Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on May 26, 2011 at 3:29pm

Hi Wes & James:

If you have a plywood top, you could use a saw to repeatedly cut through the outer layer and then use something like a chisel to pry off the top layer in strips. Then sand it all smooth. I haven't tried this, but on some of my headstocks, I have used a similar method on solid wood (or laminated wood) and used the chisel to pry off the pieces. It leaves a really rough result that needs to be filed and sanded, but I think the method could be used to remove a single layer of ply if you worked very carefully and took your time with it. Here's a photo of doing a headstock. Now imagine a long fine saw and doing what amounts to micro-surgery to make very thin cuts into a single layer of ply and then prying loose the cut layer. It's got to be better than trying to use a Forstner Bit and electric drill to do the job. Wish I could afford a planer, too.

That said, it might be easier just to go out an buy some 2mm plywood veneer and use that in place of the cigar box top (or bottom) as the sound board.

-Rand.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on May 28, 2011 at 7:52pm

Using a jointer to thin already thin stock sounds like a very dangerous proposition to me, be careful with this idea. I suppose it could be done, but at minimum recommend doing it with some kind of back up peice over the thin wood of course.

A drum sander is a much more logical way to do this, since it is designed for thinning. A good one will accurately thin down to 1/32". But if you have a drum sander you likely arent in a position that requires thinning cheap alternative top wood when you could just substitute a better top anyway.

Berts door veneer idea is interesting, never thought about that one. But I would consider the common thin birch plywood a great candidate since it should be far better quality with less voids and more consistant construction than any ply cigar box top is likely to have. A piece of 1/8" thick birch ply should make a pretty good top in my opinion, it is basically the same thing as what has been used on a million inexpensive guitars anyway! Maybe even thinner with the right design?.....(Secret: I have some in the shop for a near future alternative materials experimental project!)

Regards,

Mark

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Permalink Reply by Huntz Meyer on May 29, 2011 at 4:58am

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/wagner-safetplaner-thanks

 

Wagner Safe-T-Planer in a drill press works great, even on boxes with rimmed lids.  The right size, 3" diameter, for even small boxes.  A great investment.

 

Huntz

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Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on May 29, 2011 at 8:27am

Wow! Now that's a great solution... Look at the photo!

And just 10 minutes work! That's the Wagner Safe-T-Planer in a drill press. Now all I have to do is buy a drill press. Thanks for the great idea, Huntz.

-Rand.

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Permalink Reply by James Boutilier on May 29, 2011 at 9:06am

yup

very cool

unfortunately that ebay guy got lucky... they arent $20, they are more like $80.

but, there are more generic ones for $30  should do as well.

I'm considering this -- THANKS for the post.

jim

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on May 29, 2011 at 6:49pm

Good idea, never thought of using a Saf T Planer quite that way!

I especially like the way it left a ring of thicker material around the edge.

 

For you folks looking for a good deal on one, theres one on EBay right now at $34.99

I saw another offered on the Lexington KY Craigslist, best offer.

Stewmac, LMI, Woodcraft and others have it at $50-55

Theres also a number of articles and videos, ideas for using it etc at many different sites, youtube etc.

As mentioned in several different places, having/building an oversize table on your drill press, set up very level, and running the tool at the correct speed and rate of cut make a big difference in how well this works. And although the cutters are somewhat shielded in use, this thing can still bite you. Use common sense and be careful!

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Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on May 29, 2011 at 7:37pm

I'd like to see a video of one in action. Any volunteers?

-Rand.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on May 29, 2011 at 8:06pm

Heres some stuff Rand, I seem to recall you cant view YouTube videos though, your blocked right?

Note that in the videos, despite the watch your fingers warning, these guys often use far less caution than I would recommend!

 

 

 

 

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/ProductReviews/Tools/SafeTP...

 

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Planes/Wagner_Safe-T-Planer.html?...

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on May 30, 2011 at 7:03am

I have some in 1/8" 1/16" and 1/32 inch for some various projects.

At 1/32" I cant even detect layers.

 

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Permalink Reply by Sam Johnson on May 30, 2011 at 1:37pm

If you're talking about sending solid wood through a planer to get less than 1/8" inch, it can be done.  Double stick tape it to a "carrier board" made from something that will stay flat, like a piece of MDF.  After running it through to the thickness you want, you can dissolve the adhesives in the tape with some acetone, and they will separate easily.

 

If you're talking about running plywood through the planer......well...that's something I would never do.  The glues that are holding the ply together would be murder on your planer blades.

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Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on May 30, 2011 at 5:28pm

Hi Mark Bliss.

 

Thanks for the videos. You remembered right, most Western video servers like Youtube are blocked in China. So, I can't view your videos now, but I should be able to come mid-June when I begin my summer vacation in the States. In the meantime, I'm sure some other people will like to see them. The two links you provided were very informative as well. Just hope I can talk my wife into allowing me to have a drill press with extension table in my already crowded guest room / office / wood working shop. Thanks again.

 

-Rand.

 

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Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on May 30, 2011 at 5:41pm

Hi Blind Doughboy and the rest of you...

The birch plywood in 1/4" thick sheets sounds pretty good. I'll have to check it out. Here in China they sell plywood veneer as thin as 2mm (about 3/16ths inch) and that's what I have been using with good results. I was wondering if Lowes (or Home Depot) sells a thinner ply?  I always thought you want to go as light (thin) as possible on the soundboard. The idea of using balsa wood as an alternate material is an interesting one. (Was that this thread or another one?) Anyone try balsa wood yet? I wonder where you can buy thin sheets of balsa? Guess I'll have to 'Google' it.

-Rand.

Blind Doughboy said:

Birch plywood works great. It's available in 1/4-inch sheets at Lowes. I've used it as a replacement top on more rehab six-strings than I can count. Very good tone.

 

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