Last Update: 5/31/04
Online Apprentice-
Fit the Sides.
In this lesson we will fit the sides to the soundboard.
Make sure you have read this lesson all the way through before beginning the lesson. A word of advice is to practice on scrap.
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On a piece of paper draw a center line and on each side of this line use the plantilla template and draw the shape of the guitar. |
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Trim the ends so that the sides match the plantilla. You will probably have a little bit of spring back in the sides. That is ok. our workboard will hold the sides into place. |
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Use the cut-offs from the sides as a thickness gauge to trim the braces back from the plantilla line. |
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Decide which edge will touch the soundboard. Measure the neck side slot from the center line to the slot. Subtract that from the side. Do the same for the heel end. Mark and remove that from the end of the sides that will be fed into the heel slot. |
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I use some wax on the inside of the side to help it into the slot. I also use a scraper to slightly taper the edge. You will have to do some fine tuning to get the side to slide into the slot. If it is too loose you can always glue some veneer shims onto the side in the area of the slot. The fit should be snug but not tight. Be carefull that you do not split the sides when pulling it out of the slot. Any twisting motion will split the side. |
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Clamp the sides into place once you have the fit just right. You will probably have to remove and trim several times to get everything to line up perfectly. |
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Trace the inside of the sides in the area of the tail block. Go on to the next lesson. |
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