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Eir billets
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=56689		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  banjopicks [ Sat Jul 20, 2024 12:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Eir billets
I need to get rid of this or buy a resaw bandsaw. At my age, i d9nt believe ill ever recoup the cost. Is there anyone nearby RI that might like this wood. Back wood is only 7" wide. I paid 300 with shipping from India and would be delighted to sell it for 200. Or swap for a back side and top set for a dreadnought. Anyone?

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Author:  bcombs510 [ Sat Jul 20, 2024 12:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Eir billets
How thick is it? If it’s thick enough I would be willing to resaw it for you and send back a set as long as I can keep a set. :)


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Author:  banjopicks [ Sat Jul 20, 2024 1:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
That sounds like plan. I think 2" but ill double check later and get back to you. Im concerned about shipping costs, though. It may not be worth it.

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Author:  Jim Watts [ Sat Jul 20, 2024 4:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
Way to go Brad!
Author:  Burton LeGeyt [ Tue Jul 23, 2024 9:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
You could check in with the New England Luthiers Guild, someone may be able to help you out. Maybe you are already a member?

http://newenglandluthiers.org/

I was very active years ago and not so much now.
We have a big bandsaw at work and it would cut that up just fine. Couldn't say exactly when we could do it, but it is certainly possible. Definitely a better yield than doing it on the tablesaw.
Author:  banjopicks [ Tue Jul 23, 2024 10:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
Burton LeGeyt wrote:
You could check in with the New England Luthiers Guild, someone may be able to help you out. Maybe you are already a member?

http://newenglandluthiers.org/

I was very active years ago and not so much now.
We have a big bandsaw at work and it would cut that up just fine. Couldn't say exactly when we could do it, but it is certainly possible. Definitely a better yield than doing it on the tablesaw.


They don't appear to be active anymore.
Author:  Burton LeGeyt [ Tue Jul 23, 2024 12:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
They definitely are, there is a link to join the google group where all the correspondence happens. There are meetings at least every other month, I went to a few recently.
Author:  meddlingfool [ Tue Jul 23, 2024 1:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
If you have corresponding back and side billets, you should be able to get 5 complete sets out of it if it’s done on a bandsaw…so take that into account when doing your shipping calculations. So 80-100 shipping to get 4 sets of EIR. (Assuming you leave one to whoever cuts it)
Author:  banjopicks [ Tue Jul 23, 2024 3:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
meddlingfool wrote:
If you have corresponding back and side billets, you should be able to get 5 complete sets out of it if it’s done on a bandsaw…so take that into account when doing your shipping calculations. So 80-100 shipping to get 4 sets of EIR. (Assuming you leave one to whoever cuts it)


If someone gets 5 out of it and I get 4, I'll be slightly ahead of the game, maybe. I don't think I could get much for these small sets and I would have 380 to 400 into them. If they were dreadnought sized I might do it. If I can get 4 sets on my TS without spending more money, I think I have to at least give it a try. If I only get 3 sets, I'll be happy. I think I can get 4. TS it is.
Author:  modkev [ Tue Jul 23, 2024 4:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
Shipping is pretty cheap using Pirateship.com. I ship whole instruments from Houston to New England for $44, and that is calculated by the size of the box with insurance.
Author:  banjopicks [ Wed Jul 24, 2024 2:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
OK, one more idea. I really don't want to ship this so I'm brainstorming here. I have a 1/2 HP bandsaw that can cut 6". I only have this one job to do and if I cut my 7" pieces down to 6" will I get it done with a Timber Wolf Bandsaw Blade 1/2" x 82", 3 TPI? I was planning on D35 type back anyway. I have other materials for the center wedge.
Author:  Ken Lewis [ Wed Jul 24, 2024 5:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
Probably not unless you are very slick at resawing.
Author:  CarlD [ Wed Jul 24, 2024 8:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
[headinwall] Buy a new bandsaw...you won't regret it later. Highland has a Rikon on sale that will easily do it.
Author:  truckjohn [ Fri Jul 26, 2024 10:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
Have you considered contacting one of the forum's tonewood vendors such as RC Tonewoods or Aaron Hix to see if they would contract cut it for you? The downside is that you end up eating significant risk in the very likely possibility that the billets have internal defects.

I've resawed a fairly large pile of backs and sides.... My personal rule of thumb on a pretty decently well set up home bandsaw with a fresh band is 1/4" per slice will yield 100% usable pieces after finish sanding. Get greedy and you're more likely to end up with ZERO usable slices because of barrel, taper, wander, etc.

A table saw is a no-go unless you're ready to lose more wood to kerf and clean up than you get in slices. The perfection in alignment required to nail a full depth cut, flip the board, and make the opposite cut dead on, and then hand-saw out the waste without creating more is difficult. I've tried ripping back sets out of 4/4 S4S stock more than once and ended up without anything usable.

Sure, you could do better with a dedicated resaw setup... but those cost a fortune, and there's still learning curve.

Now, for my billet rant... My problem with billets is that I take all the risk on what's inside. Buying backs and sides, the vendor takes the risk on defects in the billet and ends up eating the loss and downgrade, so that ought to be baked into the price of the finished sets.... But it's not. You'll see a decent looking billet priced 80-90% of the expected sides, where it ought to be 20-30% because of the risk of loss and downgrade. I'm 0-for-5 on top wood billets, and my luck with bespoken back and sides billets isn't much better. At least with dimensional lumber, the cost is much lower, and so the risk balances out a little better.

Of course, YMMV... Other people are no doubt better at picking billets to minimize internal defects as well as resawing to maximize yield.
Author:  banjopicks [ Fri Jul 26, 2024 11:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
Im never buying billets again. Lesson learned. There's no benefit at the prices they get.


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Author:  truckjohn [ Sat Jul 27, 2024 2:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
Have you considered just selling the billets and buying sets? At least you could pick the sets you want.
Author:  banjopicks [ Sat Jul 27, 2024 5:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
I have tried. No one seems to want them unless i sell them for 1/2 price. That'll never happen.

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Author:  truckjohn [ Sat Jul 27, 2024 7:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
So that takes you back to the offers of several forum members to resaw it in exchange for a set. That's probably a pretty good deal given that you don't have the stuff to resaw.

If you do decide to go this route, make sure your expectations are clear for minimum cleaned up thickness for the backs and sides. For example, me personally... I like my backs and especially sides to come in thicker to give me room for gluing and finishing. I'm not real happy when I get a set that shows up at 0.085" rough sanded. There's just zero room for error.
Author:  banjopicks [ Fri Aug 02, 2024 7:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
I have decided to put it on the shelf and start saving for a powerful bandsaw of my own. I already dropped a bunch of cash on the SM buffer this year, and I'm so glad i did. I have been a little reluctant due to my age, but whatever. I can't let myself think like that. I have way too much fun using great tools.

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Author:  banjopicks [ Fri Aug 02, 2024 7:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Eir billets
truckjohn wrote:
So that takes you back to the offers of several forum members to resaw it in exchange for a set. That's probably a pretty good deal given that you don't have the stuff to resaw.

If you do decide to go this route, make sure your expectations are clear for minimum cleaned up thickness for the backs and sides. For example, me personally... I like my backs and especially sides to come in thicker to give me room for gluing and finishing. I'm not real happy when I get a set that shows up at 0.085" rough sanded. There's just zero room for error.
I think i would prefer 1/8 sides with some thinning in the waste. Has anyone tried that? I think it would help mitigate vibrations lost to the sides.

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