Official Luthiers Forum!

I have successfully arched and installed the top braces now when trying to transfer the arch from my template( from compiano's book ) the first two braces at the upper bout worked out fine whille the bottom 2 braces at the lower bout dont, the problem is the braces are from lmi dread style pre shaped braces and they are flat at 1/4 inch tall and 12 in and 16 in long when the template, which is 1/4 over 16 inch span, the arch would mean i would lose the last 2 inches of my brace, what can i do could i go with the top arch which is 1/8 over 18 inches?

I guess i need to be more clear, since my back braces are 1/4 tall could i use an arch of 1/8 inch over 16 inches, would that be enough of a dome for the back?

That would be a radius of a little over 21' which should be fine but if I read your post correctly, the two upper braces where arched based on a template that arches 1/4" over a 16" span, so your two upper braces would have an arch of under 11'. I'm not sure that makes for a good match. I'm sure someone more experienced will chime in though.

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Jeremy Douglas