Official Luthiers Forum!

What tools do you like to use when it comes to shaping braces? Certain chisels, finger planes, Files, etc.

These are pretty much it for me, an old violinmaker's palm plane, a very nice little wooden body plane received as a gift from my London based guitar maker friend Peter True and sandpaper. I'll also use a chisel occasionally to get into places that the planes won't reach.

I am only a beginner, but this is what I do:
- Rip brace wood to slightly thicker than desired width on my bandsaw
- Use Lie-Nielson block plane and holding jig to get closer to final
- get to final thickness on my Performax 10-20 sander (before I got the performax, i got to final using the block plane)
- Glue braces on using Go-bar deck
- shape braces using chisels, Lie-Nielson model makers plane, and fingerplane.

For chisels, I like to use both paring chisels (Blue Spruce 1/2", Old Bucks 3/4") and "normal" bevel chisels (Lie-Nielson 1/2, blue spruce 1/4). My fingerplane is an ibex.

Glenn

A sharp 1/2" chisel and a sharp $6 Stanley trimming plane.

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Well...you asked.

_________________
I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

Great information for me. I'm getting ready to start braces for the first time. Time to get a couple of tools for the job..... would love to make a small plane.. any plans around?

Great information for me. I'm getting ready to start braces for the first time. Time to get a couple of tools for the job..... would love to make a small plane.. any plans around?

Thanks Todd. I have looked into making planes but not that extensively. Looks promising.

Thanks Filippo!!

This is way less than the Ibex finger planes and looks to be well made and easy to use. I have not seen the LN model makers plane I'll have to look into that one too.

Great information here!