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OK, so my carbon rods from Godwind Kites showed up. Bunch of them, 72" long. My original plan was to cut them in half. I know this depends on the deck height (I have not built one yet) and the rod diameter. 1/4" to 5/16" I believe.

So, how would you cut them up? All the same?

Mike (to those who might think this is a silly question, pardon me, but I have learned to ask for advice on all things!!)

if your basic use will be to glue braces then take your thickness of the radius-ed dish thickness at the thinest point plus .125" plus the height of the shortest brace height the subtract that from your soon to build deck height between upper deck and lower deck. then add .5" to the previous calculation and that is the ideal rod length for brace clamping. Or cut them 1" short of the deck height and don't over think it like I explained

All my rods are 24" long....... I ain't proud...... (I know that some one will be along shortly..... with 36" rods....)

My deck height is such, and I don't remember what it is but can find out for you, that with these rods and the use of some platforms I can brace tops/backs and use the rods and deck to attach back and tops to rims.

I got a bunch of 3/16" fiberglass rods from a kite shop and cut them all in half -- making 24" rods. I used a cut-off wheel in a Dremel, though a hack saw would work also. My go-bar deck is set up on 1/2" threaded rod so I can adjust it depending on what I'm trying to glue up. Wear a dust mask and gloves, fiberglass is miserable in your skin and I can't imagine that carbon fiber will be any better.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

What Jim said, except I did go the hacksaw route. It was like three, maybe four stokes to cut through. I set up a couple of stop blocks and had at it. After the third one I went and put on a long sleeve shirt and gloves. Oh, don't touch your face after starting the cutting process.

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Aoibeann

24" Hesh? Never a problem with that? That would be good, 3 go-bars per 72" rod. Does seem a bit short tho...

Mike

I'm also in the adjustable deck height, 24" x 3/16" rod camp. I think I used intothewind.com.

Todd, the one thing I still do not understand is the radius dish. Is this used to conform to the backand provide even support and pressure? I have access to a shop with high ceilings... could easily make one (or however many)

Mike

What do you do? Spin the dish on a motor to sand the braces?

Sorry, just not getting it yet.

Mike

Mike--

Some people rig up motors to spin the dishes. I think that there was a fairly recent thread on that here. I'm quite a bit more low-tech. My wife has other names for my affliction!
I use a stationary sanding bowl and when the radius is pretty close, I finish sand it in the bowl by getting as evened pressured grip as I can and then I do the 'watusi' and it sands right down. Tracy at Luthier Suppliers has some really good radius jigs that will get you really close. The bowl is just a finish sand. The radius bowls are spherically radiused -- its the same radius no matter where you are in the bowl or what orientation that you have the brace.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Here are a couple of pics that I borrowed from Tracy's site (Luthier Suppliers - link above and a great place to purchase radius dishes and many other very innovative guitar building tools).

Maybe this tutorial by Hesh will make it clearer. Click on the link below.

viewtopic.php?f=10117&t=16058