Official Luthiers Forum!

I am getting ready to fit tail and heel block to my sides which are in the mold.

I will leave them 1/32" proud of the sides to match the kerfing, is it good practice to cut/set an angle on the top and bottom of the blocks before I glue them in?

My sides have already been tapered before bending, I using a 15 degree back and 28 degree top.

If so what angles shall I use, 1.5 degrees on the top of the heel block seems about right, what are the others?

Regards

John

John,

I put the radius on the top and bottom of the blocks when I radius the kerfing and sides.

Here is a video that might answer some of your questions.

If you are using concave sanding dishes, they will take the blocks down perfectly in short order.
I don't bother cutting the angles. If your heel block has a long tongue on it, make sure you leave enough material. I DO put the tongue on at a +2 degree angle & sand to shape afterwards.
I leave way more than 1/32" top & bottom... Give yourself some wiggle room. It's not a big job sanding off a little excess.

Same as Robbie...!
Tom

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

Ditto on what Robbie does.
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Hi

I don't use a radius dish, to be honest I am still struggling with the concept of a radius dish so it is probably best to leave that for another post. I use a radius stick which is about 22" long and 1 1/2 " wide with 15 and 28 radius's.

I draw the sticks from the heel to the tail block on the top and back after the kerfing is in place, this puts an angle on the kerfing. I suppose my question is do I leave the block proud or leave the blocks proud with a slight angle.

Its all a question of geometry which I am struggling to understand.

J