Starting on number four, larger body style from plans for a Grand Auditorium. I had a heck of a time getting the top, back and sides thickness sanded correctly. Took two trips to the local woodsource, drove 40 mi each way, it cost over $80, was charged double their normal rate because I insisted on standing there and measuring til I was happy. Then I ended up not getting anything as thin as I wanted. Mill operator acted so confident in his measurements using some gauge I couldn't read...blah, blah. In other words, I screwed up not trusting my gauge rather than his word. Sides are about 0.106".
I bent the first one ok, thinking that with many respected folks doing laminated sides and saying it's a sound improvement, mebbe thicker than my normal would help the final sound. Like most bends I've done, there is some relaxation as I fit it into the mold, but since they are so strong, I'm not all that comfortable trying to force the sides all the way flush with the mold, thinking the guitar might end up happier long term if I just use enough pressure in my mold clamps that any gaps are equal on both sides and the side pressures won't try to deform the final box. On the other hand, I can make them fit flush with my mold clamps, just not sure that's the right call. I haven't bent the second side yet. I like to stall when I'm not sure about something and ask opinions from folks more experienced than me. I know I'm gonna have to plane the top and back a bit, but there's no rush for that.
Thanks in advance for any and all inputs. Roy
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