Official Luthiers Forum!

Do you split your wood before or after it is dried for the least amount of runout.Which do you think is best?

Mark, I would appreciate a tutorial of sorts here. You may not want to do it and that is OK. What is runout? why would it matter (after or before dyring), etc.

Thanks,

Mike

I buy brace stock from the OLF sponsers.
I've never received a bad piece of stock from them!
Splitting is easier if the wood is green .
If it's a well seasoned piece you would be better off squaring up the edges of the piece and then sawing them your favorite way.

Splitting a old piece can get you into kindling stock real quick!

Mike

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Mike Collins

Mike,Runout is when a board is cut not even with the grain.It's almost impossible to mill a tree without runout as trees don't have perfectly strait grain and when it's cut on a saw you get runout.The only way to get little or no runout is to split the tree by force with a fro or wedge.And it's always easier when the tree is green.A board done this way is much stronger and wont break as easy when flexed.A guitar brace or top plate should be done this way with as little runout as possible for durability.

It's been my experience that brace stock purchased in sawn sizes such as 1"by2" quite often has enough run out that it may not be usable for anything other then finger braces. I no longer buy brace stock in this state,and look for billet stock with preferably two split sides showing.In the long run you get more bang for your buck and less surprises.
Tom.

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