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I would like to see some creative tools some of you folks have come up with for shaving and carving the braces on a finished guitar.

One of my first guitars is overbuilt...I was planning on replacing the top someday, but before doing so I'd like to try to do some work inside before replacing the top...I think it would be fun...plus gaining a little knowledge along the way also.

So, has anyone got some cool tools and ideas they could share?

Thanks,
Jeff

I use an ibex or a boone plane and stretch my fingers until they cramp. I wonder if you could make some sort of rail/sled deal that you could hold in place with magnets. Chris will probably whip something up this morning.

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

My first guitar was way over braced. I just used an X-acto knife with a curved blade, but it was crude.

The best tool I have for that is small arms. I can get my arms into a dreadnought past my elbow. Aside from that is a little Z-Acto spokeshave that I cut down. I use it for all my brace shaving. This particular one I've only seen in an X-acto hobby kit with several knife handles and a bunch of X-Acto blades. There are some bronze-bodied small spokeshaves that might do just as well. Cut down this way it can shave the side of a brace almost down to the where brace is glued to the top.





Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Very fine shaving and number them as they come off so you can glue them back in the correct order.....!

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

Jeff, this is a great opportunity for you. I have fine tuned my first few guitars and it was a learning experience. Now, the issue of getting your arm in the soundhole, what I did the first time was to just force my arm into the hole. I do not recommend this without some protection as you will end up with bruised forearms! On subsequent attempts (you probably will not get it right the first time) I wrapped masking tape around my forearm where it would rub on the soundhole. This helped alot. I was very happy with the results and especially with what I learned.

So, even if there are other issues with the top that make you want to replace it, before you do so, take this opportunity to gained some direct knowledge.

Pat, wish I knew about the xacto spokeshave,,,I'll be looking for one of them!

Chuck

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While my tools aren't particularly creative -- they do seem to work....

I have used those little Stanley block planes (About 2" long, 1" wide)
Ibex violin planes work better...

Single edge Razor blades work too...
X-acto knives work too
Pocket knives work too...

But... The "Secret weapon" is just some little scraps of sticky back sandpaper... Sometimes it is very hard to shave... or during shaving you leave bumps and lumps... Stick some sandpaper to your fingers and sand it all down nice and smooth when you are done.

Thanks

John

I haven't done it yet but I'm wonderinf if anyone has ever tried an electric file with some type of side guide for the X braces.
http://www.amazon.com/Proxxon-38536-BSL ... 57&sr=8-19

Or maybe a sanding disc on the end of a flexi shaft possibly? Just a thought but the old tried and true method of finger planes might be the best .

I started with a 3" mini plane (cast iron) from Ace Hardware, shortened it to 2" long (1.5" on bottom), then radiused the bottom on a belt sander. Works great for scalloping and other top work (so much nicer than a knife... what I started with). Back braces are better done w/ a flat bottom.

This one sortof works as is, but leaves a very messy finish (follow w/ sandpaper)--
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=66641

A good inspection mirror helps a lot, e.g.,
http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Level-2718 ... 604&sr=1-1

Thick paper or some boxboard keeps the soundhole edge from digging into my arm.

+1 that it's a great way to learn. I've found it very helpful to track changes with tap testing for the main resonances. Search the archives for Alan Carruth's posts on this. Audacity is an easy program to find the peak frequencies -- a quickstart:
viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=24630&p=333657#p333657

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David Malicky