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Now that I solved the problem of gluing braces without the use of a dish (the index card was a great idea, but I ended up making radiused caul), how do I level sand the sides to make sure that it too conforms to the radius without having to use a dish? can I just sand it flat and simply radius the kerfed lining with the radiused caul with sandpaper glued in then glue the top/back on it? if I do the math correctly it seems if I got the heel and tail block correctly angled, then the side sanded flat the whole top or back should follow a radius right? (of course assuming that the braces are radiused and the top or back is following the radius)

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Glue in the linings then sand with the radiused caul and you'll put the radius in the sides too. Just work around the edges tring to sand evenly and you should have your radius. glue on the plates when they fit well.

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Tai Fu my friend I have two suggestions for you that hopefully will help you out.

First - Stew-Mac, one of our very fine sponsors makes the instructions for their guitar kits available free-for-download. In this PDF file they make use of and show you how to make one for yourself, a sanding stick that will put the radius on the sides/rim. Here is a link to the Stew-Mac dread instructions: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Kits/Acoustic_Guitar_Kits/1/Dreadnought_Guitar_Kit/Instructions/I-5295.html#details

Sand the radius into the rim/sides first and then install the kerfed linings installing them 1/32 - 1/16"ish proud of the rim and then use the sanding stick to sand the radius into the kerfed linings. The reason why you sand the radius into the sides first before installing the kerfed linings is that it is easier to sand through the sides on the initial pass without the kerfed linings needing sanding too. When you install the kerfed linings proud less sanding is required since they are following the radius that is already in the rim/sides.

Next - you can make yourself a radius template very easilly and use it to trace the proper radius on the bottom of the braces and then plane or sand, planing is better, the radius into each brace.

For say a 25' radius just measure a string that does not stretch much or at all to 25' fix it at one end to something that does not move like my ex and then tie a pencil onto the other end. Use the pencil to trace the radius onto anything else including what you will make the radius template out of.

Good luck.

I read the instructions many times. I was only trying to make sure that I am doing things right because every other instructions I seen out there (including the DVD that came with the LMI kit) seems to make it sound like that a radius dish is mandatory when building acoustics.

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com