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I'm going to buy some fiberglass rods from intothewind.com for my go-bar deck. I'm going to use 2' bars. What thickness of bar to use? I was thinking 3/16"

Do you think 20 such bars will be enough? How many are typically used to glue on a top or back to a guitar?

Thanks,

Stefan

Stefan I don't know about intothewind's go-bars since I use commercially available go-bars from Stew-Mac and LMI.

But I can tell you that I use about 30 of them to attach a top or back. You certainly could get by with fewer if you made some clamping cauls that match the contours of the guitar shapes you build.

3/16" dia. are perfect

I bought 24 3/16"x48" for $0.81 each and 144 caps at $0.04 each from Goodwinds Kites. 144 to get the volume discount which actually cost less than the 96 piece cost. With shipping it cost $33.15 to make 48 rods. I wish I would have got some more.

Hi Stefan,
I know you're gonna buy from Intothewind.com but just wanted to let you know that about three weeks ago I did exactly the same thing you are doing. I bought 30 ea. of 3/16" x 4' of solid fiberglass rods from Goodwinds Kites also. Like Zach say, they were .81 cents each and the vinyl end caps were .06 cents each.
It made me 60 two foot go-bar rods. I cut them in half using a hack saw one at a time. You could probably use a chop saw to be quicker. Beware that sawing them makes a little bit of fiberglass dust.
The total cost with shipping was like $40.50 encluding the vinyl end caps.

Just an other option, hope it helps.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Another Goodwind buyer here. They've been great on each occasion I've ordered from them. Make sure you buy MORE than you think you'll need.
I agree, the 3/16" are perfect. I had been using 1/4", but I switched to the 3/16" and love 'em.
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

What are some of better ways you guys cut the fiber glass rods?

David

I just used a standard hand saw for metal that you can get at the borg.

Never mind, I found the right size cap.

That's a great price, Chuck.

I went with intothewind.com earlier last fall. Same thing as most here. 24 48" x 3/16" rods with 100 matching tips just to be safe.

A dyed-in-the-wool DIY guy, I use fiberglass yardsign rods from Lowe's....they work great, and come with a rubber cap to boot! Just a little over two bucks each. I use 16-20 to close a back.

A dyed-in-the-wool DIY guy, I use fiberglass yardsign rods from Lowe's....they work great, and come with a rubber cap to boot! Just a little over two bucks each. I use 16-20 to close a back.

Thanks for the Goodwinds tip! I just bought 48 3/16" rods and 200 caps. That gives me potentially 96 go-bar rods for 60 cents a piece. That price includes tax and shipping. I could have driven up there, but shipping cost was a wash with the price of gas right now.

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Aoibeann

Red oak ~ 1/4"x1/2". Works great, cheap, doesn't slip easily.

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Gabriel Regalbuto
Carlsbad, California
Freedom 35!

Me...I'm an Ash man I find it works best, has some memory to it and doesn't break all that often. - Plus it's only about $3.50 a bf so I can cut lots for cheap.

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Jamie M