. Would you surface plane it or sand? It's all rough sawn and I'm leaning toward surface planing, but does that affect the tonal quality of the wood? Right now it's got a lovely resonance that I don't want to ruin.

This is 60 year old Engelmann spruce and it's all different thicknesses due to the cutting done on it. I'm not sure how to prepare it for use. Some of it is almost 1/4" thick, others are closer to the desired thickness. I'm assuming I should leave it as is until I am ready to use it, but again I'm not sure.

Suggestions? How would you proceed and why? Thanks!

Joe,

The surface planer will make you some expensive tooth picks. Sand that wood down to about .170". Hopefully it will be fairly flat at that thickness. Sand out the roughest sides first and try to preserve your book match. It's best to join the two halves and install your rosette with the wood as thick as possible. This gives you some room to counter any problems that might occur. Then it's back to the sander to achieve your target size for bracing. I shoot for about .095" on an O size and .115" on a dread. You can sand it to the first step now, but don't join it until your ready to build. It's easier to store un-joined and less likley to get damaged.

Steve

Yeah, double what he said. Unless you have a rotary planer or a -really- nice sled to put it through you're almost guaranteed to watch the planer spit your top out the other side in chunks!

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

I'm glad I asked!