Howdy. So I have built a handful of cigar box mandos, Ukes, guitars, banjos, and even fiddles. I have also put together a few Mando kits. I am ready to tryout my own scratch build (I think I will go for a uke first). I have power tools including a 9 inch band saw, drill press, etc. all of the tools are cheap (harbor freight). I am looking to plane my own tops to the correct thickness. What kind of tool would I get to do this (specifically, with what kind of planar could I pull this off? I am looking to keep it as low budget as I can (ie harbor freight). Any references or help? I have relatively serious nerve problems so can't do tooi much with hand tools
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Or...you could use a hand router to rout the thickness of the top
Better Trees > Ron "Oily" SpragueApril 18, 2014 at 11:07pm
A router? I know they're supposed to be the most versatile tools that have ever been made, but that sounds sketchy. I'll have to find a video of something similar and see what I think. If it's feasible I think I might have a new fondness for my abandoned old router.
I rout down thicknesses in my plywood tops and sides all the time. The idea is to leave a 1/2" wide thick edge, say, then rout the top down inside that to about 3 mm. Any thinner, and you'd have to add bracing, like a normal commercial acoustic git. Something like this:
Sachi Weaver > Ron "Oily" SpragueApril 23, 2014 at 5:53pm
WOW is that nifty, i bet it makes a HUGE difference in sound and it looks so lovely inside and out. Thats a fantastic job. I've been thinking of how i can thin the sound board side of my cigar boxes to increase sound myself. BUt i'm not sure if i have an old router in my family shop. I'll have to check with my brother as he is sorta the gate keeper of the shop currently lol.
We live on a farm, and we needed all our water, septic and pumphouse re-done. It was gonna cost upwards of 50k, and my brother took on the job and did so much that multiple professionals said even THEY would not have been able to pull off what he did. Just through research and intelligence. He had never done it before. He created an amazing pump system that one professional said "If i was gonna do this, i'd have to hire an engineer, and it wouldn't cost less then 80k" Then, in the middle of all of the pump work, he decided to start learning about and building and programing DRONES for fun. That is so complicated, my brothers mind boggles me sometimes. I'm smart, Very smart actually, but his mind works in such a cool way. He's gonna help me where i need help with my guitar projects. Its pretty awesome. :) I'm pretty excited. :) lol
I can not wait for my boxes and neck wood to get here!!!
And i Will be asking if we have a router, cause i love what you did.
Sachi
Better Trees > Ron "Oily" SpragueApril 19, 2014 at 8:16pm
That's nifty. I'm going to try it.
Paul Beckwith > Better TreesApril 19, 2014 at 3:26am
Thickness planer. The cheapest new ones are in the $300 range and they shoot quickly to about $500, which is why I don't have one. I have a friend who builds furniture and I had him use his for me and those things save days over sanding.
Replies
The Wagner Safe T Planer fits on your drill press. You can get them on eBay for a reasonable price.
I've used the router method before, but I never thought of leaving ribs in though - so cool.
Apparently this is the same thing, and a lot cheaper, and complete:
http://woodworker.com/fullpres.asp?PARTNUM=24760&LARGEVIEW=ON
The Wagner Safe T Planers on ebay tend to be considerably more, and typically don't come with the sharpener.
Brad
A router? I know they're supposed to be the most versatile tools that have ever been made, but that sounds sketchy. I'll have to find a video of something similar and see what I think. If it's feasible I think I might have a new fondness for my abandoned old router.
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/album/show?id=2592684%3AAlbum%3...
WOW is that nifty, i bet it makes a HUGE difference in sound and it looks so lovely inside and out. Thats a fantastic job. I've been thinking of how i can thin the sound board side of my cigar boxes to increase sound myself. BUt i'm not sure if i have an old router in my family shop. I'll have to check with my brother as he is sorta the gate keeper of the shop currently lol.
We live on a farm, and we needed all our water, septic and pumphouse re-done. It was gonna cost upwards of 50k, and my brother took on the job and did so much that multiple professionals said even THEY would not have been able to pull off what he did. Just through research and intelligence. He had never done it before. He created an amazing pump system that one professional said "If i was gonna do this, i'd have to hire an engineer, and it wouldn't cost less then 80k" Then, in the middle of all of the pump work, he decided to start learning about and building and programing DRONES for fun. That is so complicated, my brothers mind boggles me sometimes. I'm smart, Very smart actually, but his mind works in such a cool way. He's gonna help me where i need help with my guitar projects. Its pretty awesome. :) I'm pretty excited. :) lol
I can not wait for my boxes and neck wood to get here!!!
And i Will be asking if we have a router, cause i love what you did.
Sachi
That's nifty. I'm going to try it.
Paul
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m6nyPD4JDeA
Nope. I haven't tried making one.
Thickness planer. The cheapest new ones are in the $300 range and they shoot quickly to about $500, which is why I don't have one. I have a friend who builds furniture and I had him use his for me and those things save days over sanding.