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Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=24780		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  segovia [ Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:35 am ]
Post subject:  Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
Hi

I will be joining my fist sides in the next two weeks, my intention was to follow Cumpiano and use a shooting board. I am also considering using a sanding jig with a plate glass base and 80 grit paper stuck to it. I can't recall where I have seen it but it looks a safer option. Any direction on the best way to go would be appreciated.

Regards

John
Author:  Paul Burner [ Thu Nov 26, 2009 12:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
John,

Happy Thanksgiving!

The sanding jig can be found here: http://www.luthiersuppliers.com/products/p11.html

I made one of my own (it was easy) and have used it on a few guitars.

I'm not sure what I think about the jig. The glass and base can flex a bit when you clamp them to a surface (if the surface isn't perfectly flat - so I've chased my tail a bit on some gaps in my joints. There are some tips on the page above on how to adjust for this issue.

I almost wish I had a ground granite slab to either put the sand paper on - or at least mount the sanding jig to.

I don't currently own a shooting board as I don't have the proper plane (YET!) - but I'm heading that way.

Best of luck to you.
Author:  Christian Schmid [ Thu Nov 26, 2009 12:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
I have the Lee Valley low angle jack plane and built myself a shooting board for jointing the top and back pieces. My biggest complaint with that technique is that the joint is so good that I always have to go to a bright light and even then I can barely identify it among all the grain lines :)

Seriously - I have no experience with a sanding jig, but building a shooting board is really easy, as is jointing the top/back plates with a well tuned and sharpened plane. So I can only recommend it (and I'm really not the most experienced woodworker around...far from it). I can not imagine that you'll get a better joint - especially not with 80 grit sandpaper.

best, Christian
Author:  Glenn LaSalle [ Thu Nov 26, 2009 12:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
John,

I am a beginner, and have joined about 8 or so tops/backs so far. i found the shooting board to be easier. I think the key is to get a good sharp plane and set it up. I have an old Record #5 set up to take extremely small shavings. Sometimes I may take a swipe or 2 with my old Stanley #5 first set up to take a bit more off.

Anyway, so far so good and I enjoy the process using the shooting board.

Good luck!

Glenn
Author:  James Orr [ Thu Nov 26, 2009 12:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
You could say I use a shooting board, but I don't have a proper board per se. I just put the top or back on a piece of ply. It's the method Hesh posted a few years ago. I'm sure you can find it if you search. The shooting board definitely has it's perks. It's just easier to control things.
Author:  Peter J [ Thu Nov 26, 2009 1:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
If you have a table saw with a cast iron table you can use that instead of opting for a sanding jig. The saw tables are ground nice and flat and you can use some adhesive backed sandpaper or double sided tape to stick the sandpaper and do it yourself.
Author:  Link Van Cleave [ Thu Nov 26, 2009 1:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
I am sooo on the hand plane side of edge jointing but I just wanted to point out that sanding isn't a slam dunk. It has it's nuances and techniques as well as using a plane. As Todd intimated, hand plane skills are very useful, (I would say invaluable ) and if you learn them now you will have a tool and skill that will see you through many a guitar and other woodworking situations. No harm in learning how to sand properly either, I just wouldn't do it on a edge joint. :D
Link
Author:  segovia [ Thu Nov 26, 2009 1:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
Looks like the plane and shooting board has won the vote !

Thanks

John
Author:  MRS [ Thu Nov 26, 2009 4:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
I think a shooting board is faster then a sanding jig and give a way better edge....Mike
Author:  unkabob [ Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
I guess that I am the odd man out in this discussion but I have had reasonable success with 80 grit glued to a half inch thick piece of glass. the glass is mounted on 3/4" particle board. I find it good for trimming bracing as well.
I stick both sides together with double sided tape and use even force while sanding.

Bob
Author:  segovia [ Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
I suppose another way of shooting the boards would be to tape them together and run them along a bit on a router table with the fence set to take a whisker off.

Is this a viable option ?

John
Author:  matthewrust [ Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
Another vote for the plane/shooting board method. Nobody has talked about how cool a pile of mahogany and spruce ribbons looks on the bench top!

But seriously, it is pretty easy to get a perfect joint as long as the blade is sharpened well.

I am sure both work though.
Author:  segovia [ Sat Nov 28, 2009 2:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
Thanks all

I am going to make up a shooting board this weekend.

What is a good length of shooting board, would there ever be an instance when I would use it to trim sides ?

John
Author:  woody b [ Sat Nov 28, 2009 7:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
Peter J wrote:
If you have a table saw with a cast iron table you can use that instead of opting for a sanding jig. The saw tables are ground nice and flat and you can use some adhesive backed sandpaper or double sided tape to stick the sandpaper and do it yourself.


I joint my plates on a jointer, which is strange for me because I probably use less electricity than most building a guitar. My Dad is a retired building contractor. I was talking about methods to joint plates, and he said. "that's what a jointer is for". If they need touching up a little I use sandpaper on my table saw table. The fence will help keep you at a 90 degree angle. I've also touched them up with adhesive sandpaper on a 24" level. I don't have a plane big enough to use a shooting board. wow7-eyes A perfect joint is what's needed reguardless of how you get there.
Author:  segovia [ Sat Nov 28, 2009 8:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
Hi Todd

You mention a video - should there be a link ?

John
Author:  SteveSmith [ Sat Nov 28, 2009 9:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
segovia wrote:
Hi Todd

You mention a video - should there be a link ?

John


See post #5.

I use a shooting board like the one Todd shows how to make. Works great even though I use it with an old Miller's Falls 4 1/2 sized plane. A longer plane would be nice but I get by, just takes a bit of care in the technique.
Author:  Bob Menzel [ Sat Nov 28, 2009 10:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shooting Board or Sanding Jig
Todd: The purpose of the wedges on your shooting board is to produce a slicing cut as opposed to a plowing cut (if you omit the slope and plane your sets paralel to the plane of the plane)? Does this produce a better gluing surface?
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