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strange 'pocket' in brace wood
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=24940		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Ken Mitchell [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:41 pm ]
Post subject:  strange 'pocket' in brace wood
I had a first today... as I was scalloping the tone bar in a small-body guitar top, I ran into some sort of crystallized pocket in the wood. There was nothing visible on the outside of the brace stock, but when I ran into it, the wood along a 2-inch area was discolored, sort of amber/brownish, and very brittle! The chisel just stopped and caught repeatedly on it, as if it were some sort of calcified pocket or something.

Also, the tap tone of the top is lower in tone than it should be, given the thickness of the top, and the height of the brace wood still remaining. It may be due to some other influence, but after thinking about it, I'm leaning toward chiseling this brace out of there, and replacing it with another piece.

Has anyone ever ran into a similar situation? Would replacing the tone bar seem to be the thing to do? (My instinct say 'take it out and do it over').
Author:  woody b [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: strange 'pocket' in brace wood
I'd replace it. I call them "pitch pockets" but I'm not sure that's the right name. I candle my tops (hold them up to a bright light) to look for them before I use them. I doubt you could see then that way in something as thick as a brace. I've never found any in braces but I deflection test all my braces before I glue them on. I carved into one carving a neck once. That was a bummer.

I suspect some people who know alot more than me will explain them better, and maybe tell how to avoid them.
Author:  Ti-Roux [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: strange 'pocket' in brace wood
A bear tooth?

ok, ok... Eat Drink
Author:  Ken Mitchell [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: strange 'pocket' in brace wood
You mean bear claw ?? :)

Ti-Roux, t'es cajun, ou canadien?
Author:  Ti-Roux [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: strange 'pocket' in brace wood
Daaaaah! Ok ok, claw!

oops_sign

Oui, je suis de Montréal! Et toi?
Author:  Ken Mitchell [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: strange 'pocket' in brace wood
Ah... Ti-Roux, I just looked back and saw all of your info. ;) Vive le Quebec!
Author:  Ti-Roux [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: strange 'pocket' in brace wood
Yep, Vive le québec! And you're from..?
Author:  Ken Mitchell [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: strange 'pocket' in brace wood
Caroline 'du nord', mais bien au sud des USA :)
Author:  Ti-Roux [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: strange 'pocket' in brace wood
Oh and there's a french community there? that's great!

Sorry, i've screwed up the bear claw brace topic...
Author:  Ken Mitchell [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: strange 'pocket' in brace wood
Ti-Roux, no problem! Maybe others will chime in on the topic.

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