Official Luthiers Forum!

Am wondering if there was a faster way to shave braces.I used a marples 1in bluechip old chisel ground to 25 deg (like in the gore book) in conjunction with several flat swiss 1in 3/4in and 1/2in # 1 carving chisels it seems slow to me .What are you using, and does it go very quickly. signed very impatient Thanks.

small, 10mm I think, flat sole ibex plane.

And don't be in a rush to get past one of the most important and enjoyable parts of building.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I think a chisel of some sort is the fastest but it's a matter of technique. I'm slow because I'm not that sure of my ability & don't want to damage the top or go too deep on a brace.

I saw a woman at the Martin factory who looked like someone's grandmother take huge but controlled cuts with a bent chisel. I'd say she was at least 5x faster then me at my best.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

I agree with John - don't be in a hurry. This is where much of the voicing of the entire guitar is done so you want to remove a little, tap and listen, repeat. I use both the flat sole and the convex (the rounded bottom) Ibex finger planes as well as chisels, sandpaper, scrapers, etc. - whatever will give me the most feel for the wood.

I'll say it again! Stephen Boone finger planes. Perfect for brace shaving. http://www.studioboone.com/guitars/fingerplane.html

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Phillip Patton's brace carving chisel!
viewtopic.php?f=10133&t=37220&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=50

Edit: I don't mean I use one, unfortunately, but that is obviously the best!

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

My main tool is a 1" chisel with the corners rounded off to prevent marking the top if it slips. I picked this tip up at a workshop at the 2011 A.S.I.A. I also have a couple small planes that are used a bit, but the chisel gets most of the work done.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Missed that thread but now that I've seen every page and every video I'm speechless. What a work of art - I had no idea such things were even possible. Not sure if I would carve with one of those or just hang it on the wall.

To the topic. I use a chisel and have very little experience but the last brace set went pretty fast and was also, as was mentioned, very enjoyable. I use a Japanese chisel that I received as a gift so I know very little about it other than it's really sharp and that, of course, makes the task easier than it could be.

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Thank You and Best To All

Ha! Awesome!

I really like using my LMI chisels and Lie-Nielsen Model Maker's Plane for this.

Their convex sole Model Maker's Plane and the Violin Maker's Plane look pretty cool, too.

http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?cat=504

I've shown it before and I'll show it again, an old spokeshave originally sold as part of an X-acto kit, but now available separately as a Zona spokeshave at Tower Hobbies and other places.Not real fast, but it can be held in such a way that your fingers act as guides to keep the tool on the brace, and it can reach down the side of a brace almost to the top (or back). There may be better tools for this, but I've been using this one since the mid-70s and haven't found anything I like better.





Pat

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

I learned from John Mayes that the 10mm, flat sole, Ibex finger plane works great!
Steve

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Pat, Did you cut the handles off of that little spoke shave?

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Thank You and Best To All

low angle block plane for large removal.
Then like Waddy-my Boone plane for fine work.
Mike

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Mike Collins

low angle block plane for large removal.
Then like Waddy-my Boone plane for fine work.
Mike

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Mike Collins

Pat,
If those are the little brass spoke shaves that used to come in a set of 3 (flat, curved, and rounded)
I got a set in 86 and at the time Ron Hock used to make replacement irons for them. Maybe he still does ?
A little tune up and they are sweet.
L.

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

+1 for the little SB planes! Fast, sharp, perfect size, bargain price, etc....
My Ibex planes sit almost unused these days.

Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Phil, that is one beautiful artistic work of art chisel.I checked prices for jap paring chisels and they run from $88 to 488, I finally finished the brace carving.I have a set of those 3 spokeshaves, they are handy. Think I will just stick with all the tools I own.

LarryH,

Yes I did cut off the "ears."

Link,

I have a set of those brass spokeshaves, but this one is a super cheap one made of pot metal. The brass one would work and would be great with Hock irons.

Pat

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

i use a drum sander to rough them down and do the final voicing when the guitar is aged a few months.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Since publishing the book, a friend made this paring chisel for me (Japanese chisel for comparison):

The blade is a full 10" long, cut from an old circular saw blade used by loggers in the bush around the turn of the century (not the recent one). It has the reach to be used bevel up or bevel down almost anywhere on a guitar and is definitely my go-to chisel for all sorts of things. The blade is 18mm wide.

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

Based on Todd's reply to a similar thread last year, I bought one of the Pfeil #1 18mm double bevel
carving chisels. It's great for forming the initial profile of the braces- easily controlled and accurate.
Then I use one of the small IBEX curved sole finger planes for shaving the sides to get the triangular
x-section. I had previously used the LMI bent chisel for doing the profile work, but the double bevel
chisel is more controllable, IMO.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

I only use this old 18 mm wide Marples paring chisel and some sand paper. Planes, however small, always bump into stuff, especially on top braces. I find I have better control with just a chisel, besides it much quicker. Even though I find the work enjoyable, I don't enjoy being inefficient. YMMV

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

All you need is a good, very sharp chisel... You'll be well-served to learn to sharpen it correctly, as this will make -all- aspects of your work easier, better, and safer.

I wish carving the braces took longer. I use a small plane to get a triangular profile, the a chisel to scallop and final shape everything. I have a 1/2" chisel that I seem to use for almost everything. Aside from my 1/4" chisel, it is the only one I use consistently.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC