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| Lets talk Armrest Bevels http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=52284 |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Mon Aug 19, 2019 4:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
I feel like a lot of folks have experimented with the armrest bevel. Maybe we can share insights? Lessons learned? Which process do u like and why? I moved this from the above template discussion. Mike |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Mon Aug 19, 2019 4:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
If you examine both processes (O'Brien, Everett), they share a lot in common. Differences being when side and top is shaped. An advantage of the O'Brien approach is that you have nice slots to insert the binding/purfling. With the Everett approach, I use thumb tacks to hold in place. Not too bad since I use Spanish Cedar for the rest interior. Spanish is also nice because it is light and easily shaped. I also replace some of the top and side material with soft sitka to give me a way to approach the binding/purfling as I sand (shape). I use a flat flap wheel on a drill, then a palm sander for final approach. At this point, they are mostly the same. I just like hand shaping the top and sides instead of using a router. I don't think its practical to expect a template to be useful on future guitar bodies of the same type. Whichever way you go, make sure the binding/purfling in this area is somewhat thicker than normal, u will sand a lot of it away. Another advantage of the O'brien approach is the ease of attaching the rest to the side. With the Everett approach, I have to save the side cutout (as a clamping support), cover in tape, and make slanted cauls for clamping (due to the slanted interior of the rest). I made 5 small cauls, never had to remake them. Yet to me, the ability to fine tune the shape without a router outweighs the cons. (my opinion) Edit: adding back the sitka/spruce is for eyeballing only. You do not want to leave any behind. Easy to do if you made your purfling/binding thick enough. |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Mon Aug 19, 2019 4:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
One thing I have learned is that it is extremely important to make transition slope on the side VERY gradual. This means the bevel will be bigger than you think! (longer). Without a doubt, my number one challenge is the purfling lines at (and in) the transition. I am still working on perfecting this one thing. Has anyone else had issues here? |
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| Author: | sdsollod [ Mon Aug 19, 2019 4:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
I've only done one arm bevel. I used Kent Everette's method from his class on Robbie O'Brien's website. One thing that I did differently from his method is split a piece of binding, bent it on the hot pipe and glued it into the void between the binding on top and bottom of the bevel (in this case basswood). That way, I had enough material to shape the bevel and have a smooth transition. If that makes sense... |
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| Author: | Bri [ Mon Aug 19, 2019 5:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
I was considering one for my next build, but what about the bevel where the spruce itself is curved into the side? I cannot remember who had done this, but would like to hear some opinions and will be watching this. Thanks, Brian |
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| Author: | meddlingfool [ Mon Aug 19, 2019 5:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
Doolin bevel... |
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| Author: | meddlingfool [ Mon Aug 19, 2019 5:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
 I used a clothes iron to bend the maple binding in the vertical plane. Might consider doing it his way next time. Though my tendency towards stubbornness leads me to think I actually do it the hard way again next time. Cause, well, it’s my nature... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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| Author: | SteveSmith [ Mon Aug 19, 2019 6:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
I'm building one using the Everett method. Had no problem gluing the block to the side, just used four 6" trigger clamps. Working on the top now but so far it's been pretty straight forward. |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Mon Aug 19, 2019 6:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
Steve, I took a different path with the block. I preshaped it with slant. Didn’t want to do that after installed. So, it took a little thinking to install. |
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| Author: | Mark Mc [ Tue Aug 20, 2019 7:33 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
I’m doing a Doolin style one at the moment. i hope it turns out as good as Ed’s. |
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| Author: | SteveSmith [ Tue Aug 20, 2019 8:10 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
Mike OMelia wrote: Steve, I took a different path with the block. I preshaped it with slant. Didn’t want to do that after installed. So, it took a little thinking to install. That makes sense, I could probably have taken more wood off and saved a bit of weight if I preshaped it. What do you think is easiest, would you preshape it again or shape it after gluing? Here's mine. 
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| Author: | phavriluk [ Tue Aug 20, 2019 9:54 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
Ed, How did you cut the binding channel ln the beveled area? |
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| Author: | wbergman [ Tue Aug 20, 2019 11:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
Sorry if I missed it, but what the heck is the bevel for? I know some people hug the guitar and dampen the top, so the bevel sort of stiffens the area they might otherwise dampen. Except for that, is it actually easier to play a bevel? |
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| Author: | SteveSmith [ Tue Aug 20, 2019 12:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
wbergman wrote: Sorry if I missed it, but what the heck is the bevel for? I know some people hug the guitar and dampen the top, so the bevel sort of stiffens the area they might otherwise dampen. Except for that, is it actually easier to play a bevel? After two or three hours of playing I have a groove in my arm where it rests on the edge between the top and side on the base bout. I am told the bevel will make that more comfortable so I'm building one to try. |
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| Author: | jfmckenna [ Tue Aug 20, 2019 12:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
It seems like there are two kinds of bevels, one is for comfort and is built into the side of the guitar and the other (maybe better refereed to as an arm rest) is for free plate vibration and sits above the top of the guitar. Though both probably prevent the arm from blocking the vibration of the top to some extent the argument for the ladder is that you have a "normal" guitar. |
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| Author: | meddlingfool [ Tue Aug 20, 2019 1:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
Peter, just used my regular binding setup. There's a bevel on the back as well, which did not work the first time as the angle was too steep, so I added a wedge and reduced the bevel angle as well as spreading it over a longer area, after doing so the regular kit worked. Between the wedge, back and top bevels, it was a very comfy guitar to play. The mission was to make a slope dread comfy, and the customer was well pleased. It sounded good too, not any real discernible change in tonality from the bevel... |
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| Author: | J De Rocher [ Tue Aug 20, 2019 2:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
Ed - What did you do with the bass side x-brace arm and the tone bars? Do they stop at the crease? |
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| Author: | meddlingfool [ Tue Aug 20, 2019 5:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
The t bars missed it and the x stops at the bend... |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Tue Aug 27, 2019 5:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
I need to pay more attention to this. Sorry... trying to finish my new shop, work on current builds. The bevel is a difficult beast. I keep thinking someone is gonna come at this with a different idea |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Tue Aug 27, 2019 5:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
I will try to post some of my interior pics this weekend |
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| Author: | Terence Kennedy [ Tue Aug 27, 2019 10:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
Just to play the devil's advocate, do those that have used bevels think they are worth all the extra effort? Does the slight loss of real estate from the vibrating surface of the top and altered attachment point on the bass side affect the sound at all? They look cool when done well that's for sure. |
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| Author: | SteveSmith [ Wed Aug 28, 2019 8:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
First one I've done so we'll see if it's worth the extra work when I'm done. |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Lets talk Armrest Bevels |
The bevel is worth the effort. Its scary the first time u do it. And the second. It seems to get better with time. I cant tell a difference in sound. Its just so pretty, I cant help keep doing them. |
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