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Is this too much runout for X braces on a dred? This is as good as it would split out, can it just be planed down flat with no worries?

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Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
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I don't think I'd take a chance on them. Looks like they might want to twist under stress.

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Carlton Macksam
Muskegon, Michigan

Were they split in both dimensions, all 4 sides? From the photos it looks like they were cut on two parallel faces, then split on the other two.

In either case, it appears that you have excessive runout and twist.

I think there may be a misperception here about the purpose of splitting. I think you might be trying to split them to get a good surface. Splitting is generally done to determine what direction the grain is running, whether it will be close to parallel to the long surfaces of the brace (in this case). In the second photo, your split surfaces have revealed short grain with respect to the left and right surfaces of each piece. Try splitting one in half, with the spit running parallel to the smooth surfaces. I think you'll find that you will end up with short pieces, thus short grain. You want to get long pieces split on either plane.

Give that a try and see what you get. If they're long, the wood is OK. If short, find some more stock dred or otherwise. If it comes out short and/or twisted, and you bought this wood as brace stock, a good supplier would replace it.

Pat

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

I'm finding it a bit difficult to read the grain here - like's been said, the only split you really need to do and worry about is the split perpendicular (90 degrees) to the grain. Not along the grain lines. That's the runout you're trying to avoid.

Ok, I don't know if it was split before, but its too thin to split again. All I knew about was splitting down the grain lines. Most of my other wood splits straight down the grain.

So bracewood needs to be labeled hand split as its in the same plane as soundboards?
Im guessing alot of sellers smooth it to thickness after the spilt?

Maybe Ill save this stuff for backbraces. thanks8-)

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Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

I never, ever split parallel to the grain lines. It's not relevant - You can see the grain direction in that plane with your eyes (annual rings), and yes, most wood splits evenly down those lines. But that's not what we mean when we talk about 'runout'. The direction that's more difficult/near impossible to see is the runout, which is the grain direction perpendicular (90 degrees) to the grain lines.

I feel sellers who sell split bracing stock should leave the split face clearly split, not planed smooth. Use that as a referece, and slice your braces with a saw.